The River Thames (Hungerford Footbridges) Order 1999

Powers of acquisition

Power to acquire land

15.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily—

(a)so much of the land shown on the Land Plans within the limits of deviation and described in the book of reference as may be required for the purposes of the authorised works and not being land referred to in sub-paragraph (b) below, and

(b)so much of the land specified in columns (1) and (2) of Schedule 2 to this Order (being land shown on the Land Plans and described in the book of reference) as may be required for the purpose specified in relation to that land in column (3) of that Schedule;

and may use any land so acquired for those purposes connected with or ancillary to its undertaking.

(2) This article is subject to article 20(8) below.

Application of Part I of Compulsory Purchase Act 1965

16.—(1) Part I of the 1965 Act, in so far as not modified by or inconsistent with the provisions of this Order, shall apply to the acquisition of land under this Order—

(a)as it applies to a compulsory purchase to which the Acquisition of Land Act 1981(1) applies; and

(b)as if this Order were a compulsory purchase order under that Act.

(2) Part I of the 1965 Act, as so applied, shall have effect as if—

(a)section 4 (which provides a time limit for compulsory purchase of land) and paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 3 (which makes provision as to the giving of bonds) were omitted; and

(b)in section 11(1) (which confers power to enter on and to take possession of land subject to a notice to treat on giving not less than 14 days' notice) for the reference to 14 days' notice there were substituted—

(i)in a case where the notice to treat relates only to the acquisition of subsoil or the acquisition of an easement or other right over the land, a reference to notice of one month, or

(ii)in any other case, a reference to notice of 3 months.

Power to acquire new rights

17.—(1) The undertaker may compulsorily acquire such easements or other rights over any land referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) of article 15 above as may be required for any purpose for which that land may be acquired under that provision, by creating them as well as by acquiring easements or other rights already in existence.

(2) Subject to section 8 of the 1965 Act (as substituted by paragraph 5 of Schedule 7 to this Order), where the undertaker acquires a right over land under paragraph (1) above the undertaker shall not be required to acquire a greater interest in it.

(3) Schedule 7 to this Order shall have effect for the purpose of modifying the enactments relating to compensation and the provisions of the 1965 Act in their application in relation to the compulsory acquisition under this article of a right over land by the creation of a new right.

Power to acquire subsoil only

18.—(1) The undertaker may compulsorily acquire so much of the subsoil of the land referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) of article 15 above as may be required for any purpose for which that land may be acquired under that provision instead of acquiring the whole of the land.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) below, where the undertaker acquires any part of the subsoil of land under paragraph (1) above the undertaker shall not be required to acquire an interest in any other part of the land.

(3) Paragraph (2) above shall not prevent section 8 of the 1965 Act or article 23 below from applying where the undertaker acquires a cellar, vault, arch or other construction forming part of a house, building or factory.

Vesting declarations

19.—(1) The Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981(2) shall apply as if this order were a compulsory purchase order.

(2) In its application by virtue of paragraph (1) above, the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 shall have effect with the following modifications.

(3) In section 3 (preliminary notices) for subsection (1) there shall be substituted—

“(1) Before making a declaration under section 4 below with respect to any land which is subject to a compulsory purchase order the acquiring authority shall include the particulars specified in subsection (3) below in a notice which is—

(a)given to every person with a relevant interest in the land with respect to which the declaration is to be made (other than a mortgagee who is not in possession), and

(b)published in the London Gazette and in a local newspaper circulating in the area in which the land is situated.”.

(4) In that section, in subsection (2), for “(1)(b)” there shall be substituted “(1)” and after “given” there shall be inserted “and published”.

(5) In that section, subsections (5) and (6) shall be omitted and at the end there shall be substituted—

“(5) For the purposes of this section, a person has a relevant interest in land if—

(a)he is for the time being entitled to dispose of the fee simple of the land, whether in possession or reversion; or

(b)he holds, or is entitled to the rents and profits of, the land under a lease or agreement, the unexpired term of which exceeds one month.”.

(6) In section 5 (earliest date for execution of declaration)—

(a)in subsection (1), after “publication” there shall be inserted “in the London Gazette or in a local newspaper circulating in the area in which the land is situated”; and

(b)subsection (2) shall be omitted.

(7) In section 7 (constructive notice to treat) in subsection (1)(a), the words “(as modified by section 4 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981)” shall be omitted.

(8) References to the 1965 Act shall be construed as references to that Act as applied to the acquisition of land under article 15(1) above.