The Tillbridge Solar Order 2025

• (1) Without limitation on the scope of paragraph 1, the Land Compensation Act 1973⁶² has effect subject to the modifications set out in sub-paragraph (2).

• (2) In section 44(1) (compensation for injurious affection), as it applies to compensation for injurious affection under section 7 (measure of compensation in case of severance) of the 1965 Act as substituted by paragraph 5—

• (a) for the words “land is acquired or taken from” substitute “a right or restrictive covenant over land is purchased from or imposed on”; and

• (b) for the words “acquired or taken from him” substitute “over which the right is exercisable or the restrictive covenant enforceable”.

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• (1) Without limitation on the scope of paragraph 1, the 1961 Act has effect subject to the modifications set out in sub-paragraph (2).

• (2) In section 5A(5A) (relevant valuation date), omit the words after “if—” and substitute—

(a) the acquiring authority enters on land for the purpose of exercising a right in pursuant of a notice of entry under section 11(1) of the 1965 Act (as modified by sub-paragraph 5(5) of Schedule 10 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for the creation of new rights and imposition of new restrictive covenants) to the Tillbridge Solar Order 2025; (b) the acquiring authority is subsequently required by a determination under paragraph 12 of Schedule 2A to the 1965 Act (as substituted by paragraph 5(8) of Schedule 10 to the Tillbridge Solar Order 2025) to acquire an interest in the land; and (c) the acquiring authority enters on and takes possession of that land, the authority is deemed for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) to have entered on that land where it entered on that land for the purpose of exercising that right.

Application of Part 1 of the 1965 Act

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Part 1 (compulsory purchase under Acquisition of Land Act 1981) of the 1965 Act, as applied by section 125 (application of compulsory acquisition provisions) of the 2008 Act to the acquisition of land under article 21 (compulsory acquisition of land) and as modified by article 28 (modification of Part 1 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965), applies to the compulsory acquisition of a right by the creation of a new right under article 23 (compulsory acquisition of rights)—

• (a) with the modifications specified in paragraph 5; and

• (b) with such other modifications as may be necessary.

5

• (1) The modifications referred to in paragraph 4(a) are as follows—

• (2) References in the 1965 Act to land are, in the appropriate contexts, to be read (according to the requirements of the particular context) as referring to, or as including references to—

• (a) the right acquired or to be acquired, or the restriction imposed or to be imposed; or

• (b) the land over which the right is or is to be exercisable, or the restriction is to be enforceable.

• (3) For section 7 of the 1965 Act (measure of compensation in case of severance) substitute—

(7) In assessing the compensation to be paid by the acquiring authority under this Act, regard must be had not only to the extent (if any) to which the value of the land over which the right is to be acquired or the restrictive covenant is to be imposed is depreciated by the acquisition of the right or the imposition of the covenant but also to the damage (if any) to be sustained by the owner of the land by reason of its severance from other land of the owner, or injuriously affecting that other land by the exercise of the powers conferred by this or the special Act.

• (4) The following provisions of the 1965 Act (which state the effect of a deed poll executed in various circumstances where there is no conveyance by persons with interests in the land), that is to say—

• (a) section 9(4) (failure by owners to convey);

• (b) paragraph 10(3) of Schedule 1 (owners under incapacity);

• (c) paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 2 (absent and untraced owners); and

• (d) paragraphs 2(3) and 7(2) of Schedule 4 (common land),

are modified to secure that, as against persons with interests in the land which are expressed to be overridden by the deed, the right which is to be compulsorily acquired or the restrictive covenant which is to be imposed is vested absolutely in the acquiring authority.

• (5) Section 11 (powers of entry)⁶³ of the 1965 Act is modified to secure that, as from the date on which the acquiring authority has served notice to treat in respect of any right or restrictive covenant, as well as the notice of entry required by subsection (1) of that section (as it applies to compulsory acquisition under article 21 (compulsory acquisition of land)), it has power, exercisable in equivalent circumstances and subject to equivalent conditions, to enter for the purpose of exercising that right or enforcing that restrictive covenant (which is deemed for this purpose to have been created on the date of service of the notice); and sections 11A (powers of entry: further notices of entry)⁶⁴, 11B (counter-notice requiring possession to be taken on specified date)⁶⁵, 12 (unauthorised entry)⁶⁶ and 13 (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority)⁶⁷ of the 1965 Act are modified correspondingly.

• (6) Section 20⁶⁸ (tenants at will, etc.) of the 1965 Act applies with the modifications necessary to secure that persons with such interests in land as are mentioned in that section are compensated in a manner corresponding to that in which they would be compensated on a compulsory acquisition under this Order of that land, but taking into account only the extent (if any) of such interference with such an interest as is actually caused, or likely to be caused, by the exercise of the right or enforcement of the restrictive covenant in question.

• (7) Section 22 (interests omitted from purchase) of the 1965 Act as modified by article 28 (modification of Part 1 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965) is so modified as to enable the acquiring authority, in circumstances corresponding to those referred to in that section, to continue to be entitled to exercise the right acquired or restrictive covenant imposed, subject to compliance with that section as respects compensation.

• (8) For Schedule 2A to the 1965 Act (counter notice requiring purchase of land not in notice to treat) substitute—

SCHEDULE 2A (1) (1) This Schedule applies where an acquiring authority serves a notice to treat in respect of a right over, or restrictive covenant affecting, the whole or part of a house, building or factory and have not executed a general vesting declaration under section 4 of the 1981 Act as applied by article 25 (application of the 1981 Act) of the Tillbridge Solar Order 2025 in respect of the land to which the notice to treat relates. (2) But see article 26(3) (acquisition of subsoil only) of the Tillbridge Solar Order 2025 which excludes the acquisition of subsoil only from this Schedule. (2) In this Schedule, “house” includes any park or garden belonging to a house. (3) A person who is able to sell the house, building or factory (“the owner”) may serve a counter-notice requiring the authority to purchase the owner’s interest in the house, building or factory. (4) A counter-notice under paragraph 3 must be served within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice to treat was served. (5) On receiving a counter-notice, the acquiring authority must decide whether to— (a) withdraw the notice to treat, (b) accept the counter notice, or (c) refer the counter notice to the Upper Tribunal. (6) The authority must serve notice of their decision on the owner within the period of three months beginning with the day on which the counter-notice is served (“the decision period”). (7) If the authority decides to refer the counter-notice to the Upper Tribunal they must do so within the decision period. (8) If the authority does not serve notice of a decision within the decision period they are to be treated as if they had served notice of a decision to withdraw the notice to treat at the end of that period. (9) If the authority serves notice of a decision to accept the counter-notice, the compulsory purchase order and the notice to treat are to have effect as if they included the owner’s interest in the house, building or factory. (10) On a referral under paragraph 7, the Upper Tribunal must determine whether the acquisition of the right or the imposition of the restrictive covenant would— (a) in the case of a house, building or factory; cause material detriment to the house, building or factory, or (b) in the case of a park or garden, seriously affect the amenity or convenience of the house to which the park or garden belongs. (11) In making its determination, the Upper Tribunal must take into account— (a) the effect of the acquisition of the right or the imposition of the covenant, (b) the use to be made of the right or covenant proposed to be acquired or imposed, and (c) if the right or covenant is proposed to be acquired or imposed for works or other purposes extending to other land, the effect of the whole of the works and the use of the other land. (12) If the Upper Tribunal determines that the acquisition of the right or the imposition of the covenant would have either of the consequences described in paragraph 10, it must determine how much of the house, building or factory the authority ought to be required to take. (13) If the Upper Tribunal determines that the authority ought to be required to take some or all of the house, building or factory, the compulsory purchase order and the notice to treat are to have effect as if they included the owner’s interest in that land. (14) (1) If the Upper Tribunal determines that the authority ought to be required to take some or all of the house, building or factory, the authority may at any time within the period of six weeks beginning with the day on which the Upper Tribunal makes its determination withdraw the notice to treat in relation to that land. (2) If the acquiring authority withdraws the notice to treat under this paragraph they must pay the person on whom the notice was served compensation for any loss or expense cause by the giving and withdrawal of the notice. (3) Any dispute as to the compensation is to be determined by the Upper Tribunal.

SCHEDULE 11 — LAND OF WHICH TEMPORARY POSSESSION MAY BE TAKEN

SCHEDULE 12 — HEDGEROWS TO BE REMOVED

PART 1 — IMPORTANT HEDGEROWS WHICH REQUIRE REMOVAL

PART 2 — HEDGEROWS WHICH REQUIRE REMOVAL

SCHEDULE 13 — DOCUMENTS AND PLANS TO BE CERTIFIED

SCHEDULE 14 — ARBITRATION RULES

Commencing an arbitration

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The arbitration is deemed to have commenced when a party (“the claimant”) serves a written notice of arbitration on the other party (“the respondent”).

Time periods

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• (1) All time periods in these arbitration rules are measured in days and include weekends, but not bank or public holidays.

• (2) Time periods are calculated from the day after the arbitrator is appointed which is either—

• (a) the date the arbitrator notifies the parties in writing of his/her acceptance of an appointment by agreement of the parties; or

• (b) the date the arbitrator is appointed by the Secretary of State.

Timetable

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• (1) The timetable for the arbitration is that which is set out in sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) below unless amended in accordance with paragraph 5(3).

• (2) Within 14 days of the arbitrator being appointed, the claimant must provide both the respondent and the arbitrator with—

• (a) a written statement of claim which describes the nature of the difference between the parties, the legal and factual issues, the claimant’s contentions as to those issues, the amount of its claim or the remedy it is seeking;

• (b) all statements of evidence and copies of all documents on which it relies, including contractual documentation, correspondence (including electronic documents), legal precedents and expert witness reports.

• (3) Within 14 days of receipt of the claimant’s statements under sub-paragraph (2) by the arbitrator and respondent, the respondent must provide the claimant and the arbitrator with—

• (a) a written statement of defence consisting of a response to the claimant’s statement of claim, its statement in respect of the nature of the difference, the legal and factual issues in the claimant’s claim, its acceptance of any elements of the claimant’s claim and its contentions as to those elements of the claimant’s claim it does not accept;

• (b) all statements of evidence and copies of all documents on which it relies, including contractual documentation, correspondence (including electronic documents), legal precedents and expert witness reports;

• (c) any objection it wishes to make to the claimant’s statements, comments on the claimant’s expert reports (if submitted by the claimant) and explanations of the objections.

• (4) Within seven days of the respondent serving its statements under sub-paragraph (3), the claimant may make a statement of reply by providing both the respondent and the arbitrator with—

• (a) a written statement responding to the respondent’s submissions, including its reply in respect of the nature of the difference, the issues (both factual and legal) and its contentions in relation to the issues;

• (b) all statements of evidence and copies of documents in response to the respondent’s submissions;

• (c) any expert report in response to the respondent’s submissions;

• (d) any objections to the statements of evidence, expert reports or other documents submitted by the respondent; and

• (e) its written submissions in response to the legal and factual issues involved.

Procedure

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• (1) The parties’ pleadings, witness statements and expert reports (if any) must be concise. A single pleading must not exceed 30 single-sided A4 pages using 10pt Arial font.

• (2) The arbitrator will make an award on the substantive differences based solely on the written material submitted by the parties unless the arbitrator decides that a hearing is necessary to explain or resolve any matters.

• (3) Either party may, within two days of delivery of the last submission, request a hearing giving specific reasons why it considers a hearing is required.

• (4) Within seven days of receiving the last submission, the arbitrator must notify the parties whether a hearing is to be held and the length of that hearing.

• (5) Within ten days of the arbitrator advising the parties that a hearing is to be held, the date and venue for the hearing are to be fixed by agreement with the parties, save that if there is no agreement the arbitrator must direct a date and venue which the arbitrator considers is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances. The date for the hearing must not be less than 35 days from the date of the arbitrator’s direction confirming the date and venue of the hearing.

• (6) A decision must be made by the arbitrator on whether there is any need for expert evidence to be submitted orally at the hearing. If oral expert evidence is required by the arbitrator, then any experts attending the hearing may be asked questions by the arbitrator.

• (7) There is to be no examination or cross-examination of experts, but the arbitrator must invite the parties to ask questions of the experts by way of clarification of any answers given by the experts in response to the arbitrator’s questions. Prior to the hearing in relation to the experts—

• (a) at least 28 days before a hearing, the arbitrator must provide a list of issues to be addressed by the experts;

• (b) if more than one expert is called, they will jointly confer and produce a joint report or reports within 14 days of the issues being provided; and

• (c) the form and content of a joint report must be as directed by the arbitrator and must be provided at least seven days before the hearing.

• (8) Within 14 days of a hearing or a decision by the arbitrator that no hearing is to be held the parties may by way of exchange provide the arbitrator with a final submission in connection with the matters in dispute and any submissions on costs. The arbitrator must take these submissions into account in the award.

• (9) The arbitrator may make other directions or rulings as considered appropriate in order to ensure that the parties comply with the timetable and procedures to achieve an award on the substantive difference within four months of the date on which the arbitrator is appointed, unless both parties otherwise agree to an extension to the date for the award.

• (10) If a party fails to comply with the timetable, procedure or any other direction then the arbitrator may continue in the absence of a party or submission or document, and may make a decision on the information before the arbitrator attaching the appropriate weight to any evidence submitted beyond any timetable or in breach of any procedure or direction.

• (11) The arbitrator’s award must include reasons. The parties must accept that the extent to which reasons are given must be proportionate to the issues in dispute and the time available to the arbitrator to deliver the award.

Arbitrator’s powers

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• (1) The arbitrator has all the powers of the Arbitration Act 1996, save where modified in this Schedule.

• (2) There must be no discovery or disclosure, except that the arbitrator is to have the power to order the parties to produce such documents as are reasonably requested by another party no later than the statement of reply, or by the arbitrator, where the documents are manifestly relevant, specifically identified and the burden of production is not excessive. Any application and orders should be made by way of a Redfern Schedule without any hearing.

• (3) Any time limits fixed in accordance with this procedure or by the arbitrator may be varied by agreement between the parties, subject to any such variation being acceptable to and approved by the arbitrator. In the absence of agreement, the arbitrator may vary the timescales or procedure—

• (a) if the arbitrator is satisfied that a variation of any fixed time limit is reasonably necessary to avoid a breach of the rules of natural justice and then;

• (b) only for such a period that is necessary to achieve fairness between the parties.

• (4) On the date the award is made, the arbitrator will notify the parties that the award is completed, signed and dated, and that it will be issued to the parties on receipt of cleared funds for the arbitrator’s fees and expenses.

Costs

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• (1) The costs of the arbitration must include the fees and expenses of the arbitrator, the reasonable fees and expenses of any experts and the reasonable legal and other costs incurred by the parties for the arbitration.

• (2) Where the difference involves connected or interrelated issues, the arbitrator must consider the relevant costs collectively.

• (3) The final award must fix the costs of the arbitration and decide which of the parties are to bear them or in what proportion they are to be borne by the parties.

• (4) The arbitrator must award recoverable costs on the general principle that each party should bear its own costs, having regard to all material circumstances, including such matters as exaggerated claims or defences, the degree of success for different elements of the claims, claims that have incurred substantial costs, the conduct of the parties and the degree of success of a party.

Confidentiality

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• (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), any arbitration hearing and documentation will be open to and accessible by the public.

• (2) The arbitrator may direct that the whole or part of a hearing is to be private or any documentation to be confidential where it is necessary in order to protect commercially sensitive information.

• (3) Nothing in this paragraph will prevent any disclosure of a document by a party pursuant to an order of a court in England and Wales or where disclosure is required under any enactment.

SCHEDULE 15 — PROTECTIVE PROVISIONS

PART 1 — FOR THE PROTECTION OF ELECTRICITY, GAS, WATER AND SEWERAGE UNDERTAKERS

1

For the protection of the utility undertakers referred to in this Part of this Schedule, (save for any utility undertakers which are specifically protected by any other Part of this Schedule, which will take precedence) the following provisions have effect, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the undertaker and the utility undertakers concerned.

2

In this Part of this Schedule—

• “alternative apparatus” means apparatus adequate to enable the utility undertaker in question to fulfil its statutory functions in a manner not less efficient than previously;

• “apparatus” means— in the case of an electricity undertaker, electric lines or electrical plant (as defined in the 1989 Act), belonging to or maintained by that utility undertaker; in the case of a gas undertaker, any mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to or maintained by a gas transporter for the purposes of gas supply; in the case of a water undertaker— mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to or maintained by that utility undertaker for the purposes of water supply; and any water mains or service pipes (or part of a water main or service pipe) that is the subject of an agreement to adopt made under section 51A of the Water Industry Act 1991; in the case of a sewerage undertaker— any drain or works vested in the utility undertaker under the Water Industry Act 1991; and any sewer which is so vested or is the subject of a notice of intention to adopt given under section 102(4) of that Act or an agreement to adopt made under section 104 of that Act, and includes a sludge main, disposal main (within the meaning of section 219 of that Act) or sewer outfall and any manholes, ventilating shafts, pumps or other accessories forming part of any such sewer, drain or works, and includes any structure in which apparatus is or is to be lodged or which gives or will give access to apparatus; and any other mains, pipelines or cables that are not the subject of the protective provisions in Parts 2 to 19 of this Schedule;

• “functions” includes powers and duties;

• “in”, in a context referring to apparatus or alternative apparatus in land, includes a reference to apparatus or alternative apparatus under, over or upon land; and

• “utility undertaker” means— any licence holder within the meaning of Part 1 of the 1989 Act; a gas transporter within the meaning of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986; water undertaker within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 1991; a sewerage undertaker within the meaning of Part 1 of the Water Industry Act 1991; and an owner or operator of apparatus within paragraph (e) of the definition of that term, for the area of the authorised development, and in relation to any apparatus, means the utility undertaker to whom it belongs or by whom it is maintained.

3

This Part of this Schedule does not apply to apparatus in respect of which the relations between the undertaker and the utility undertaker are regulated by the provisions of Part 3 of the 1991 Act.

4

Regardless of the temporary prohibition or restriction of use of streets under the powers conferred by article 12 (temporary prohibition or restriction of the use of streets and public rights of way), a utility undertaker is at liberty at all times to take all necessary access across any such street and to execute and do all such works and things in, upon or under any such street as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to enable it to maintain any apparatus which at the time of the prohibition or restriction was in that street.

5

Regardless of any provision in this Order or anything shown on the land and Crown land plans, the undertaker must not acquire any apparatus otherwise than by agreement.

6

• (1) If, in the exercise of the powers conferred by this Order, the undertaker acquires any interest in any land in which any apparatus is placed or over which access to any apparatus is enjoyed or requires that the utility undertaker’s apparatus is relocated or diverted, that apparatus must not be removed under this Part of this Schedule, and any right of a utility undertaker to maintain that apparatus in that land and to gain access to it must not be extinguished, until alternative apparatus has been constructed and is in operation, and access to it has been provided, to the reasonable satisfaction of the utility undertaker in question in accordance with sub-paragraphs (2) to (7).

• (2) If, for the purpose of executing any works in, on or under any land purchased, held, appropriated or used under this Order, the undertaker requires the removal of any apparatus placed in that land, the undertaker must give to the utility undertaker in question written notice of that requirement, together with a plan and section of the work proposed, and of the proposed position of the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed and in that case (or if in consequence of the exercise of any of the powers conferred by this Order a utility undertaker reasonably needs to remove any of its apparatus) the undertaker must, subject to sub-paragraph (3), afford to the utility undertaker the necessary facilities and rights for the construction of alternative apparatus in other land of the undertaker and subsequently for the maintenance of that apparatus.

• (3) If alternative apparatus or any part of such apparatus is to be constructed elsewhere than in other land of the undertaker, or the undertaker is unable to afford such facilities and rights as are mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), in the land in which the alternative apparatus or part of such apparatus is to be constructed, the utility undertaker in question must, on receipt of a written notice to that effect from the undertaker, as soon as reasonably possible use reasonable endeavours to obtain the necessary facilities and rights in the land in which the alternative apparatus is to be constructed.

• (4) Any alternative apparatus to be constructed in land of the undertaker under this Part of this Schedule must be constructed in such manner and in such line or situation as may be agreed between the utility undertaker in question and the undertaker or in default of agreement settled by arbitration in accordance with article 43 (arbitration).