After section 9 of the Petroleum Act 1998 insert—
PART 1A Maximising economic recovery of UK petroleum
The principal objective and the strategy
9A (1) In this Part the “principal objective” is the objective of maximising the economic recovery of UK petroleum, in particular through—
(a) development, construction, deployment and use of equipment used in the petroleum industry (including upstream petroleum infrastructure), and
(b) collaboration among the following persons—
(i) holders of petroleum licences;
(ii) operators under petroleum licences;
(iii) owners of upstream petroleum infrastructure;
(iv) persons planning and carrying out the commissioning of upstream petroleum infrastructure.
(2) The Secretary of State must produce one or more strategies for enabling the principal objective to be met.
(3) A strategy may relate to matters other than those mentioned in subsection (1)(a) and (b).
(4) For provision about producing and revising a strategy, see sections 9F and 9G.
Exercise of certain functions of the Secretary of State
9B The Secretary of State must act in accordance with the current strategy or strategies when—
(a) exercising functions under the other Parts of this Act (except Part 4),
(b) exercising functions under Part 4 to the extent that they concern reduction of the costs of abandonment of offshore installations and submarine pipelines,
(c) exercising functions under Chapter 3 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2011 (upstream petroleum infrastructure),
(d) exercising any function or using any power under a petroleum licence, and
(e) exercising any other function or using any power—
(i) to provide advice or assistance to another person, or
(ii) to acquire, use or supply information,
for the purpose of enabling the principal objective to be met.
Carrying out of certain petroleum industry activities
9C (1) A person who is the holder of a petroleum licence must act in accordance with the current strategy or strategies when planning and carrying out activities as the licence holder.
(2) A person who is an operator under a petroleum licence must act in accordance with the current strategy or strategies when planning and carrying out activities as the operator under the licence.
(3) A person who is the owner of upstream petroleum infrastructure must act in accordance with the current strategy or strategies when planning and carrying out the person's activities as the owner of upstream petroleum infrastructure (including the development, construction, deployment and use of the infrastructure).
(4) A person must act in accordance with the current strategy or strategies when planning and carrying out the commissioning of upstream petroleum infrastructure.
Reports by the Secretary of State
9D (1) As soon as practicable after the end of each reporting period, the Secretary of State must—
(a) consider the extent to which, during that period, these persons have followed section 9C by acting in accordance with the current strategy or strategies—
(i) licence holders,
(ii) operators under petroleum licences,
(iii) owners of upstream petroleum infrastructure, and
(iv) persons planning and carrying out the commissioning of upstream petroleum infrastructure; and
(b) produce a report on the results of the consideration of that question.
(2) The report may contain other material, including a statement of action which the Secretary of State has taken, or is proposing to take, in response to any matter included in the report (including changes to a strategy).
(3) The Secretary of State must publish, and lay before each House of Parliament, a copy of each report produced under this section.
(4) In this section “reporting period” means—
(a) the period of two years beginning with the day when this section comes into force, and
(b) each subsequent period of one year beginning with the day after the end of a previous reporting period.
Secretary of State's security and resilience functions
9E (1) This Part does not limit the exercise of the Secretary of State's security and resilience functions.
(2) This Part is subject to the exercise of the security and resilience functions by the Secretary of State.
(3) In this section “security and resilience function” means any function which relates to—
(a) the security of petroleum supplies, or
(b) the resilience of the petroleum industry.
Producing and revising a strategy
9F (1) The Secretary of State must produce the first strategy before the end of the period of one year beginning with the day on which this section comes into force.
(2) The Secretary of State may subsequently—
(a) produce a new strategy, or
(b) revise a current strategy,
whenever the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.
(3) The Secretary of State must review each current strategy before the end of each relevant four year period.
(4) In reviewing a current strategy, the Secretary of State must (in particular) take account of the results of any consideration undertaken under section 9D in respect of reporting periods falling within the relevant four year period.
(5) In this section “relevant four year period”, in relation to a current strategy, means a period of four years beginning with—
(a) the date on which the strategy was issued, or
(b) if later, the date on which the last review under subsection (3) was concluded.
Procedure for producing and revising a strategy
9G (1) Before—
(a) producing the first strategy,
(b) producing a new strategy, or
(c) revising a current strategy,
the Secretary of State must prepare a draft of the strategy or revised strategy.
(2) The Secretary of State must—
(a) consult such persons as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate about the draft, and
(b) consider any representations made by them.
(3) If, after complying with that duty, the Secretary of State decides to proceed with the draft (in its original form or with modifications), the Secretary of State must lay a copy of the draft before each House of Parliament.
(4) The Secretary of State may not take any further steps in relation to the draft if, within the 40 day period, either House resolves not to approve the draft (a “negative resolution”).
(5) If neither House passes a negative resolution, the Secretary of State may issue the strategy or revised strategy in the form laid before Parliament.
(6) The strategy or revised strategy comes into force on the date specified by the Secretary of State (which must not be before the date when it is issued).
(7) Subsection (4) does not prevent a new draft of a strategy or revised strategy from being laid before Parliament.
(8) In this section “40 day period”, in relation to the draft of a strategy or revised strategy, means the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before Parliament (or if the draft is not laid before each House on the same day, the later of the 2 days on which it is laid).
(9) For the purposes of calculating the 40 day period, no account is to be taken of any period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.
“Upstream petroleum infrastructure” and its owners
9H (1) In this Part “upstream petroleum infrastructure” means—
(a) a gas processing facility,
(b) an oil processing facility, or
(c) an upstream petroleum pipeline,
if and in so far as it meets conditions A and B.
(2) A facility or pipeline meets condition A if and in so far as it is situated in Great Britain or relevant UK waters.
(3) A facility or pipeline meets condition B if and in so far as it is used in relation to UK petroleum (including such petroleum after it has been got).
(4) But an upstream petroleum pipeline is not “upstream petroleum infrastructure” if it is a pipeline to which section 17GA applies (petroleum pipelines subject to Norwegian access system).
(5) In this section, the following expressions have the same meanings as in Chapter 3 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2011 (see section 90 of that Act)—
(a) “gas processing facility”;
(b) “oil processing facility”;
(c) “upstream petroleum pipeline”.
(6) In this Part, “owner”, in relation to upstream petroleum infrastructure, means—
(a) a person in whom the pipeline or facility is vested;
(b) a lessee and any person occupying or controlling the pipeline or facility; and
(c) a person who has the right to have things conveyed by the pipeline or processed by the facility.
Other interpretation
9I In this Part—
“current strategy”, in relation to any particular time, means a strategy under section 9A(2) in force at that time;
“operator under a petroleum licence” means a person who is responsible for organising or supervising any of the operations of searching for, boring for, or getting UK petroleum in pursuance of the petroleum licence;
“owner”, in relation to upstream petroleum infrastructure, has the meaning given in section 9H;
“petroleum” has meaning given in section 1;
“petroleum licence” means a licence granted under—
section 3 of this Act, or
section 2 of the Petroleum (Production) Act 1934;
“principal objective” has the meaning given in section 9A;
“relevant UK waters” means—
the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom, and
the sea in any area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964;
“UK petroleum” means petroleum which for the time being exists in its natural condition in strata beneath relevant UK waters;
“upstream petroleum infrastructure” has the meaning given in section 9H.
43 Petroleum and geothermal energy: right to use deep-level land
(1) A person has the right to use deep-level land in any way for the purposes of exploiting petroleum or deep geothermal energy.
(2) Land is subject to the right of use (whether for the purposes of exploiting petroleum or deep geothermal energy) only if it is—
(a) deep-level land, and
(b) within a landward area.
(3) But that does not prevent deep-level land that is within a landward area from being used for the purposes of exploiting petroleum or deep geothermal energy outside a landward area.
(4) Deep-level land is any land at a depth of at least 300 metres below surface level.
(1) The ways in which the right of use may be exercised include—
(a) drilling, boring, fracturing or otherwise altering deep-level land;
(b) installing infrastructure in deep-level land;
(c) keeping, using or removing any infrastructure installed in deep-level land;
(d) passing any substance through, or putting any substance into, deep-level land or infrastructure installed in deep-level land;
(e) keeping, using or removing any substance put into deep-level land or into infrastructure installed in deep-level land.
(2) The purposes for which the right of use may be exercised include—
(a) searching for petroleum or deep geothermal energy;
(b) assessing the feasibility of exploiting petroleum or deep geothermal energy;
(c) preparing for exploiting petroleum or deep geothermal energy;
(d) decommissioning, and other activity which falls to be continued or undertaken, in consequence of activities undertaken for the purposes of exploiting petroleum or deep geothermal energy.
(3) The right of use includes the right to leave deep-level land in a different condition from the condition it was in before an exercise of the right of use (including by leaving any infrastructure or substance in the land).
(4) The right of use—
(a) does not give a person (“R”) any power which is greater than, or different from, the power which R would have had if the right had been granted by a person legally entitled to grant it; and
(b) does not relieve a person (“R”) from any obligation or liability to which R would have been subject if the right had been granted by a person legally entitled to grant it.
(5) A person (“L”) who owns land (the “relevant land”) is not liable, as the owner of that land, in tort for any loss or damage which is attributable to the exercise, or proposed exercise, of the right of use by another person (whether in relation to the relevant land or any other land).
(6) For that purpose, loss or damage is not attributable to the exercise, or proposed exercise, of the right of use (in particular) if, or to the extent that, the loss or damage is attributable to a deliberate omission by L.
(7) There is a “deliberate omission by L” if L, as owner of the relevant land, decides—
(a) not to do an act, or
(b) not to allow another person to do an act,
and the circumstances at the time of that decision were such that L would not have had to bear any of the costs incurred (whether by L or any other person) in doing or allowing the act.
(8) Section 43 and this section bind the Crown.
(1) The Secretary of State may, by regulations, require relevant energy undertakings to make payments in respect of the proposed exercise, or exercise, of—
(a) the right to use deep-level land in England for the purposes of exploiting petroleum, and
(b) the right to use deep-level land for the purposes of exploiting deep geothermal energy.
(1A) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, require relevant energy undertakings to make payments in respect of the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right to use deep-level land in Wales for the purposes of exploiting petroleum.
(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may require payments to be made—
(a) to owners of relevant land or interests in relevant land;
(b) to other persons for the benefit of areas in which relevant land is situated.
(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may—
(a) specify the amount or amounts of payments;
(b) make provision for determining the amount or amounts of payments.
(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may require relevant energy undertakings to provide the Secretary of State, or any other specified person, with specified information about—
(a) the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right of use; to which the regulations relate
(b) the making of payments in accordance with regulations under subsection (1).
(4A) Regulations under subsection (1A) may require relevant energy undertakings to provide the Welsh Ministers, or any other specified person, with specified information about—
(a) the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right of use to which the regulations relate;
(b) the making of payments in accordance with regulations under subsection (1A).
(5) Before making any regulations under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(6) Before making any regulations under subsection (1A), the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.
(1) The Secretary of State may, by regulations, require relevant energy undertakings to give notice of the proposed exercise, or exercise, of —
(a) the right to use deep-level land in England for the purposes of exploiting petroleum, and
(b) the right to use deep-level land for the purposes of exploiting deep geothermal energy.
(1A) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, require relevant energy undertakings to give notice of the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right to use deep-level land in Wales for the purposes of exploiting petroleum.
(2) The regulations may require relevant energy undertakings—
(a) to give notice—
(i) to owners of relevant land or interests in relevant land;
(ii) to persons of other specified descriptions;
(b) to display notice within the area in which relevant land is situated or elsewhere;
(c) to publish notice (otherwise than by displaying the notice).
(3) The regulations may make provision about the information which the notice is to contain, including provision about information relating to—
(a) any payment scheme regulations which are in force;
(b) the application of any payment scheme regulations to the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right of use; to which the regulations relate
(c) the method for obtaining a payment under any payment scheme regulations.
(4) The regulations may make provision about the manner in which notice is to be given, displayed or published, including provision requiring notice to be—
(a) displayed at specified places or places of specified descriptions;
(b) published in specified publications or publications of specified descriptions.
(5) Regulations under subsection (1) may require relevant energy undertakings to provide the Secretary of State, or any other specified person, with specified information about—
(a) the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right of use to which the regulations relate;
(b) the giving of notice in accordance with regulations under subsection (1).
(5A) Regulations under subsection (1A) may require relevant energy undertakings to provide the Welsh Ministers, or any other specified person, with specified information about—
(a) the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right of use to which the regulations relate;
(b) the giving of notice in accordance with regulations under subsection (1A).
(6) Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(6A) Before making regulations under subsection (1A), the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.
(7) In this section “payment scheme regulations” means regulations under section 45.
47 Payment and notice schemes: supplementary provision
(1) Regulations under section 45 or 46 may make provision about the enforcement of relevant requirements, including provision for the imposition of financial penalties in respect of breach of relevant requirements.
(2) Regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 45 or 46 may confer a function on—
(a) the Secretary of State, or
(b) any other person, apart from the Welsh Ministers.
(2A) Regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under section 45 or 46 may confer a function on—
(a) the Welsh Ministers, or
(b) any other person apart from a Minister of the Crown (within the meaning of the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975).
(3) The functions that may be imposed include—
(a) a duty (including a restriction or prohibition);
(b) a function involving the exercise of a discretion;
(c) a requirement to consult.
(4) The provisions of sections 45 and 46 and this section which specify particular kinds of provision that may be made in regulations under section 45 or 46 do not limit the powers conferred by that section to make such regulations.
(5) The Secretary of State must carry out a review of the Secretary of State's powers under sections 45 and 46 and the preceding provisions of this section as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the period of 5 years beginning with the day on which they come into force.
(6) The Secretary of State must by regulations—
(a) repeal section 45(1), and make any consequential amendments (including repeals) of the other provisions of this Act that the Secretary of State considers appropriate, if the relevant conditions are met in relation to the power under section 45(1);
(b) repeal section 46(1), and make any consequential amendments (including repeals) of the other provisions of this Act that the Secretary of State considers appropriate, if the relevant conditions are met in relation to the power under section 46(1).
(7) The relevant conditions are met in relation to the power under section 45(1) or the power under section 46(1) if—
(a) that power is not exercised within the period of 7 years beginning with the day on which that section comes into force, and
(b) the Secretary of State is satisfied that there is no convincing case for retaining that power.
(1) For the purposes of deciding whether land is deep-level land—
(a) the depth of a point in land below surface level is the distance between that point and the surface of the land vertically above that point; and
(b) in determining what is the surface of the land, any building or other structure on the land, and any water covering the land, must be ignored.
(1A) The Secretary of State may make regulations setting out the definition of “landward area” as it applies in relation to—
(a) the right to use deep-level land in England for the purposes of exploiting petroleum, and
(b) the right to use deep-level land for the purposes of exploiting deep geothermal energy.
(1B) The Welsh Ministers may make regulations setting out the definition of “landward area” as it applies in relation to the right to use deep-level land in Wales for the purposes of exploiting petroleum within the Welsh onshore area.
(1C) Until regulations are made under subsection (1A) or (1B), “landward area” means those parts of the landward area, within the meaning of the 2014 Regulations, that are in England and Wales.
(2) In sections 43 to 47 and this section—
“the 2014 Regulations” means the Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1686), as in force on the day on which subsections (1A) to (1C) come into force;
“deep geothermal energy” means geothermal energy in deep-level land (including in water or any other fluid in deep-level land);
“deep-level land” has the meaning given in section 43(4);
“England” includes the sea adjacent to England out as far as—
the seaward boundary of the territorial sea, or
if nearer to the land, any boundary between waters that are treated as part of the sea adjacent to Wales and those that are not, as determined by an order made under section 158(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006;
...
“petroleum” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (see section 1 of that Act);
“relevant energy undertaking” means a person who proposes to exercise, or exercises, the right of use;
“relevant land” means land in respect of which the right of use is proposed to be, or is, exercised;
“relevant requirement” means a requirement imposed by regulations under section 45 or 46;
“right of use” means the right conferred by section 43;
“specified” means specified in regulations under section 45 or 46;
“substance” includes electricity and any other intangible thing;
“Wales” has the same meaning as in the Government of Wales Act 2006 (see section 158(1) and (3) of that Act);
“Welsh onshore area” has the same meaning as in Section D2 in Part 2 of Schedule 7A to the Government of Wales Act 2006.
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
49 Advice on likely impact of onshore petroleum on the carbon budget
(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time request the Committee on Climate Change to provide advice (in accordance with section 38 of the CCA 2008) on the impact which combustion of, and fugitive emissions from, petroleum got through onshore activity in England is likely to have on the Secretary of State's ability to meet the duties imposed by—
(a) section 1 of the CCA 2008 (net UK carbon account target for 2050), and
(b) section 4(1)(b) of the CCA 2008 (UK carbon account not to exceed carbon budget).
(2) As soon as practicable after each reporting period, the Secretary of State must—
(a) lay before Parliament a copy of advice received under subsection (1) during the reporting period, and
(b) lay before Parliament a draft of regulations under subsection (3) or a report under subsection (5).
(3) Regulations under this subsection are regulations providing for section 43 to cease to have effect in England to such extent as may be specified in the regulations.
(4) No provision made in regulations under subsection (3) has effect in relation to anything done in exercise of the right of use conferred by section 43 before the date on which the regulations come into force.
(5) A report under this subsection is a report explaining why a draft of regulations under subsection (3) has not been laid.
(6) Regulations under this section may make such consequential amendments or repeals of sections 43 to 48 and this section as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(7) In this section—
“CCA 2008” means the Climate Change Act 2008;
“petroleum got through onshore activity in England” means petroleum got from the strata in which it exists in its natural condition by activity carried out on land in England (excluding land covered by the sea or any tidal waters);
“petroleum” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (see section 1 of that Act);
“reporting period” means—
the period ending with 1 April 2016, and
each subsequent period of 5 years.
After section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998 insert—
Onshore hydraulic fracturing: safeguards
4A (1) The Secretary of State must not issue a well consent that is required by an onshore licence for England or Wales unless the well consent imposes—
(a) a condition which prohibits associated hydraulic fracturing from taking place in land at a depth of less than 1000 metres; and
(b) a condition which prohibits associated hydraulic fracturing from taking place in land at a depth of 1000 metres or more unless the licensee has the Secretary of State's consent for it to take place (a “hydraulic fracturing consent”).
(2) A hydraulic fracturing consent is not to be issued unless an application for its issue is made by, or on behalf of, the licensee.
(3) Where an application is made, the Secretary of State may not issue a hydraulic fracturing consent unless the Secretary of State—
(a) is satisfied that—
(i) the conditions in column 1 of the following table are met, and
(ii) the conditions in subsection (6) are met, and
(b) is otherwise satisfied that it is appropriate to issue the consent.
(4) The existence of a document of the kind mentioned in column 2 of the table in this section is sufficient for the Secretary of State to be satisfied that the condition to which that document relates is met.
(5) But the absence of such a document does not prevent the Secretary of State from being satisfied that that condition is met.
Column 1: conditions | Column 2: documents
1 | The environmental impact of the development which includes the relevant well has been taken into account by the local planning authority | A notice given by the local planning authority that the environmental information was taken into account in deciding to grant the relevant planning permission
2 | Appropriate arrangements have been made for the independent inspection of the integrity of the relevant well | A certificate given by the Health and Safety Executive that it— (a) has received a well notification under regulation 6 of the Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995, (b) has received the information required by regulation 19 of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc.) Regulations 1996, and (c) has visited the site of the relevant well
3 | The level of methane in groundwater has, or will have, been monitored in the period of 12 months before the associated hydraulic fracturing begins | An environmental permit has been given by the relevant environmental regulator which contains a condition that requires compliance with a waste management plan which provides for monitoring of the level of methane in groundwater in the period of 12 months before the associated hydraulic fracturing begins
4 | Appropriate arrangements have been made for the monitoring of emissions of methane into the air | An environmental permit which contains a condition requiring compliance with a waste management plan which provides for the monitoring of emissions of methane into the air for the period of the permit
5 | The associated hydraulic fracturing will not take place within protected groundwater source areas | A decision document given by the relevant environmental regulator (in connection with an environmental permit) which indicates that the associated hydraulic fracturing will not take place within protected groundwater source areas
6 | The associated hydraulic fracturing will not take place within other protected areas | A notice given by the local planning authority that the area in respect of which the relevant planning permission has been granted does not include any land which is within any other protected areas
7 | In considering an application for the relevant planning permission, the local planning authority has (where material) taken into account the cumulative effects of— (a) that application, and (b) other applications relating to exploitation of onshore petroleum obtainable by hydraulic fracturing | A notice given by the local planning authority that it has taken into account those cumulative effects
8 | The substances used, or expected to be used, in associated hydraulic fracturing— (a) are approved, or (b) are subject to approval, by the relevant environmental regulator | An environmental permit has been given by the relevant environmental regulator which contains a condition that requires substances used in associated hydraulic fracturing to be approved by that regulator
9 | In considering an application for the relevant planning permission, the local planning authority has considered whether to impose a restoration condition in relation to that development | A notice given by the local planning authority that it has considered whether to impose such a condition
10 | The relevant undertaker has been consulted before grant of the relevant planning permission | A notice given by the local planning authority that the relevant undertaker has been consulted
11 | The public was given notice of the application for the relevant planning permission | A notice given by the local planning authority which confirms that the applicant for the relevant planning permission has certified that public notification requirements, as set out in a development order, have been met
(6) The conditions mentioned in subsection (3)(a)(ii) are—
(a) that appropriate arrangements have been made for the publication of the results of the monitoring referred to in condition 4 in the table;
(b) that a scheme is in place to provide financial or other benefit for the local area.
(7) A hydraulic fracturing consent may be issued subject to any conditions which the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.
(8) A breach of such a condition is to be treated as if it were a breach of a condition of a well consent.
Section 4A: supplementary provision
4B (1) “Associated hydraulic fracturing” means hydraulic fracturing of shale or strata encased in shale which—
(a) is carried out in connection with the use of the relevant well to search or bore for or get petroleum, and
(b) involves, or is expected to involve, the injection of—
(i) more than 1,000 cubic metres of fluid at each stage, or expected stage, of the hydraulic fracturing, or
(ii) more than 10,000 cubic metres of fluid in total.
(2) For the purposes of deciding the depth at which associated hydraulic fracturing is taking place in land—
(a) the depth of a point in land below surface level is the distance between that point and the surface of the land vertically above that point; and
(b) in determining what is the surface of the land, any building or other structure on the land, and any water covering the land, must be ignored.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply for the purposes of section 4A and this section.
(4) The Secretary of State must, by regulations made by statutory instrument, specify—
(a) the descriptions of areas which are “protected groundwater source areas”, and
(b) the descriptions of areas which are “other protected areas”,
for the purposes of section 4A.
(5) A statutory instrument which contains regulations under subsection (4) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(6) The Secretary of State must lay a draft of the first such regulations before each House of Parliament on or before 31 July 2015.
(7) The Secretary of State must consult—
(a) the Environment Agency before making any regulations under subsection (4)(a) in relation to England;
(b) the Natural Resources Body for Wales before making any regulations under subsection (4)(a) in relation to Wales.
(8) These expressions have the meanings given—
“development order” has the meaning given in section 59 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
“environmental permit” means a permit granted under regulation 13 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010;
“hydraulic fracturing consent” has the meaning given in subsection (1)(b);
“licensee” means the holder of the onshore licence for England or Wales;
“local planning authority” means—
the planning authority to which the application for the relevant planning permission was made (unless the Secretary of State or Welsh Ministers are responsible for determining the application), or
the Secretary of State or Welsh Ministers (if responsible for determining the application);
“onshore licence for England or Wales” means a licence granted under section 3 which authorises a person to search or bore for or get petroleum in those parts of the landward area (within the meaning of the Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 2014) that are in England or Wales or are beneath waters (other than waters adjacent to Scotland);
“relevant environmental regulator” means—
the Environment Agency, if the relevant well is situated in England, or
the Natural Resources Body for Wales, if the relevant well is situated in Wales;
“relevant planning permission” means planning permission to be granted, or granted, in respect of development which includes the relevant well;
“relevant undertaker” means the water undertaker or sewerage undertaker in whose area of appointment the relevant well is located;
“relevant well” means the well to which a well consent relates;
“well consent” means a consent in writing of the Secretary of State to the commencement of drilling of a well.
(9) The power of the Secretary of State to make regulations under section 4 includes power to make such amendments of the definition of “onshore licence for England or Wales” in this section as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of any other exercise of the power under section 4.
(10) The Secretary of State may, by regulations made by statutory instrument—
(a) make such amendments of column 2 of the table in section 4A as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and
(b) make such other amendments of section 4A or this section as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of provision made under paragraph (a).
(11) A statutory instrument which contains regulations under subsection (10) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(1) Section 100 of the Energy Act 2008 (renewable heat incentives) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (4).
(2) After subsection (1) insert—
(1A) Regulations under this section may confer any function on any person.
(1B) Regulations under this section may provide for a function conferred on a person to be exercisable on behalf of another person.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) in paragraph (a), for the words before sub-paragraph (i) substitute—
(a) make provision giving any of the following persons entitlements to payments (“RHI payments”) in specified circumstances—
;
(b) in paragraph (b), for “such payments” substitute “ RHI payments ”;
(c) after paragraph (b) insert—
(ba) make provision about the circumstances in which, and descriptions of persons to whom, the whole or a part of an entitlement to an RHI payment may be assigned (whether the person has the entitlement by virtue of regulations under paragraph (a) or regulations under this paragraph);
(bb) authorise or require the Secretary of State, the Authority, designated fossil fuel suppliers, or any person with any other administration function, to make an RHI payment—
(i) to the person who is entitled to the payment by virtue of regulations under paragraph (a), or
(ii) where that entitlement has been wholly or partly assigned in accordance with regulations under this section, to the person or persons for the time being enjoying the entitlement or any part of it;
;
(d) in paragraph (c), for “such payments” substitute “ RHI payments ”;
(e) for paragraph (d) substitute—
(d) authorise or require a person to provide specified information;
;
(f) in paragraph (e), omit “to the Secretary of State or the Authority”;
(g) in paragraph (h), omit “for the Secretary of State or the Authority”;
(h) omit paragraph (i);
(i) at the end insert—
(j) authorise the Secretary of State to make payments to a person in respect of the exercise by the person of functions under regulations under this section;
(k) make provision about the resolution of disputes relating to the exercise of functions under regulations under this section, including provision about arbitration or appeals (which may, in particular, provide for the person conducting an arbitration or determining an appeal to order the payment of costs or compensation).
(4) In subsection (3), after the definition of “fossil fuel supplier” insert—
“other administration function” means a function relating to the administration of a scheme established under this section, other than a function conferred by regulations under subsection (2)(bb);
.
(5) Section 105 of the Energy Act 2008 (Parliamentary control of subordinate legislation) is amended in accordance with subsections (6) to (8).
(6) In subsection (2)—
(a) in paragraph (a), omit sub-paragraph (vi);
(b) after paragraph (aa) insert—
(ab) regulations which contain (whether alone or together with other provision) affirmative resolution provision made under section 100 (renewable heat incentives);
.
(7) In subsection (3), after “(2)(a)” insert “ , (ab) ”
(8) After subsection (3) insert—
(3A) Provision made under section 100 is affirmative resolution provision if—
(a) the provision is made under any of the powers which always attract the affirmative resolution procedure, or
(b) the provision—
(i) is not made under any of those powers, and
(ii) meets condition A, B, C or D.
(3B) The powers which always attract the affirmative resolution procedure are the powers conferred by—
(a) section 100(2)(c), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (k),
(b) section 100(5), and
(c) section 100(6).
(3C) Provision meets condition A if—
(a) it is made under the power conferred by section 100(2)(bb), and
(b) it requires a designated fossil fuel supplier to make a payment under an RHI scheme.
(3D) Provision meets condition B if—
(a) it confers an administration function on a person who is not the Secretary of State or the Authority, and
(b) the time when the provision comes into force will be the first time that an administration function under the RHI scheme concerned is exercisable by a person who is not the Secretary of State or the Authority.
(3E) Provision meets condition C if—
(a) it is made under a power conferred by paragraph (ba) or (bb)(ii) of section 100(2),
(b) it is made in relation to an RHI scheme that was in existence immediately before the coming into force of this subsection, and
(c) it is the first provision to be made under that power in relation to that RHI scheme.
(3F) Provision meets condition D if—
(a) it is made under a power conferred by paragraph (a), (b), (ba), (bb), (d) or (j) of section 100(2),
(b) it is made in relation to an RHI scheme that was not in existence immediately before the coming into force of this subsection, and
(c) it is the first provision to be made under that power in relation to that RHI scheme.
(3G) In deciding whether provision meets condition B, the following matters must be ignored—
(a) for the purposes of subsection (3D)(a): any provision which confers a payment function on designated fossil fuel suppliers;
(b) for the purposes of subsection (3D)(b): any payment function under the RHI scheme concerned which (before the time when the provision comes into force) is, or has been, exercisable by designated fossil fuel suppliers.
(3H) The fact that provision is to some extent made under a power conferred by section 100(1), (1A) or (1B) does not prevent that provision from being taken (for the purposes of subsections (3A) to (3F)) as being made under any other power conferred by section 100.
(3I) In subsections (3B) to (3H) and this subsection—
“administration function” means a function relating to the administration of an RHI scheme;
“designated fossil fuel suppliers” has the same meaning as in section 100;
“payment function” means a function of making a payment under an RHI scheme (whether the function authorises or requires the making of the payment);
“RHI scheme” means a scheme under section 100 to facilitate and encourage renewable generation of heat.
(9) In section 105 of the Utilities Act 2000 (general restrictions on disclosure of information), in subsection (3)—
(a) in paragraph (a), omit “or section 100”;
(b) after paragraph (a) insert—
(aa) it is made for the purpose of facilitating any functions of any person under section 100 of the Energy Act 2008;
.
52 Reimbursement of persons who have met expenses of making electrical connections
(1) The Electricity Act 1989 is amended in accordance with this section.
(2) In section 19 (power to recover expenditure)—
(a) omit subsections (2) and (3);
(b) after subsection (3) insert—
(3A) Schedule 5B (reimbursement of persons who have met expenses) has effect.
;
(c) in subsection (4), after “this section” insert “ and Schedule 5B ”.
(3) After Schedule 5A insert—
SCHEDULE 5B
Reimbursement of persons who have met expenses
Power to make regulations
1 (1) The Secretary of State may, by regulations, make provision entitling the relevant electricity distributor to exercise the reimbursement powers in cases where conditions A, B, C and D are met.
(2) Condition A is met if any electric line or electrical plant is provided for the purpose of making a connection (the “first connection”)—
(a) between premises and a distribution system, or
(b) between two distribution systems.
(3) Condition B is met if a payment in respect of first connection expenses is made by one or more of the following persons—
(a) a person requiring the first connection in pursuance of section 16(1);
(b) a person who otherwise causes the first connection to be made (including by means of contractual arrangements).
(4) Condition C is met if any electric line or electric plant provided for the purpose of making the first connection is used for the purpose of making another connection (the “second connection”)—
(a) between premises and a distribution system, or
(b) between two distribution systems.
(5) Condition D is met if the second connection is made within the prescribed period after the first connection was made.
(6) “First connection expenses” are any expenses reasonably incurred by a person in providing any electric line or electric plant for the purpose of making the first connection.
(7) It does not matter whether the first connection, or the second connection, is made by an electricity distributor or a person of another description.
The reimbursement powers
2 (1) The “reimbursement powers” are—
(a) the power to demand a reimbursement payment from—
(i) a person requiring the second connection in pursuance of section 16(1), or
(ii) a person who otherwise causes the second connection to be made (including by means of contractual arrangements); and
(b) the power to apply the reimbursement payment in making such payments as may be appropriate towards reimbursing any persons for any payments they were previously required to make in respect of first connection expenses (whether that requirement arose by virtue of paragraph (a) or otherwise).
(2) A “reimbursement payment” is a payment, of such amount as may be reasonable in all the circumstances, in respect of first connection expenses.
Other provision about regulations under this Schedule
3 (1) The Secretary of State must consult the Authority before making regulations under this Schedule.
(2) Regulations under this Schedule may make provision requiring relevant electricity distributors to exercise a reimbursement power (whether in all cases or in cases provided for in the regulations).
(3) Regulations under this Schedule may make provision for the relevant electricity distributor to establish or estimate the amount of first connection expenses — or an amount of any aspect of those expenses — in cases where that distributor is not the person who made the first connection.
(4) Regulations under sub-paragraph (3) may not require any person to supply the relevant electricity distributor with information about any expenses incurred.
(5) Regulations under sub-paragraph (3) may provide for an estimate of an amount of first connection expenses to be calculated by a relevant electricity distributor by reference only to a combination of—
(a) expenses which that distributor would incur if that distributor were making the connection at the time of the estimate, and
(b) changes in prices since the time when the connection was actually made.
Interpretation
4 (1) In this Schedule—
“first connection” has the meaning given in paragraph 1;
“first connection expenses” has the meaning given in paragraph 1;
“reimbursement payment” has the meaning given in paragraph 2;
“reimbursement powers” has the meaning given in paragraph 2;
“relevant electricity distributor”, in relation to the exercise of a reimbursement power, means—
in a case where the first connection was made between premises and a distribution system, the electricity distributor that (at the time of the exercise of the power) operates that distribution system;
in a case where the first connection was made between two distribution systems, the electricity distributor that (at the time of the exercise of the power) operates the distribution system into which the first connection has been, or is expected to be, incorporated.
(2) A reference in this Schedule to a payment in respect of first connection expenses includes a reference to such a payment made in pursuance of section 19(1).
(4) In section 16 (duty to connect on request), in subsection (4), after “23” insert “ and Schedule 5B ”.
(5) In section 16A (procedure for requiring a connection), in subsection (5)(b)—
(a) omit “or regulations under section 19(2)”;
(b) after “19(2)” insert “ or regulations under Schedule 5B ”.
(6) In section 23 (determination of disputes)—
(a) after subsection (1) insert—
(1ZA) This section also applies to any dispute arising under regulations under Schedule 5B between—
(a) an electricity distributor, and
(b) a person in respect of whom the electricity distributor exercises the reimbursement powers conferred by the regulations.
;
(b) after subsection (1C) insert—
(1D) No dispute arising under regulations under Schedule 5B may be referred to the Authority after the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the time when the second connection (within the meaning of Schedule 5B) is made.
;
(c) after subsection (2) insert—
(2A) Where a dispute arising under regulations under Schedule 5B falls to be determined under this section, the Authority may give directions as to the circumstances in which, and the terms on which, an electricity distributor is to make or (as the case may be) to maintain the second connection (within the meaning of Schedule 5B) pending the determination of the dispute.
;
(d) in subsection (4), after “(2)” insert “ , (2A) ”.
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make consequential provision in connection with any provision made by or under this Part (other than section 40).
(2) Regulations under this section may amend, repeal, revoke or otherwise modify the application of any enactment (but, in the case of an Act, only if the Act was passed before the end of the Session in which this Act is passed).
(3) In this section “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978.
54 Power to abolish Public Works Loan Commissioners
In the Public Bodies Act 2011, in Schedule 1 (power to abolish: bodies and offices), after “Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal.” insert— “ Public Works Loan Commissioners. ”
(1) Regulations and orders made by the Secretary of State, the Treasury or the Welsh Ministers under this Act are to be made by statutory instrument.
(2) A statutory instrument which contains an order under section 1—
(a) appointing a strategic highways company for an area other than the whole of England, and
(b) which is the first exercise of the power in respect of such an area,
may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(3) A statutory instrument which contains an order under section 1—
(a) appointing a strategic highways company for an area other than the whole of England, and
(b) which is a subsequent exercise of the power in respect of such an area,
is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(4) A statutory instrument made by the Secretary of State containing (whether alone or with other provisions)—
(a) regulations under section 18,
(b) regulations under section 38 ...,
(c) regulations under section 45, 46, 47, 48 or 49, or
(d) regulations under section 19(1)(a), 30 or 53 which amend, repeal or modify the application of an Act,
may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to a statutory instrument containing only regulations under section 38(5)(b).
(5A) A statutory instrument made by the Welsh Ministers containing regulations under section 45, 46 or 48 may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.
(6) A statutory instrument—
(a) which contains regulations under this Act other than under section 16 or 57, and
(b) to which subsection (4) or (5A) does not apply,
is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(7) A statutory instrument which contains regulations under section 16 is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.
(8) A power to make regulations under this Act may be used—
(a) to make different provision for different purposes;
(b) in relation to all or only some of the purposes for which it may be used.
(9) Regulations under this Act may include incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision.
(10) Subsections (8) and (9) do not apply to regulations under section 57.
(1) Part 1 (strategic highways companies) extends to England and Wales only, save that—
(a) sections 16 and 18 to 20 extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and
(b) an amendment or repeal made by that Part, other than the amendment made by section 17(7), has the same extent as the provision to which it relates.
(2) Part 2 (Cycling and Walking Investment Strategies) extends to England and Wales only.
(3) In Part 3 (powers of British Transport Police Force)—
(a) section 22(1) extends to England and Wales only, and
(b) section 22(2) extends to England and Wales and Scotland.
(4) Part 4 (environmental control of animal and plant species) extends to England and Wales only.
(5) In Part 5 (planning, land and buildings)—
(a) an amendment or repeal has the same extent as the provision to which it relates, and
(b) sections 30(2) to (4), 32(11) and (12) and 33(2), Part 4 of Schedule 5 and section 34 so far as applying to that Part and section 37(6) extend to England and Wales only.
(6) In Part 6 (energy)—
(a) sections 38 and 39, sections 41 and 42, sections 51 to 53 and Schedules 6 and 7 extend to England and Wales and Scotland,
(b) section 40 and section 49 extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and
(c) sections 43 to 48 and section 50 extend to England and Wales only.
(7) Part 7 (Public Works Loan Commissioners) extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(8) This Part extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(1) Part 1 (strategic highways companies) comes into force—
(a) in so far as it confers power to make regulations, on the day on which this Act is passed, and
(b) for all other purposes, on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations.
(2) Part 2 (Cycling and Walking Investment Strategies) comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations.
(3) Part 3 (powers of British Transport Police Force) comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.
(4) Part 4 (environmental control of animal and plant species)—
(a) so far as it relates to England, comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations, and
(b) so far as it relates to Wales, comes into force on such day as the Welsh Ministers appoint by regulations.
(5) In Part 5 (planning, land and buildings)—
(a) sections 26, 27 and 37 come into force on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations,
(b) section 28 comes into force—
(i) in so far as it confers power to make regulations, on the day on which this Act is passed, and
(ii) for all other purposes, on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations,
(c) sections 29 and 33 come into force on the day on which this Act is passed,
(d) section 30 and Schedule 4 come into force—
(i) in so far as they confer power to make provision by regulations or by development order within the meaning of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, on the day on which this Act is passed, and
(ii) for all other purposes, on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations, and
(e) sections 31, 32, 34, 35 and 36 and Schedule 5 come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.
(6) In the case of section 34 and Schedule 5, subsection (5) has effect subject to Part 4 of that Schedule.
(7) In Part 6 (energy)—
(a) sections 38 and 39 and Schedule 6 come into force on 1 June 2016,
(b) section 40 and sections 43 to 49 come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed,
(c) sections 41 and 42, section 50, section 52 and Schedule 7 come into force on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations, and
(d) section 51 and section 53 come into force on the day on which this Act is passed.
(8) Part 7 (Public Works Loan Commissioners) comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.
(9) This Part comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed.
(10) Regulations under subsection (1)(b), (4), (5)(a), (b)(ii) or (d)(ii) or (7)(c) may appoint different days for different purposes or areas.
(11) The Secretary of State may by regulations make transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act, other than Part 4 so far as it relates to Wales.
(12) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of Part 4 so far as it relates to Wales.
SCHEDULE 1 Strategic highways companies: consequential and supplemental amendments
Section 1
PART 1 Highways Act 1980
1 The Highways Act 1980 is amended as follows.
2 (1) Section 1 (highway authorities: general provision) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “Minister is” insert “ , subject to subsection (1A), ”;
(b) after paragraph (d) insert—
(e) any highway for which he becomes the highway authority by virtue of section 2 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
(3) After subsection (1) insert—
(1A) A strategic highways company is the highway authority for—
(a) any highway specified in the appointment of the company in accordance with Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;
(b) any highway that is directed to become a trunk road and for which that company is directed to be highway authority under section 10;
(c) any special road provided by the company;
(d) any highway for which an order made under any enactment expressly provides for that company to be the highway authority;
(e) any highway transferred to the company by an order under section 14 or 18;
(f) any other highway constructed by the company except where—
(i) by virtue of section 4(3) or 5(2) or some other enactment, a local highway authority is the highway authority for it; or
(ii) by means of an order under section 14 or 18 the highway is transferred to a local highway authority.
Paragraphs (a), (b) and (f) do not apply where a local highway authority becomes the highway authority by virtue of section 2.
(4) In subsections (2) and (3) to (4)—
(a) after “subsection (1)” insert “ or (1A) ”;
(b) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
3 In section 2 (highway authority for road which ceases to be a trunk road), in subsection (2)—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or by a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the second “Minister” insert “ or the company ”.
4 (1) Section 3 (highway authority for approaches to and parts of certain bridges) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (3), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
5 (1) Section 4 (agreement for exercise by Minister of certain functions of local highway authority as respects highway affected by construction etc of trunk road) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “or a strategic highways company, whichever is the highway authority for a trunk road (“the trunk road authority”);
(b) for the second “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”;
(c) for “a trunk road”, wherever occurring, substitute “ that trunk road ”.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) for “Minister”, wherever occurring, substitute “ trunk road authority ”;
(b) for “he” substitute “ the trunk road authority ”.
(4) In subsection (3)—
(a) omit “by him”;
(b) for “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
(5) In subsections (4) and (5), for “Minister”, wherever occurring, substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
(6) In the heading, after “Minister” insert “ or strategic highways company ”.
6 (1) Section 5 (agreement for local highway authority to maintain and improve certain highways constructed or to be constructed by Minister) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) for “their” substitute “the local highway authority's”;
(c) after the second “Minister” insert “ or the company ”.
(3) In the heading, after “Minister” insert “ or strategic highways company ”.
7 (1) Section 6 (delegation etc of functions with respect to trunk roads) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “his” insert “ or its ”;
(c) after “him” insert “ or it ”.
(3) In subsection (1A)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) for “their”, wherever occurring, substitute “that council's”.
(4) In subsection (1B)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) for “their” substitute “that council's”.
(5) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) for “he may attach” substitute “ may be attached ”.
(6) In subsection (3)—
(a) after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “he” insert “ or the company ”;
(c) after “him” insert “ or the company ”.
(7) In subsection (4), after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(8) In subsection (5)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), for “them” substitute “ the council ”.
(9) In subsection (6), after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(10) In subsection (8)—
(a) after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(b) after “his” insert “or the company's”.
8 (1) Section 8 (agreements between local highway authorities for doing of certain works) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “local highway authorities” insert “ and strategic highways companies ”;
(b) for “each other” substitute “ other such authorities and companies ”.
(3) In the heading, after “local highway authorities” insert “ and strategic highways companies ”.
9 (1) Section 9 (seconding of staff etc) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(b) after “his”, wherever occurring, insert “or the company's”.
(3) In subsection (2), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
10 (1) Section 10 (general provision as to trunk roads) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2)(a)(i), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) After subsection (3) insert—
(3A) The power to direct that a highway or proposed highway become a trunk road includes the power to direct that a strategic highways company is the highway authority for that trunk road.
(4) In subsection (8), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
11 (1) Section 11 (local and private Act functions with respect to trunk roads) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “Minister alone” insert “ or a strategic highways company alone, whichever is highway authority for the trunk road (“the trunk road authority”), ”.
(3) In subsection (2), in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), for “Minister”, wherever occurring, substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
12 In section 14 (powers as respects roads that cross or join trunk or classified roads), in subsection (3)—
(a) in paragraph (a), after “trunk road” insert “ for which he is the highway authority ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), for “in relation to a classified road” substitute “ in any other case ”.
13 (1) Section 16 (general provision as to special roads) is amended as follows.
(2) For subsection (4) substitute—
(4) A reference in this Act to a special road authority is a reference to—
(a) except where paragraph (b) or (c) applies, a highway authority authorised to provide a special road by means of—
(i) a scheme under this section, or
(ii) a scheme referred to in subsection (1);
(b) except where paragraph (c) applies, the highway authority determined to be the special road authority by a jointly submitted scheme under subsection (10);
(c) a strategic highways company, where the company is the highway authority for a special road by virtue of an appointment under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
(3) In subsection (6)(b)—
(a) for “the case” substitute “ any other case ”;
(b) omit “local”.
(4) In subsection (10)—
(a) omit “local”;
(b) omit from “, references in this Act” to the end.
14 In section 18 (supplementary orders relating to special roads), in subsection (3)(b)—
(a) for “the case” substitute “ any other case ”;
(b) omit “local”.
15 In section 19 (certain special roads and other highways to become trunk roads), in subsections (1) and (2), after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
16 (1) Section 23 (compensation in respect of certain works executed in pursuance of orders under section 14 or 18) is amended as follows.
(2) After the first “Minister,” insert “ a strategic highways company, ”.
(3) After the second “Minister,” insert “ the strategic highways company, ”.
17 (1) Section 24 (construction of new highways and provision of road-ferries) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) omit “, with the approval of the Treasury,”;
(c) after “he”, wherever occurring, insert “ or it ”;
(d) in paragraph (d), after “him” insert “ or it ”;
(e) in the words following paragraph (d), after “his” insert “ or its ”.
(3) After subsection (1) insert—
(1A) Where a strategic highways company proposes to construct a highway which will communicate with a highway for which another strategic highways company is the highway authority, the communication shall not be made unless the manner in which it is to be made has been approved by the Secretary of State.
(4) In subsection (2)—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the second “Minister” insert “ or the company ”.
18 (1) Section 26 (compulsory powers for creation of footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “local authority” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “the authority” insert “ or company ”;
(c) after “them”, wherever occurring, insert “ or it ”.
(3) In subsection (3)—
(a) after the first “local authority” insert “ and a strategic highways company ”;
(b) omit “other”.
(4) In subsection (3A)(b), after “local authority” insert “ and a strategic highways company ”.
19 In section 38 (power of highway authorities to adopt by agreement), in subsection (1), after “Minister,” insert “ or a strategic highways company, whichever is the highway authority ”.
20 (1) Section 41 (duty to maintain highways maintainable at public expense) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2), after “him” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (4)(b), after “Minister” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
(4) In subsection (5), after the second “Minister” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
21 (1) Section 55 (extinguishment of liability to maintain or improve bridges comprised in trunk roads and special roads) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company (“the trunk road authority”) ”.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) for the first “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”;
(b) for the second “Minister” substitute “ authority ”.
(4) In subsection (3), for “Minister”, wherever occurring, substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
(5) In subsection (4)—
(a) for the first “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”;
(b) after the second “Minister” insert “ , a strategic highways company or trunk road authority ”.
(6) In subsection (5), in the definition of “owners”, for “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
22 In section 63 (relief of main carriageway of trunk road from local traffic), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
23 In section 66 (footways and guard-rails etc for publicly maintainable highways), in subsection (6)—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the second “Minister” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
24 In section 69 (subways), in subsection (2)(a), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
25 (1) Section 80 (power to fence highways) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)(b), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (3), after “Part III)” insert “ and, in the case of a trunk road, consent has been given under section 175B (consent of highway authority required for trunk road access) ”.
(4) In subsection (4)—
(a) in paragraph (b)—
(i) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(ii) after “him” insert “ or it ”;
(b) in the words following paragraph (b), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
26 (1) Section 90C (consultation and local inquiries) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “he” insert “ , it ”.
(3) In subsection (2), after “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”.
(4) In subsection (4)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “him” insert “ , it ”;
(c) after “he” insert “ , it ”.
27 (1) Section 93 (power to make orders as to reconstruction, improvement etc of privately maintainable bridges) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsections (1) and (2), omit “local”, wherever occurring.
(3) Omit subsection (5).
28 In section 95 (supplemental provisions as to orders and agreements under sections 93 and 94), in subsection (2), for the words from “section 94” to the end substitute “ sections 93 and 94 are exercisable by the highway authority for the trunk road over, or partly over, the bridge. ”
29 In section 97 (lighting of highways), in subsection (1), for “The Minister and every local” substitute “ A ”.
30 (1) Section 105A (environmental impact assessments) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the first “he” insert “ or it ”;
(c) after the second “he” insert “ or it, whichever is considering the project, ”.
(3) In subsection (3)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “he” insert “ or the company ”.
(4) In subsection (4), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
(5) In subsection (5)(d)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “his” insert “ or its ”.
31 (1) Section 105B (procedure) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “him” insert “ or it (as the case may be) ”.
(3) In subsection (3), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company (as the case may be) ”.
(4) In subsection (3A)—
(a) in paragraphs (a) and (h), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (i), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company (as the case may be) ”;
(c) in paragraph (j), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
(5) In subsections (3B) and (3C), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
(6) In subsection (4)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “he” insert “ or it ”.
(7) In subsection (5)—
(a) after the first “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraphs (b) and (c)—
(i) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company (as the case may be) ”;
(ii) after “him” insert “ or it ”.
(8) In subsection (5A)—
(a) after “Secretary of State”, wherever occurring, insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “him”, wherever occurring, insert “ or it ”.
(9) In subsection (6)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company (as the case may be) ”;
(b) after “he”, wherever occurring, insert “ or it ”;
(c) after “his”, wherever occurring, insert “ or its ”.
(10) In subsection (7), after “Secretary of State”, wherever occurring, insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
(11) In subsection (8)(e), after “Secretary of State” insert “ , the strategic highways company ”.
32 (1) Section 105C (other EEA States) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) in paragraph (a), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company, whichever is considering the project, ”.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (a), after “him” insert “ or the company ”;
(c) in paragraphs (b) and (c), after “he” insert “ or the company ”.
(4) In subsection (4)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraphs (a) and (c), after “he” insert “ or the company ”.
(5) In subsection (5)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “he”, wherever occurring, insert “ or the company ”;
(c) in paragraph (b), after “him” insert “ or the company ”.
(6) In subsections (6) and (7), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
33 In section 105D (validity of decisions), in subsection (1), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
34 (1) Section 106 (orders and schemes providing for construction of bridges over or tunnels under navigable waters) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (3)—
(a) after “local highway authority” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “the authority” insert “ or company ”.
(3) In subsection (6), omit “local”.
35 In section 108 (power to divert navigable watercourses), in subsection (2)(b), for “a local” substitute “ any other ”.
36 In section 110 (power to divert non-navigable watercourses and to carry out other works on any watercourse), in subsection (6)(b), for “, they shall not carry them” substitute “ or a strategic highways company, they must not be carried ”.
37 (1) Section 112 (provision of picnic sites and public conveniences for users of trunk roads) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “him” insert “ or the company ”.
(4) In subsections (3) to (5), after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(5) In subsection (6)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or the strategic highways company, whichever is highway authority for the trunk road, ”;
(b) after “him” insert “ or it ”.
(6) In subsection (7), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
38 (1) Section 113 (exercise by council of functions of Minister with respect to management or provision of picnic sites etc) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “his” insert “ or its ”;
(c) after “him” insert “ or it ”.
(3) In subsection (2), omit “by Minister”.
(4) In subsection (3)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), after “he” insert “ or it ”;
(c) in paragraph (c), after “his” insert “ or its ”.
(5) In subsections (5) and (7), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(6) In the heading, after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
39 (1) Section 124 (stopping up of private access to highways) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2), after “if they are” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
(3) In subsection (3)—
(a) for “a local” substitute “ any other ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), for “local” substitute “ other ”.
(4) In subsection (4)(d) and (e), omit “local”, wherever occurring.
(5) In subsection (5)—
(a) after “order made by” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(b) omit the second “local”.
(6) In subsections (6) and (7), omit “local”.
40 In section 129 (further provision with respect to new means of access), in subsection (3), for “a local” substitute “ any other ”.
41 In section 154 (cutting or felling etc trees etc that overhang or are a danger to roads or paths), in subsection (1)(a)—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) for the second “Minister” substitute “ highway authority ”.
42 In section 174 (precautions to be taken by persons executing works in streets), in subsections (1A) and (1B), omit “local”.
43 Before section 176 insert—
Consent of highway authority required for trunk road access
175B (1) Access to or from a trunk road in England must not be constructed, formed or laid out without the consent of the highway authority for the trunk road.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where—
(a) section 24(2) applies, or
(b) development consent is required under the Planning Act 2008.
44 In section 232 (power to treat as a private street land designated for purposes of this section by development plan), in subsection (7), after “constructed by” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
45 (1) Section 239 (acquisition of land for construction, improvement etc of highway: general powers) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “his” insert “ or its ”.
46 In section 240 (acquisition of land in connection with construction, improvement etc of highway: further general powers), in subsection (3)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), after “his” insert “ or its ”.
47 (1) Section 245A (acquisition of land by Secretary of State or Assembly for buildings etc needed for traffic management purposes) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1) insert—
(1A) A strategic highways company may acquire land in England which in its opinion is required for the provision of any buildings or facilities which are needed—
(a) for use by, or in connection with the activities of, traffic officers in the area for which it is appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015; or
(b) for other purposes connected with the management of traffic on highways in that area and for which it is the highway authority.
(3) In the heading, after “Secretary of State” insert “ , strategic highways company ”.
48 In section 247 (general provision as to acquisition procedure etc), in subsection (1), after “this Act on” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
49 (1) Section 254 (compulsory acquisition for certain purposes of rights in land belonging to local authorities etc) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)(b), after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (2), after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(4) In subsection (5)(b), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
50 (1) Section 260 (clearance of title to land acquired for statutory purposes) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (3)(b), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (4), after “Minister” insert “ , strategic highways company ”.
51 In section 263 (vesting of highways maintainable at public expense), in subsection (3), omit “local”.
52 (1) Section 265 (transfer of property and liabilities upon a highway becoming or ceasing to be a trunk road) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or the strategic highways company, whichever is highway authority for the trunk road, ”;
(b) after the second “Minister” insert “ or the company ”.
(3) In subsection (2), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(4) In subsection (4)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “him” insert “ or the company ”.
(5) In subsection (5)—
(a) after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (a), after “him” insert “ or the company ”.
(6) In subsections (6) and (7), after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(7) In subsection (8)—
(a) after “Minister” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “him” insert “ or it ”;
(c) after “he” insert “ or it ”.
53 (1) Section 266 (transfer to Minister of privately maintainable bridges carrying trunk roads) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company, whichever is highway authority for the trunk road (“the trunk road authority”), ”.
(3) In subsection (2), for “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
(4) In subsection (3)—
(a) for the first “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”;
(b) for “Minister”, wherever else occurring, substitute “ authority ”.
(5) In subsection (4), for “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
(6) In subsections (5) and (6)—
(a) for the first “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”;
(b) for “Minister”, wherever else occurring, substitute “ authority ”.
(7) In subsections (7), (8) and (10), for “Minister”, wherever occurring, substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
(8) In the heading, after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
54 In section 266A (transfer of property and liabilities upon a highway becoming or ceasing to be a GLA road), in subsection (8)(b), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
55 (1) Section 267 (transfer to local highway authorities of privately maintainable bridges carrying special roads) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company, ”.
(3) In subsections (2) and (3), for “Minister” substitute “ trunk road authority ”.
56 (1) Section 271 (provisions with respect to transfer of toll highways to highway authorities) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)(i), after “trunk road” insert “ for which he is the highway authority ”.
(3) After subsection (1)(i) insert—
(ia) in the case of a trunk road for which it is the highway authority, a strategic highways company;
.
57 (1) Section 277 (contribution towards maintenance of bridge where road ceases to be a trunk road) is amended as follows.
(2) After the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) After the second “Minister” insert “ or the company ”.
58 (1) Section 284 (powers of Minister in relation to privately maintainable parts of trunk roads) is amended as follows.
(2) After “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company, whichever is highway authority for the trunk road, ”.
(3) In the heading, after “Minister” insert “ or strategic highways company ”.
59 (1) Section 284A (trunk roads: miscellaneous functions of Secretary of State) is amended as follows.
(2) For the words from “any trunk road” to the end substitute “ a trunk road for which the Secretary of State is highway authority, include the Secretary of State and, in relation to a trunk road for which a strategic highways company is the highway authority, include that company. ”
(3) In the heading, after “Secretary of State” insert “ and strategic highways company ”.
60 (1) Section 329 (further provision as to interpretation) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) in the definition of “local highway authority” after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) at the appropriate place insert—
“strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;
.
(3) After subsection (5) insert—
(6) Subsection (5) is subject to the specification of those roads as ones for which a strategic highways company is highway authority under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
61 In section 330 (construction of certain enactments relating to execution of works by statutory undertakers), in subsection (1), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company, whichever is highway authority for the trunk road, ”.
62 In section 331 (references to functions of council as respects any highway), after “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
63 (1) Schedule 1 (procedures for making or confirming certain orders and schemes) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 1, after “trunk road” insert “ for which he is the highway authority ”.
(3) In paragraph 2—
(a) after “order relating to” insert “ a trunk road for which a strategic highways company is the highway authority or to ”;
(b) omit “local”.
(4) In paragraph 3—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ , the strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the second “Minister” insert “ , of the strategic highways company ”.
(5) In paragraphs 4 and 5, after “Minister” insert “ , the strategic highways company ”.
(6) In paragraph 6, after “Minister” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”.
(7) In paragraphs 7(1)(ii), 8(1)(b), 9 and 10 omit “local”.
(8) In paragraph 11, for “local” substitute “ other ”.
(9) In paragraph 12, for the first “local” substitute “ other ”.
(10) In paragraph 13, for “a local” substitute “ another ”.
(11) In paragraphs 14(1)(ii), 15(1)(b) and 16 omit “local”.
(12) In paragraph 17, for “local” substitute “ other ”.
64 In Schedule 3 (provisions of this Act referred to in section 11), in the headings to Parts 1, 2 and 3, after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
65 (1) Schedule 5 (modifications of certain provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as applied by section 21) is amended as follows.
(2) In Part 1 (modifications in relation to land referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of section 21(2)), in paragraph 3, after “when” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
(3) In Part 2 (modifications in relation to land referred to in paragraph (c) of section 21(2))—
(a) in paragraph 1, after “Minister,” insert “ the strategic highways company, ”;
(b) in paragraph 3, after “references to” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(c) in paragraph 4, in the substituted text of subsection (1) of section 273 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, after “ Minister, ” insert “ the strategic highways company, ”;
(d) in paragraph 5, after “Minister,” insert “ the strategic highways company, ”.
66 (1) Schedule 11 (provisions as to orders under section 93 of this Act) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 9(3), omit “local”.
(3) In paragraph 15(1), omit “other than a trunk road bridge”.
(4) Omit paragraph 17.
67 (1) Schedule 21 (transitional matters arising where a highway becomes a trunk road or a trunk road ceases to be a trunk road) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 1—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company, whichever is highway authority for the trunk road ”;
(b) after the second “Minister” insert “ or the company ”;
(c) for “him” substitute “ it ”.
(3) In paragraph 3—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “Minister”, wherever else occurring, insert “ or the company ”.
(4) In paragraph 4, after “Minister”, wherever occurring, insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(5) In paragraphs 6 to 9—
(a) after the first “Minister” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “Minister”, wherever else occurring, insert “ or the company ”.
PART 2 Other enactments
Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)
68 In Schedule 1 to the Public Records Act 1958, in the table at the end of paragraph 3, at the appropriate place in Part 2 insert “ A strategic highways company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015. ”
Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)
69 In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, at the appropriate place insert “ A strategic highways company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015. ”
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27)
70 The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is amended as follows.
71 (1) Section 1 (traffic regulation orders outside Greater London) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (3)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “he is” insert “ , it is ”.
(3) In subsection (3A)—
(a) after the first “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), after “Secretary of State,” insert “ the strategic highways company ”.
72 In section 2 (what a traffic regulation order may provide), in subsection (5), after “local authority” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”.
73 In section 6 (orders similar to traffic regulation orders), in subsection (2)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “his” insert “ or its ”.
74 (1) Section 9 (experimental traffic orders) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “he” insert “ or it ”.
(3) In subsection (2A)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “his” insert “ or its ”.
75 In section 16A (prohibition or restriction on roads in connection with certain events), in subsection (6)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “his” insert “ or its ”.
76 (1) Section 16B (restrictions on orders under s16A) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) in paragraph (a), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), after “he” insert “ or it ”.
(3) In subsection (2), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(4) In subsections (4) and (5), for “is not himself the traffic authority, he” substitute “ or a strategic highways company (whichever made the order or agreed that it should continue in force) is not the traffic authority, he or it ”.
(5) In subsection (6)—
(a) in paragraph (a), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) in paragraph (b), after “his” insert “ or its ”.
77 In section 19 (regulation of use of highways by public service vehicles), in subsection (1), after “Greater London” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
78 (1) Section 23 (powers of local authorities with respect to pedestrian crossings on roads other than trunk roads) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsections (1) to (3), before “local traffic authority” insert “ strategic highways company or a ”.
(3) For the heading substitute “ Powers of strategic highways companies and local traffic authorities with respect to pedestrian crossings ”.
79 In section 24 (pedestrian crossings on trunk roads), in the heading, for “trunk” substitute “ other ”.
80 In section 37 (extension of powers for purposes of general scheme of traffic control), in subsection (3), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
81 In section 58 (consents for the purposes of s 57(1)), in paragraph (i) of the table in subsection (1)—
(a) in the first column, after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) in the second column, after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company, whichever is the traffic authority for the road ”.
82 (1) Section 65 (powers and duties of highway authorities as to placing of traffic signs) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2), after “directions to” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
(3) In the heading, for “highway” substitute “ traffic ”.
83 In section 69 (general provisions as to removal of signs), in subsection (3)—
(a) after “directions to” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(b) for “the authority” substitute “ it or them ”.
84 (1) Section 70 (default powers of Secretary of State as to traffic signs) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “If” insert “ a strategic highways company, ”;
(b) after “from” insert “ the company or ”.
(3) After subsection (2) insert—
(3) In England, where subsection (1) applies in respect of non-compliance with a direction by a traffic authority other than a strategic highways company—
(a) a strategic highways company may carry out the work required by the direction with the consent of the Secretary of State, and
(b) the expenses incurred by the company in doing so are recoverable by the company from the authority summarily as a civil debt.
85 In section 71 (power to enter land in connection with traffic signs), in subsection (1), after “A” insert “ strategic highways company, a ”.
86 (1) Section 74B (transfer of traffic control systems between Secretary of State and Transport for London) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsections (1) and (2)—
(a) after the first “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the second “Secretary of State” insert “ or the company ”.
(3) In subsection (5), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the strategic highways company ”.
(4) In the heading, after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
87 In section 83 (provisions as to directions under s 82(2)), in subsection (2)—
(a) after the first “by” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(b) after the third “by” insert “ the company or ”.
88 In section 84 (speed limits on roads other than restricted roads), in subsection (1B), after “orders of” insert “ strategic highways companies or ”.
89 (1) Section 85 (traffic signs for indicating speed restrictions) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsections (2) and (3), omit “local”, wherever occurring.
(3) After subsection (3) insert—
(3A) In England, where subsection (3) applies in respect of non-compliance with a direction by a traffic authority other than a strategic highways company—
(a) a strategic highways company may execute the work required by the direction with the consent of the Secretary of State, and
(b) the expense incurred by the company in doing so is recoverable by the company from the authority summarily as a civil debt.
90 (1) Section 93 (powers of Secretary of State in relation to functions under s 92) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2), for “a local” substitute “ another ”.
(3) In subsection (3), omit “local”.
91 (1) Section 94 (bollards and other constructions in Greater London) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after the first “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “he”, wherever occurring, insert “ or it ”;
(c) in paragraph (a), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or the company ”.
(3) In subsection (2), after “Secretary of State” insert “ nor a strategic highways company ”.
(4) In subsection (4)—
(a) after the first “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the second “Secretary of State” insert “ , the company ”;
(c) in paragraph (a)—
(i) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(ii) after the first “he” insert “ or it ”;
(iii) for “he might under subsection (1)(a) above require” substitute “ might under subsection (1)(a) be required ”.
(5) In subsection (5)—
(a) after the first “Secretary of State” insert “ , the strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the second “Secretary of State” insert “ , the company ”.
92 In section 100 (interim disposal of vehicles removed under section 99), in subsection (3A), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
93 In section 101 (ultimate disposal of vehicles abandoned and removable under this Act), in paragraph (d) of the definition of “competent authority” in subsection (8), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
94 (1) Section 102 (charges for removal, storage and disposal of vehicles) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2ZA)—
(a) in the substituted paragraph (b)—
(i) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(ii) after “his” insert “ or its ”;
(b) in the substituted paragraph (c)—
(i) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(ii) after “him” insert “ or it ”.
(3) In subsection (4A)—
(a) after the first “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after the second “Secretary of State” insert “ or the company ”.
(4) In subsection (8), in paragraph (c) of the definition of “appropriate authority”, after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
95 (1) Section 121A (traffic authorities) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1AA) insert—
(1AB) A strategic highways company is the traffic authority for every highway for which it is the highway authority within the meaning of the Highways Act 1980.
(3) In subsections (2), (3) and (5)(a), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
96 (1) Section 122 (exercise of functions by local authorities) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “every” insert “ strategic highways company and ”.
(3) In subsection (2)(d), after “appearing to” insert “ the strategic highways company or ”.
(4) In the heading, after “functions by” insert “ strategic highways companies or ”.
97 In section 124A (GLA side roads), in subsection (4), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
98 In section 124B (orders of the Authority changing what are GLA side roads), in subsection (2)(a), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
99 In section 142 (general interpretation of Act), in subsection (1), at the appropriate place insert—
“strategic highways company” means a company appointed under section 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;
.
100 (1) Schedule 9 (special provision as to certain orders) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 1, after “consultation with” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
(3) In paragraph 7, omit sub-paragraph (3).
(4) In paragraph 13—
(a) after sub-paragraph (1)(b) insert—
(ba) applying to a road for which a strategic highways company is the traffic authority, or
;
(b) in sub-paragraph (1), for “or sub-paragraph (3)” substitute “ , (3) or (4) ”;
(c) after sub-paragraph (3) insert—
(4) This sub-paragraph applies where it is proposed to include in the order provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(ba), in which case the order must not be made without the consent of the strategic highways company.
(5) In paragraph 14—
(a) the existing provision becomes sub-paragraph (1);
(b) in sub-paragraph (1), after “except” insert “ in a case to which sub-paragraph (2) applies or ”;
(c) after sub-paragraph (1) insert—
(2) This sub-paragraph applies where it is proposed to include in the order provision mentioned in paragraph 13(1)(ba), in which case the order must not be made without the consent of the strategic highways company.
(6) After paragraph 14 insert—
14A (1) This paragraph applies where a strategic highways company proposes, other than further to a direction under paragraph 2, to include provision mentioned in paragraph 13(1)(b) or (c) to (f) in an order made by it under sections 1, 6, 9, 83(2) or 84.
(2) Where this paragraph applies, the order must not be made without the consent of the Secretary of State.
(7) In paragraph 15(1)—
(a) for “and 14” substitute “ to 14A ”;
(b) for “local” substitute “ traffic ”.
(8) In paragraph 16(2), for “local” substitute “ traffic ”.
(9) In paragraph 20(1)—
(a) after “and 84,” insert “ a strategic highways company, ”;
(b) after the second “of this Act,” insert “ the company, ”.
(10) In paragraph 21, after “orders of” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
Transport Act 1985 (c. 67)
101 In section 112G of the Transport Act 1985 (representations following an investigation by the Passengers' Council), in subsection (1), for paragraph (d) substitute—
(d) a strategic highways company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;
.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988 (c. 20)
102 In the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988, after section 46 (interpretation) insert—
Appointment of a strategic highways company
46A (1) This section applies in any period in which, by virtue of an appointment under section 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015, a strategic highways company is the highway authority for the highways comprised in the tunnel crossing or the bridge.
(2) The reference to the Secretary of State in section 12(4) (crossing operator) is to be read as a reference to the strategic highways company.
(3) References to the Secretary of State in the following provisions are to be read as references to the strategic highways company—
(a) section 24(1)(a) and (b) (special traffic restrictions);
(b) section 27(1) and (2) (bicycles);
(c) section 37 (powers in relation to River Thames);
(d) section 38 (restriction on works on crossing);
(e) Schedule 7 (protective provisions), except—
(i) paragraph 2 of Part 1, and
(ii) paragraph 2 of Part 3.
Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)
103 In section 44 (authorisation of use on roads of special vehicles not complying with regulations under section 41) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, after subsection (3) insert—
(4) The function of the Secretary of State under subsection (1) in the case of orders applying only to—
(a) specified vehicles, or
(b) vehicles of specified persons,
may be delegated to a strategic highways company.
(5) A delegation under subsection (4) may specify—
(a) the extent to which the function is delegated;
(b) any conditions to which the delegation is subject.
Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8)
104 (1) Section 247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (highways affected by development: orders by Secretary of State) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (3)—
(a) in paragraph (b), after “Secretary of State,” insert “ a strategic highways company, ”;
(b) in paragraph (c), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (3A)—
(a) after paragraph (a) insert—
(aa) a strategic highways company,
;
(b) after the second “Secretary of State,” insert “ the strategic highways company, ”.
105 In section 248 (highways crossing or entering route of proposed new highway etc), in subsection (1)(a), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
106 In section 254 (compulsory acquisition of land in connection with highways), in subsection (1), after “local highway authority” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
107 In section 256 (electronic communications apparatus: orders by Secretary of State), in subsection (3) omit “local”.
108 In section 336 (interpretation), in subsection (1)—
(a) in the definition of “local highway authority”, after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) at the appropriate place insert—
“strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;
.
109 (1) Schedule 13 (blighted land) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 16, for “if he” substitute “ or a strategic highways company if he or it ”.
(3) In paragraph 18—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “him” insert “ or it ”;
(c) after “he” insert “ or it ”.
Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43)
110 The Environmental Protection Act 1990 is amended as follows.
111 (1) Section 89 (duty to keep land and highways clear of litter etc) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) in paragraph (b), after “special road” insert “ (other than one to which paragraph (ba)(i) applies) ”;
(b) after paragraph (b) insert—
(ba) a strategic highways company as respects—
(i) any trunk road which is a special road for which it is the highway authority, and
(ii) any relevant highway for which it is responsible,
.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) in paragraph (b), after “special road” insert “ (other than one to which paragraph (c)(i) applies) ”;
(b) after paragraph (b) insert—
(c) a strategic highways company as respects—
(i) any trunk road which is a special road for which it is the highway authority, and
(ii) any relevant highway for which it is responsible,
.
112 (1) Section 98 (definitions) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (5), after “public expense”),” insert “ “highway authority”, ”.
(3) After subsection (5A) insert—
(5B) Strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22)
113 The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 is amended as follows.
114 In section 6 (toll orders), in subsection (2)—
(a) after the second “provided by” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(b) after the second “made by” insert “ the company or ”.
115 (1) Section 12 (extension toll orders) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “highway authority is” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(b) after the second “made by” insert “ that company or ”.
(3) In subsection (5), after the third “made by” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
116 (1) Section 26 (interpretation) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1) insert—
(1A) In this Part, “strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
(3) In subsection (3)—
(a) in the first column of the table, at the appropriate place insert “ strategic highways company ”;
(b) in the second column opposite that entry insert “ section 26(1) ”.
117 In section 49 (the street authority and other relevant authorities), in subsection (2)—
(a) after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”;
(b) after “his” insert “ or its ”.
118 In section 63 (streets with special engineering difficulties), in subsection (3), after “Where” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
119 In section 74 (charge for occupation of the highway where works unreasonably prolonged), in subsection (7A)(a), after “application by” insert “ strategic highways companies or ”.
120 (1) Section 74A (charge determined by reference to duration of works) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2), after “paid to” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”.
(3) In subsection (10)(a), after “application by” insert “ strategic highways companies or ”.
121 In section 86 (highway authorities, highways and related matters), after subsection (1) insert—
(1A) In this Part, “strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
122 In section 106 (index of defined expressions)—
(a) in the first column of the table, at the appropriate place insert “ strategic highways company ”;
(b) in the second column opposite that entry insert “ section 86(1A) ”.
123 (1) Schedule 2 (procedure in connection with toll orders) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 1—
(a) in sub-paragraph (2)—
(i) after “Secretary of State by” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(ii) after “local highway authority,” insert “ the company or ”.
(b) in sub-paragraph (3), after “Secretary of State” insert “ , the strategic highways company ”.
(3) In paragraph 2(1), 3 and 4(1) after “Secretary of State” insert “ , the strategic highways company ”.
124 In Schedule 3 (street works licences), in paragraph 9—
(a) in sub-paragraph (1)—
(i) after “is made to” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(ii) in paragraph (a), after “refusal of” insert “ the company or ”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (3)—
(i) after “decision of” insert “ the strategic highways company or ”;
(ii) after “duty of” insert “ that company or ”.
Transport Act 2000 (c. 38)
125 The Transport Act 2000 is amended as follows.
126 In section 167 (trunk road charging schemes), in subsection (1)(a), after “he” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
127 In section 176 (equipment etc), after subsection (1) insert—
(1A) In relation to a charging scheme under section 167 (trunk road charging schemes), a strategic highways company may—
(a) install and maintain, or authorise the installation and maintenance of, any equipment, or
(b) construct and maintain, or authorise the construction and maintenance of, any buildings or other structures,
used or to be used for or in connection with the operation of a charging scheme under that section.
128 (1) Section 177 (traffic signs) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (3) insert—
(3A) The Secretary of State may direct a strategic highways company to place and maintain traffic signs, or cause traffic signs to be placed and maintained, in connection with a trunk road charging scheme.
(3) In subsection (4), after “an authority” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
Traffic Management Act 2004 (c. 18)
129 The Traffic Management Act 2004 is amended as follows.
130 (1) Section 1 (traffic officers: introduction) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2)(b), after “national authority” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (5), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
131 (1) Section 11 (uniform) is amended as follows.
(2) The existing provision becomes subsection (1) of section 11.
(3) After subsection (1) insert—
(2) The Secretary of State may delegate his or her function under subsection (1) to a strategic highways company.
(3) A delegation under subsection (2) may specify—
(a) the extent to which the function is delegated;
(b) any conditions to which the delegation is subject.
132 In section 12 (power to charge for traffic officer services provided on request), after “national authority” insert “ or, as respects England, a strategic highways company ”.
133 In section 15 (interpretation of Part 1), at the appropriate place insert—
“strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;
.
134 In the heading to Part 2, after “local traffic authorities” insert “ and strategic highways companies ”.
135 (1) Section 16 (the network management duty) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “local highway authority” insert “ or a strategic highways company (“the network management authority”) ”.
(3) In subsection (3), for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
136 In section 17 (arrangements for network management), in subsection (1), for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
137 In section 18 (guidance to local authorities), in subsections (1) and (2), and in the heading, for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
138 In section 19 (power to require information relating to network management), in subsections (1), (2) and (3), for “local traffic”, wherever occurring, substitute “ network management ”.
139 In section 20 (intervention notices), in subsections (1), (2)(b) and (3), for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
140 In section 21 (intervention orders), in subsections (1), (4), (5), (6), (8) and (9), for “local traffic”, wherever occurring, substitute “ network management ”.
141 In section 22 (appointment of traffic director: supplementary), in subsections (1) and (3), for “local traffic”, wherever occurring, substitute “ network management ”.
142 In section 23 (monitoring and reporting), in subsections (1), (2)(b) and (3), for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
143 In section 24 (intervention in activities of local traffic authority), in subsection (2), and in the heading, for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
144 (1) Section 25 (exercise of local traffic authority functions) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2), after “from the” insert “ network management ”.
(3) In the heading, for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
145 In section 26 (application of sections 20 to 25 to local traffic authorities exercising functions jointly), in subsection (1), and in the heading, for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
146 In section 30 (recovery of costs from local traffic authorities), in subsections (1) and (2), and in the heading, for “local traffic” substitute “ network management ”.
147 (1) Section 31 (interpretation of Part 2) is amended as follows.
(2) In the definition of “local traffic authority”, after “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In the definition of “road network”—
(a) after “in relation to” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(b) after “for which” insert “ the company or ”.
(4) Before the definition of “network management duty” insert—
“network management authority” has the meaning given in section 16(1);
.
148 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
149 (1) Section 60 (strategic roads in London: initial designation by Secretary of State) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after the second “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”.
(3) After subsection (4)(a) insert—
(aa) strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;
.
150 In section 61 (orders of the Greater London Authority changing what are strategic roads), in subsection (1), after “Secretary of State” insert “ , a strategic highways company ”.
151 (1) Section 65 (duty of local highway authority to keep records of objects in highway) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “require” insert “ a strategic highways company or ”;
(b) after “placed by” insert “ that company or ”.
(3) In subsection (4)—
(a) in paragraph (a) of the definition of “appropriate national authority”, after “in relation to” insert “ strategic highways companies or ”;
(b) after that definition insert—
“local highway authority” has the same meaning as in the 1980 Act;
“strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;
.
(4) In the heading, after “Duty of” insert “ strategic highways company or ”.
Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (c. 36)
152 In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (category 2 responders: transport), in paragraph 28—
(a) the existing provision becomes sub-paragraph (1);
(b) after sub-paragraph (1) insert—
(2) A strategic highways company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
Planning Act 2008 (c. 29)
153 (1) Section 22 of the Planning Act 2008 (highways) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsections (2)(b), (3)(b) and (5)(b), after “Secretary of State” insert “ or a strategic highways company ”.
(3) In subsection (9), at the appropriate place insert—
“strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
Section 3
PART 1 Setting a Road Investment Strategy
Introductory
1 (1) This Part specifies the procedure by which a Road Investment Strategy is set.
(2) It does not apply to the first Road Investment Strategy under section 3 where it is published and laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State within a year of that section coming into force.
Step 1: the Secretary of State's proposals
2 (1) The Secretary of State must provide a strategic highways company with proposals for a Road Investment Strategy.
(2) The proposals must include details of—
(a) the objectives to be achieved by the company,
(b) the financial resources to be provided by the Secretary of State for the purpose of achieving those objectives, and
(c) the period to which the proposals relate.
(3) The Secretary of State must—
(a) specify a date before which the company is to respond, and
(b) provide the company with—
(i) a statement of his or her general strategy in respect of highways for which the company is the highway authority, and
(ii) such other information in support of the proposals as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
Step 2: the strategic highways company's response
3 (1) Having been provided with proposals under paragraph 2, the strategic highways company must respond to the Secretary of State—
(a) agreeing to the proposals, or
(b) making counter-proposals.
(2) The company must respond before the date specified by the Secretary of State in accordance with paragraph 2(3)(a).
Step 3: where the strategic highways company has agreed to the proposals
4 (1) Where the strategic highways company has agreed to proposals under paragraph 2, the Secretary of State may publish those proposals as the Road Investment Strategy.
(2) The Secretary of State may only publish proposals under sub-paragraph (1) if satisfied that appropriate consultation has taken place.
(3) Publication under sub-paragraph (1) may be in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
Step 4: where the strategic highways company has made counter-proposals or failed to respond
5 (1) Where the strategic highways company has made counter-proposals to the Secretary of State's proposals under paragraph 3, or has failed to respond before the date specified, the Secretary of State may—
(a) provide the company with revised proposals under paragraph 2, or
(b) publish as the Road Investment Strategy—
(i) the Secretary of State's proposals, or
(ii) the company's counter-proposals.
(2) The Secretary of State may only publish proposals under sub-paragraph (1)(b) if satisfied that appropriate consultation has taken place.
(3) Publication under sub-paragraph (1)(b) may be in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
PART 2 Varying a Road Investment Strategy
6 (1) This paragraph applies where the Secretary of State is considering varying a Road Investment Strategy.
(2) Paragraphs 2 to 5 apply to proposals for a varied Road Investment Strategy as they apply to proposals for a Road Investment Strategy.
(3) In performing their functions under this Part of this Schedule, the Secretary of State and the strategic highways company must have regard to the desirability of maintaining certainty and stability in respect of Road Investment Strategies.
Section 15
Application and commencement of scheme
1 (1) The property, rights and liabilities to be transferred may be specified or described by a scheme.
(2) A scheme comes into force on the date it appoints.
Property, rights and liabilities that may be transferred
2 (1) The property, rights and liabilities that may be transferred by a scheme include—
(a) property, rights and liabilities that would not otherwise be capable of being transferred or assigned;
(b) property acquired in the period after the making of the scheme and before it comes into force;
(c) rights and liabilities arising in that period;
(d) rights and liabilities arising after the scheme comes into force in respect of matters occurring before it comes into force;
(e) rights and liabilities under an enactment or EU instrument.
(2) A scheme may provide that transfers are to take effect irrespective of—
(a) any requirement to obtain a person's consent or concurrence,
(b) any liability in respect of a contravention of another requirement, or
(c) any interference with an interest or right,
which would otherwise apply.
(3) Sub-paragraph (4) applies where a person would otherwise be entitled, in consequence of anything done, or likely to be done, in connection with a scheme—
(a) to terminate, modify, acquire or claim an interest or right to which the transferor is entitled or subject, or
(b) to treat such an interest or right as modified or terminated.
(4) That entitlement is enforceable in relation to the interest or right—
(a) in consequence of what is done or likely to be done, and
(b) in corresponding circumstances arising after the transfer,
to the extent only that the scheme provides for it to be so enforceable.
Dividing and modifying transferor's property, rights and liabilities
3 (1) A scheme may contain provision—
(a) for the creation, in favour of a transferor or transferee, of an interest or right in, or in relation to, property to be transferred in accordance with the scheme;
(b) for giving effect to a transfer to a person by the creation, in favour of that person, of an interest or right in, or in relation to, property to be retained by a transferor;
(c) for the creation of new rights and liabilities, including rights of indemnity and duties to indemnify, as between a transferee and a transferor.
(2) A scheme may contain provision for the creation of rights and liabilities for the purpose of converting arrangements between different parts of a transferor's undertaking which exist immediately before the coming into force of the scheme into a contract between—
(a) different transferees, or
(b) a transferee and a transferor.
(3) A scheme may contain provision—
(a) for rights and liabilities to be transferred so as to be enforceable by or against—
(i) more than one transferee, or
(ii) both the transferee and the transferor, and
(b) for rights and liabilities enforceable against more than one of those people to be enforceable in different or modified respects by or against each or any of them.
(4) A scheme may contain provision for interests, rights or liabilities of third parties in relation to anything to which the scheme relates to be modified in the manner set out in the scheme.
(5) Paragraph 2(2) applies to the creation of interests and rights in accordance with a scheme as it applies to the transfer of interests and rights.
Obligation to effect transfers etc under a scheme
4 (1) A scheme may contain provision for imposing on a transferee or a transferor an obligation—
(a) to enter into such agreements with another person on whom a corresponding obligation is, could be or has been, imposed by virtue of this paragraph (whether in the same or a different scheme), or
(b) to execute such instruments in favour of any such person,
as may be specified or described in the scheme.
(2) That other person may enforce an obligation imposed on a transferor or a transferee by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) in civil proceedings.
Effect of scheme
5 (1) Where a scheme provides for the transfer of property, rights or liabilities, or for the creation of interests, rights or liabilities—
(a) the property or interests, rights or liabilities vest, without further assurance, in the transferee at that time, and
(b) the provisions of that scheme in relation to that property or those interests, rights or liabilities have effect from the time when the scheme comes into force.
(2) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to provision under a scheme for—
(a) the transfer of property, rights or liabilities, or
(b) the creation of interests, rights and liabilities,
to be effected by or under an agreement or instrument entered into or executed in pursuance of an obligation imposed by virtue of paragraph 4(1).
(3) A certificate issued by the Secretary of State that any property, rights or liabilities have been transferred under a scheme is conclusive evidence of the transfer.
Powers and duties under statutory provisions
6 (1) A scheme may make provision for some or all of the powers and duties to which this paragraph applies—
(a) to be transferred to a transferee,
(b) to become powers and duties that are exercisable, or must be performed, concurrently by two or more transferees, or
(c) to become powers and duties that are exercisable, or must be performed, concurrently by a transferor and a transferee.
(2) The powers and duties to which this paragraph applies are the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon a transferor by or under an enactment so far as they relate to—
(a) property to be transferred in accordance with the scheme,
(b) carrying out works designed to be used in connection with such property, or
(c) acquiring land for the purpose of carrying out such works.
(3) This paragraph does not require a restrictive construction to be given to what may be transferred by virtue of paragraph 2(1)(e).
Supplementary provisions of schemes
7 (1) A scheme may—
(a) make such incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional provision in connection with the scheme as the Secretary of State thinks fit;
(b) make different provision for different cases.
(2) In particular, a scheme may make provision—
(a) for the transferee to be treated as the same person in law as the transferor;
(b) for agreements made, transactions effected or other things done by or in relation to the transferor to be treated, so far as may be necessary for the purposes of or in connection with the transfer, as made, effected or done by or in relation to the transferee;
(c) for references in an agreement, instrument or other document to the transferor, or to an employee or office holder of the transferor, to have effect, so far as may be necessary for the purposes of or in connection with a transfer, with such modifications as are specified in the scheme;
(d) for proceedings commenced by or against the transferor to be continued by or against the transferee.
(3) Sub-paragraph (2)(c) does not apply to references in an enactment.
Modification of a scheme by agreement
8 (1) Where the transferor and transferee under a scheme that has come into force so agree, the scheme is to be treated for all purposes as having come into force with such modifications as may be agreed.
(2) An agreement under this paragraph which relates to rights and liabilities under a contract of employment may be entered into only if the employee is a party to the agreement.
(3) An agreement under this paragraph that adversely affects the property or rights of a person other than the transferor, the transferee or such an employee may be entered into only if that person is a party to the agreement.
(4) An agreement under this paragraph may include—
(a) any provision that could have been contained in the scheme;
(b) incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional provision in connection with any such provision.
Continuity of employment etc
9 (1) Where in accordance with a scheme a person employed by a transferor becomes an employee of a transferee—
(a) that person is not to be regarded for the purposes of Part 11 (redundancy payments etc) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 as having been dismissed by virtue of the transfer,
(b) that person's period of employment with the transferor counts for the purposes of that Act as a period of employment with the transferee, and
(c) the change of employment does not break the continuity of the period of employment for the purposes of that Act.
(2) Where in accordance with a scheme a person employed by a transferor becomes an employee of a transferee, the scheme must provide for the transfer of all the rights and liabilities relating to the person's contract of employment.
(3) Where a transfer scheme contains provision for the transfer of rights and liabilities relating to a person's contract of employment but, before the transfer takes effect, the person informs the transferor or the transferee that the person objects to the transfer—
(a) those rights and liabilities are not transferred under the transfer scheme,
(b) the person's contract of employment is terminated immediately before the day on which the transfer would occur, and
(c) the person is not, for any purpose, to be regarded as having been dismissed.
(4) Nothing in sub-paragraph (3) affects the person's right to terminate the contract of employment if, apart from the change of employer, a substantial change is made to the person's detriment in the person's working conditions.
(5) No damages are payable by virtue of a constructive dismissal occurring under sub-paragraph (4) in respect of unpaid wages relating to a notice period which the employee has not worked.
(6) Where a transfer scheme contains provision for the transfer of rights and liabilities relating to a person's contract of employment, it may include provision with respect to—
(a) the person's eligibility to become a member of a pension scheme by virtue of employment with the transferee;
(b) the rights of, or rights or liabilities in respect of, the person under a pension scheme of which the person may become a member by virtue of employment with the transferee;
(c) the rights of, or rights or liabilities in respect of, the person under a pension scheme of which the person is a member by virtue of employment immediately before the transfer.
Compensation for third parties
10 (1) A third party is entitled to compensation in respect of the extinguishment of that party's entitlement where—
(a) the entitlement is to an interest or right which would, apart from a provision of a scheme and paragraph 2(3) and (4), have become enforceable in respect of the transfer or creation of any property, rights or liabilities in accordance with the scheme,
(b) the provisions of that scheme or of paragraph 2(3) and (4) have the effect of preventing that party's entitlement to that interest or right from being enforced in respect of anything for which the scheme provides, and
(c) provision is not made by the scheme for securing that an entitlement to that interest or right, or to an equivalent interest or right, is preserved or created so as to arise and be enforceable in respect of the first occasion when corresponding circumstances next occur after the coming into force of the transfers for which the scheme provides.
(2) The amount of compensation to which a third party is entitled under this paragraph is the amount necessary for securing, to the extent that it is just to do so, that the third party does not suffer financial loss from the extinguishment of the entitlement.
(3) A liability to pay compensation under this paragraph falls on the Secretary of State.
(4) This paragraph has effect in relation to—
(a) the provisions of an agreement or instrument entered into or executed in pursuance of an obligation imposed by a scheme, and
(b) the provisions of an agreement under paragraph 8 relating to property, rights or liabilities transferred or created in accordance with a scheme,
as it has effect in relation to the scheme but as if, in the case of an agreement under paragraph 8, only persons who are not parties to the agreement were third parties.
Provision of information to Secretary of State for the purposes of making a scheme
11 (1) The Secretary of State may direct a strategic highways company, or a former strategic highways company, to provide such information as he or she may consider necessary for the purposes of making a scheme.
(2) The direction must specify the period within which the information is to be provided.
(3) The period specified in the direction must be not less than 28 days beginning with the day on which the direction is given.
(4) If the company fails to comply with the direction, the Secretary of State may serve a notice on the company requiring—
(a) production to the Secretary of State of any documents which are specified or described in the notice and are in the custody or under the control of that company, or
(b) provision to the Secretary of State of such information as may be specified or described in the notice.
(5) Documents or information to be produced or provided in accordance with such a notice must be produced or provided at the time and place, and in the form and manner, specified in the notice.
(6) A direction or notice under this paragraph may not require—
(a) production of a document which a person could not be compelled to produce in civil proceedings, or
(b) provision of information which a person could not be compelled to give in evidence in such proceedings.
(7) If a strategic highways company fails to comply with a notice under sub-paragraph (4), the court may, on the application of the Secretary of State, make such order as the court thinks fit for requiring the failure to be made good.
(8) Any order under sub-paragraph (7) may include provision requiring all the costs or expenses of, or incidental to, the application to be borne by one or more of the following—
(a) the strategic highways company in default;
(b) any officers of that company who are responsible for its default.
(9) In this paragraph, reference to the production of a document includes reference to the production of a legible and intelligible copy of information recorded otherwise than in legible form.
Interpretation
12 (1) In this Schedule—
“third party”, in relation to a scheme, means a person other than a transferor and a transferee;
“transferee”—
in relation to a scheme, means a person to whom property, rights or liabilities are transferred in accordance with the scheme, and
in relation to particular property, rights or liabilities transferred or created in accordance with a scheme, means the person—
to whom that property or those rights or liabilities are transferred, or
in whose favour, or in relation to whom, they are created;
“transferor”—
in relation to a scheme, means the person from whom property, rights or liabilities are transferred in accordance with the scheme, and
in relation to particular property, rights or liabilities transferred or created in accordance with a scheme, means the person—
from whom that property or those rights or liabilities are transferred,
who, or whose property, is subject to the interest or right created, or
for whose benefit the liability is created;
“scheme” means a scheme under section 15.
(2) In this Schedule, reference to employment includes reference to employment in the civil service of the State and, in respect of such employment—
(a) reference to a contract of employment is to be treated as a reference to the terms of employment in the civil service of the State, and
(b) reference to a dismissal is to be treated as a reference to the termination of the employment.
(3) References in this Schedule—
(a) to a right or to an entitlement to a right include references to an entitlement to exercise a right, and
(b) to a right's arising include references to its becoming exercisable.
Section 30
PART 1 Main amendments
1 After section 61D of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 insert—
Mayoral development orders
Mayoral development orders
61DA (1) The Mayor of London may by order (a Mayoral development order) grant planning permission for development specified in the order on one or more sites specified in the order.
(2) The site or sites must fall within—
(a) the area of a local planning authority in Greater London, or
(b) the areas of two or more local planning authorities in Greater London.
(3) The Secretary of State may by development order specify an area or class of development in respect of which a Mayoral development order must not be made.
Permission granted by Mayoral development order
61DB (1) Planning permission granted by a Mayoral development order may be granted—
(a) unconditionally, or
(b) subject to such conditions or limitations as are specified in the order.
(2) A condition imposed by a Mayoral development order may provide for the consent, agreement or approval to a matter specified in the condition to be given by one or more persons specified in the condition.
(3) A person specified in a condition must be the Mayor of London or a relevant local planning authority.
(4) The Secretary of State may by development order provide that, if the consent, agreement or approval of a person required by a condition imposed by a Mayoral development order is not given within a specified period, that consent, agreement or approval may be sought from a specified person.
(5) In subsection (4) “specified” means specified, or of a description specified, in the development order.
(6) The Secretary of State may by development order make provision for a person to apply for planning permission for the development of land without complying with a condition imposed on the grant of planning permission by a Mayoral development order.
(7) A development order under subsection (6) may, in particular make provision similar to that made by section 73, subject to such modifications as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.
(8) So far as the context requires, in relation to—
(a) an application for the consent, agreement or approval of the Mayor of London to a matter specified in a condition imposed by a Mayoral development order, or
(b) the determination of such an application,
any reference in an enactment to a local planning authority (however expressed) includes a reference to the Mayor.
(9) For the purposes of this Act a local planning authority is a relevant local planning authority in relation to a Mayoral development order or proposed Mayoral development order if a site or part of a site to which the order or proposed order relates is within the authority's area.
Preparation and making of Mayoral development order
61DC (1) The Secretary of State may by development order make provision about the procedure for the preparation and making of a Mayoral development order.
(2) A development order under subsection (1) may in particular make provision about—
(a) notice, publicity and inspection by the public;
(b) consultation with and consideration of views of such persons and for such purposes as are specified in the order;
(c) the making and consideration of representations.
(3) A Mayoral development order may be made only in response to an application to the Mayor of London by each relevant local planning authority.
(4) A proposed Mayoral development order may be consulted on only with the consent of each relevant local planning authority.
(5) A Mayoral development order may not be made unless the order has been approved, in the form in which it is made, by each relevant local planning authority.
(6) If the Mayor of London makes a Mayoral development order, the Mayor must send a copy to the Secretary of State as soon as is reasonably practicable after the order is made.
Revision or revocation of Mayoral development order
61DD (1) The Mayor of London may at any time revise or revoke a Mayoral development order with the approval of each relevant local planning authority.
(2) The Mayor of London must revise a Mayoral development order if the Secretary of State directs the Mayor to do so (and the requirement for the approval of each relevant local planning authority does not apply in those circumstances).
(3) The Secretary of State may at any time revoke a Mayoral development order if the Secretary of State thinks it is expedient to do so.
(4) The power under subsection (3) is to be exercised by order made by the Secretary of State.
(5) If the Secretary of State revokes a Mayoral development order the Secretary of State must state the reasons for doing so.
(6) The Secretary of State may by development order make provision about—
(a) the steps to be taken by the Secretary of State before giving a direction or making an order under this section;
(b) the procedure for the revision or revocation of a Mayoral development order.
(7) A development order under subsection (6) may in particular make provision about—
(a) notice, publicity and inspection by the public;
(b) consultation with and consideration of views of such persons and for such purposes as are specified in the order;
(c) the making and consideration of representations.
Effect of revision or revocation on incomplete development
61DE (1) This section applies if planning permission for development granted by a Mayoral development order is withdrawn at a time when the development has been started but not completed.
(2) For this purpose planning permission for development granted by a Mayoral development order is withdrawn—
(a) if the order is revoked under section 61DD, or
(b) if the order is revised under that section so that it ceases to grant planning permission for the development or materially changes any condition or limitation to which the grant of permission is subject.
(3) The development may, despite the withdrawal of the permission, be completed, subject as follows.
(4) If the permission is withdrawn because the Mayoral development order is revoked by the Mayor of London, the Mayor may make a determination that subsection (3) is not to apply in relation to development specified in the determination.
(5) A determination under subsection (4) must be published in such manner as the Mayor of London thinks appropriate.
(6) If the permission is withdrawn because the Mayoral development order is revoked by an order made by the Secretary of State under section 61DD, the order under that section may provide that subsection (3) is not to apply in relation to development specified in that order.
(7) If the permission is withdrawn because the order is revised as mentioned in subsection (2)(b), the revised order may provide that subsection (3) is not to apply in relation to development specified in the order.
(8) The power under this section to include provision in an order under section 61DD or a Mayoral development order may be exercised differently for different purposes.
PART 2 Consequential amendments
19 (1) Section 303 (fees for planning applications etc) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1) insert—
(1ZA) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the payment of a fee to—
(a) the Mayor of London in respect of an application for consent, agreement or approval as mentioned in section 61DB(2) or the giving of advice about such an application;
(b) a specified person in respect of an application for consent, agreement or approval for which provision is made under section 61DB(4) or the giving of advice about such an application.
(3) After subsection (10) insert—
(10A) If the Mayor of London or a specified person calculates the amount of fees in pursuance of provision made by regulations under subsection (1ZA) the Mayor of London or the specified person must secure that, taking one financial year with another, the income from the fees does not exceed the cost of performing the function.
(4) After subsection (11) insert—
(12) In this section “specified person” means a person specified by development order under section 61DB(4).
SCHEDULE 5 Transfer of responsibility for local land charges to Land Registry
Section 34
PART 1 Amendments to the Local Land Charges Act 1975
1 The Local Land Charges Act 1975 is amended as follows.
2 In the italic heading before section 3 for “registers” substitute “ register ”.
3 For section 3 (registering authorities, local land charges registers, and indexes) substitute—
The local land charges register
3 (1) The Chief Land Registrar must keep the local land charges register.
(2) The local land charges register is a register of—
(a) each local land charge registered in a local land charges register for a local authority's area immediately before this section first had effect in relation to that area, and
(b) each local land charge subsequently registered under section 5 or 6 or another relevant enactment in respect of land which is wholly or partly within that area.
(3) Subsection (2) is subject to any later variation or cancellation of the registration of the local land charge.
(4) The local land charges register may be kept in electronic form.
(5) In this section—
“local authority” means—
a district council,
a county council in England for an area for which there is no district council,
a county council in Wales,
a county borough council,
a London borough council,
the Common Council of the City of London, or
the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
“relevant enactment” means a provision which is made by or under an Act and which provides for the registration of a charge or other matter as a local land charge.
(6) For the purposes of this section the area of the Common Council of the City of London includes the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple.
4 Omit section 4 (the appropriate local land charges register).
5 (1) Section 5 (registration) is amended as follows.
(2) Omit subsection (1).
(3) For subsections (2) and (3) substitute—
(2) Subject to subsection (6) below, the originating authority as respects a local land charge must apply to the Chief Land Registrar for its registration in the local land charges register; and on the application being made the Chief Land Registrar must register the charge accordingly.
(3) The registration in the local land charges register of a local land charge, or of any matter which when registered becomes a local land charge, must be carried out by reference to the land affected.
(4) In subsection (6) for “a local land charges register” substitute “ the local land charges register ”.
6 (1) Section 6 (local authority's right to register a general charge against land in certain circumstances) is amended as follows.
(2) For subsection (2) substitute—
(2) At any time before the specific charge comes into existence, the Chief Land Registrar must register a general charge against the land, without any amount being specified, in the local land charges register if the originating authority make an application for that purpose.
(3) In subsection (3) for “5(1) and (2)” substitute “ 5(2) ”.
(4) In subsection (4)—
(a) for “pursuant to an application by the originating authority, they” substitute “ the originating authority ”, and
(b) for “registering authority” substitute “ Chief Land Registrar ”.
7 (1) Section 8 (personal searches) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) for “any local land charges register” substitute “ the local land charges register ”, and
(b) after “fee” insert “ (if any) ”.
(3) In subsection (1A)—
(a) for “a local land charges register is kept otherwise than in documentary” substitute “ the local land charges register is kept in electronic ”, and
(b) for “registering authority” substitute “ Chief Land Registrar ”.
(4) In subsection (2)—
(a) for “a registering authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”, and
(b) omit “authority's”.
8 (1) Section 9 (official searches) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) omit “appropriate”, and
(b) for “registering authority” substitute “ Chief Land Registrar ”.
(3) Omit subsection (2).
(4) For subsections (3) and (3A) substitute—
(3) The prescribed fee (if any) shall be payable in the prescribed manner in respect of any requisition made under this section.
(5) In subsection (4)—
(a) for “a registering authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”,
(b) omit “or (3A)”, and
(c) for “the registering authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”.
(6) In consequence of the amendment made by sub-paragraph (5)(b), in Schedule 4 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 omit paragraph 84(3)(b).
9 (1) Section 10 (compensation for non-registration or defective official search certificate) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) omit “appropriate” in each place,
(b) in paragraph (aa) for “in a case where” substitute “ if ”, and
(c) in that paragraph for “otherwise than in documentary” substitute “ in electronic ”.
(3) Omit subsection (2).
(4) In subsection (4) for “registering authority in whose area the land affected is situated” substitute “ Chief Land Registrar ”.
(5) In subsection (5)—
(a) for the words from “a registering authority” to “not the originating authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”, and
(b) for “the registering authority” in each place substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”.
(6) After that subsection insert—
(5A) An amount equal to any compensation paid under this section by the Chief Land Registrar in respect of a local land charge is also recoverable from the originating authority in a case where the matter within subsection (1) giving rise to the Chief Land Registrar's liability is a consequence of—
(a) an error made by the originating authority in applying to register the local land charge, or
(b) an error made by the originating authority in applying for the registration of the local land charge to be varied or cancelled.
(7) In subsection (6)—
(a) for “a registering authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”,
(b) for “that authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”,
(c) after “(5)” in each place insert “ or (5A) ”, and
(d) for “the registering authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”.
(8) After subsection (6) insert—
(6A) The Chief Land Registrar may insure against the risk of liability to pay compensation under this section.
(9) In subsection (7) for “Limitation Act 1939” substitute “ Limitation Act 1980 ”.
(10) In subsection (9) for “registering authority's” substitute “Chief Land Registrar's”.
10 In section 12 (office copies as evidence) for “any local land charges register” substitute “ the local land charges register ”.
11 In section 13 (protection of solicitors, trustees etc) for “a local land charges register” substitute “ the local land charges register ”.
12 (1) Omit section 13A (specification of fees by registering authorities in England).
(2) In consequence of the amendment made by sub-paragraph (1), in Schedule 4 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 omit paragraph 83.
13 (1) Section 14 (rules) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) in paragraph (a) for “registering authorities” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”,
(b) after paragraph (f) insert—
(fa) as to the variation without an order of the court of the registration of a local land charge—
(i) on the application or with the consent of the person by whom it is enforceable, or
(ii) of the Chief Land Registrar's own motion;
,
(c) for paragraph (g) substitute—
(g) as to the cancellation without an order of the court of the registration of a local land charge—
(i) on its cesser,
(ii) on the application or with the consent of the person by whom it is or was enforceable, or
(iii) of the Chief Land Registrar's own motion;”, and
(d) for paragraph (h) substitute—
(h) for prescribing the fees to be paid to the Chief Land Registrar for services relating to local land charges provided by the Chief Land Registrar.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) in paragraph (a) for “any local land charges register” substitute “ the local land charges register ”,
(b) after paragraph (a) insert—
(aa) power to make rules—
(i) prescribing different fees for different services or descriptions of service;
(ii) prescribing services or descriptions of service for which no fees are payable;
, and
(c) for paragraph (b) and the “and” at the end of that paragraph substitute—
(b) power to make rules about communications for the purposes of this Act, or any statutory provision by virtue of which any matter is registrable in the local land charges register, including rules as to—
(i) the particular means of communication which may or must be used for such purposes (which may include an electronic means of communication),
(ii) the circumstances in which a particular means of communication may or must be used (which may be all circumstances, subject to exceptions);
(iii) the form or contents of anything sent using a particular means of communication;
(ba) power to make rules requiring or enabling anything which is provided to or by the Chief Land Registrar for the purposes of this Act, or any statutory provision by virtue of which any matter is registrable in the local land charges register, to be provided in electronic form;
(bb) power to make rules enabling the Chief Land Registrar, or a person providing services to the Chief Land Registrar, to determine—
(i) any matter within paragraph (b), or
(ii) whether anything of the kind referred to in paragraph (ba) may or must be provided in electronic form; and
.
(4) Sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) apply to the function of the Lord Chancellor under section 14(1) of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 as amended by this paragraph so far as it relates to the power to make rules for prescribing fees and the manner of payment of fees (“the new function”).
(5) The new function is to be treated as having been transferred to the Welsh Ministers by—
(a) the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3044), and
(b) Schedule 11 to the Government of Wales Act 2006,
in the same way as the equivalent function of the Lord Chancellor under that section as it had effect apart from this paragraph (“the old function”).
(6) A provision made by that Order or that Act in respect of the old function continues to apply to the new function.
14 In section 15(b) (expenses) for “a registering authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”.
15 (1) Section 16 (interpretation) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1) omit the definitions of “the appropriate local land charges register” and “the registering authority”.
(3) In subsection (1A) for “otherwise than in documentary” substitute “ in electronic ”.
16 In section 19(4) (transitional provision) omit the words from “In so far as” to “so made, but”.
PART 2 Amendments to the Land Registration Act 2002
17 The Land Registration Act 2002 is amended as follows.
18 In section 100 (conduct of business) after subsection (2) insert—
(2A) Subsections (1) and (2) apply to all functions of the registrar, whether or not conferred by this Act.
19 In section 106(1) (incidental powers of registrar in relation to companies) after “Schedule 5,” insert “ or under the Local Land Charges Act 1975, ”.
20 In paragraph 4 of Schedule 7 (indemnity for members of the land registry in relation to functions relating to land registration) after “land registration” insert “ or local land charges ”.
PART 3 Amendments to other Acts
Law of Property Act 1925 (c. 20)
21 In section 198(1) of the Law of Property Act 1925 (registration in local land charges register to be notice) for “any local land charges register” substitute “ the local land charges register ”.
Requisitioned Land and War Works Act 1948 (c. 17)
22 In section 14 of the Requisitioned Land and War Works Act 1948 (registration of rights as to government oil pipelines)—
(a) in subsections (1) and (4)(b) omit “appropriate”,
(b) in subsection (1) for “authority keeping that register that authority” substitute “ Chief Land Registrar, the Chief Land Registrar ”, and
(c) in subsection (4) for “a local land charges register” substitute “ the local land charges register ”.
Cheshire County Council Act 1953 (c. xl)
23 In section 25(3) of the Cheshire County Council Act 1953 (notice preventing building next to proposed street to be void unless registered as a local land charge) omit the words from “Provided that” to “local land charge”.
Land Powers (Defence) Act 1958 (c. 30)
24 The Land Powers (Defence) Act 1958 is amended as follows.
25 In section 12 (extension of provisions of Requisitioned Land and War Works Acts) in each of subsections (2) and (5) for “appropriate register of local land charges” substitute “ local land charges register ”.
26 In section 17 (registration of wayleave orders and restrictions under section 16)—
(a) in subsections (2)(a), (2A) and (3)(b) omit “appropriate”,
(b) in subsection (2A) for “authority keeping that register” substitute “ Chief Land Registrar ”, and
(c) in subsection (3) for “a local land charges register” substitute “ the local land charges register ”.
Rights of Light Act 1959 (c. 56)
27 The Rights of Light Act 1959 is amended as follows.
28 (1) Section 2 (registration of notice in lieu of obstruction of access of light) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1) for “local authority in whose area the dominant building is situated” substitute “ Chief Land Registrar ”.
(3) In subsection (2) omit “be in the prescribed form and shall”.
(4) In subsection (3) after “accompanied by” insert “ a copy of ”.
(5) In subsection (4)—
(a) for “a local authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”,
(b) for “that authority” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”,
(c) omit “appropriate”, and
(d) in paragraph (b) for “5(1) and (2)” substitute “ 5(2) ”.
29 In section 3(2)(c) (period for which notice has effect)—
(a) after “expires without” insert “ a copy of ”, and
(b) for “local authority” substitute “ Chief Land Registrar ”.
30 In section 7(1) (interpretation)—
(a) for the definition of “prescribed” substitute—
“prescribed” means prescribed by rules under section 14 of the Local Land Charges Act 1975;
, and
(b) omit the definition of “local authority”.
31 In consequence of the amendment made by paragraph 30(b), in Schedule 1 to the Local Land Charges Act 1975 omit paragraph (c) of the amendments to the Rights of Light Act 1959.
Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (c. 88)
32 In section 19(10) of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (registration of scheme or certificate under section 19 in appropriate local land charges register) in the opening words omit “appropriate”.
Land Compensation Act 1973 (c. 26)
33 In section 52(9) of the Land Compensation Act 1973 (registration of advance payment of compensation in appropriate local land charges register) omit “appropriate”.
Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)
34 In Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978 (words and expressions defined) in the entry containing definitions of “local land charges register” and “the appropriate local land charges register”—
(a) for “a register” substitute “ the register ”, and
(b) omit the words from “and “the appropriate local land charges register”” to the end of that entry.
Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
35 In paragraph 9(a) of Schedule 9 to the Highways Act 1980 (notification of revocation of improvement line or building line) for the words from “the council” to “is situated” substitute “ the Chief Land Registrar ”.
Disused Burial Grounds (Amendment) Act 1981 (c. 18)
36 In section 2(4) of the Disused Burial Grounds (Amendment) Act 1981 (requirement to deposit copy of order of Secretary of State dispensing with requirements as to human remains with registering authority) for the words from “deposited with” to “1975)” substitute “ sent to the Chief Land Registrar, ”.
Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 (c. 66)
37 In section 3(4) of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 (registration of preliminary notice) for the words from “registered” to the end of the subsection substitute “ sent to the Chief Land Registrar, and the notice shall be a local land charge ”.
Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (c. 28)
38 In section 70(12) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (consequence of registration of scheme in appropriate local land charges register) in the opening words omit “appropriate”.
Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19)
39 In Schedule 17 to the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (savings and transitional provision) omit paragraph 11 (local land charges registers).
PART 4 Transitional provision
Power for Parts 1 and 3 to be applied gradually to local authority areas
40 (1) Parts 1 and 3 of this Schedule have effect in relation to the area of a local authority if (and only if)—
(a) the Chief Land Registrar gives notice in writing to the local authority that, on and after the date specified in the notice, those Parts will have effect in relation to that area, and
(b) before that date, the notice is publicised in such manner as the Chief Land Registrar thinks is likely to bring the arrangements under the Local Land Charges Act 1975 as amended by Part 1 of this Schedule to the attention of persons who are likely to want to apply to register local land charges in, or to search, the register of local land charges after that Part has effect in relation to that area.
(2) The Chief Land Registrar may withdraw a notice under sub-paragraph (1) (“the original notice”) by a notice in writing which—
(a) is given before the date specified in the original notice to the authorities to whom the original notice was given, and
(b) is publicised before that date in such manner as the Chief Land Registrar thinks is likely to bring the withdrawal to the attention of the persons to whom the original notice was publicised.
(3) If, in accordance with this paragraph, the Chief Land Registrar gives a notice under sub-paragraph (1) which is not withdrawn, Parts 1 and 3 have effect in relation to the area specified in the notice on and after the date specified in it.
(4) This paragraph does not prevent the making of rules under section 14 of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 as amended by Part 1 of this Schedule—
(a) in relation to the operation of that Act as amended by that Part, or
(b) in relation to the operation of any other statutory provision by virtue of which any matter is registrable in the local land charges register,
but such rules have effect in relation to the area of a local authority if (and only if) that Part has effect in relation to that area in accordance with this paragraph.
Duty of local authorities to assist Chief Land Registrar
41 A local authority must provide the Chief Land Registrar with such information or other assistance as the Chief Land Registrar reasonably requires for the purposes of enabling Part 1 of this Schedule to have effect in relation to the area of that authority.
Continuity of functions
42 (1) This paragraph and paragraph 43 apply where Parts 1 and 3 of this Schedule have effect in relation to the area of a local authority by virtue of paragraph 40.
(2) Anything done or omitted to be done by or in relation to the local authority and in relation to the old register which is in force or effective immediately before the relevant date is to be treated as done or omitted to be done by or in relation to the Chief Land Registrar and in relation to the new register.
(3) There may be continued by or in relation to the Chief Land Registrar anything (including legal proceedings) that relates to the old register and is in the process of being done by or in relation to the local authority immediately before the relevant date.
Compensation
43 (1) The amendments in Part 1 of this Schedule to section 10(1) and (2) of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 (compensation for non-registration or defective official search certificate) and to section 16(1) of that Act so far as it applies to that section do not have effect in relation to a search of the old register made before the relevant date.
(2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) and (5), the Chief Land Registrar may recover from the local authority an amount equal to any compensation which the Chief Land Registrar is liable to pay under section 10 of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 in consequence of—
(a) the authority's failure before the relevant date to register, or register correctly, a local land charge in the old register,
(b) the authority's failure before the relevant date to satisfy an entitlement to search in the old register conferred by section 8 of that Act as mentioned in subsection (1A) of that section, or
(c) the omission of a local land charge from an official search certificate issued by the authority before the relevant date.
(3) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) and (5), the Chief Land Registrar may recover from the local authority an amount equal to any compensation which the Chief Land Registrar is liable to pay under section 10 of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 where—
(a) an act or omission of the Chief Land Registrar gives rise to that liability, but
(b) that act or omission is in consequence of a failure by the authority to provide any information about a charge registered in the old register.
(4) Sub-paragraph (5) applies where—
(a) the Chief Land Registrar's liability arises as a result of the local authority's failure before the relevant date—
(i) to register, or register correctly, a local land charge in the old register, or
(ii) to provide any information about a local land charge registered in the old register to the Chief Land Registrar,
(b) the local authority is not the originating authority in relation to the charge, and
(c) the originating authority—
(i) did not apply for registration of the charge in time for it to be practicable for the local authority to register it before the relevant date, or
(ii) made an error in applying to register the charge, or in applying for the registration of the charge to be varied or cancelled.
(5) Where this sub-paragraph applies, the Chief Land Registrar may recover an amount equal to the compensation from the originating authority (and may not recover such an amount from the local authority).
(6) Sub-paragraph (7) applies where compensation for loss under section 10 of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 is paid by the Chief Land Registrar in the circumstances described in any of sub-paragraphs (2) to (4).
(7) No part of the amount paid, or of any corresponding amount paid to the Chief Land Registrar by the local authority or originating authority under any of those sub-paragraphs, is to be recovered by the Chief Land Registrar, the local authority or originating authority from any other person except as provided by any of sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) or under a policy of insurance or on grounds of fraud.
(8) Subsections (5) and (6) of section 10 of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 do not apply where compensation for loss under that section is paid by the Chief Land Registrar in the circumstances described in any of sub-paragraphs (2) to (4).
Interpretation
44 (1) In this Part of this Schedule—
“local authority” means—
a district council,
a county council in England for an area for which there is no district council,
a county council in Wales,
a county borough council,
a London borough council,
the Common Council of the City of London, or
the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
“the old register”, in relation to a local authority, means the local land charges register kept by the authority under the Local Land Charges Act 1975 before the relevant date;
“the new register” means the local land charges register kept by the Chief Land Registrar under the Local Land Charges Act 1975;
“the relevant date”, in relation to a local authority, means the date on which Parts 1 and 3 of this Schedule first had effect in relation to the authority's area.
(2) For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule the area of the Common Council of the City of London includes the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple.
(3) Expressions used in this Part of this Schedule and in the Local Land Charges Act 1975 have the same meaning as in that Act.
SCHEDULE 6 Community electricity right regulations
Section 38
PART 1 The right to buy
“Right to buy regulations”
1 In this Schedule “right to buy regulations” means regulations under subsection (1) of section 38.
Kinds of facilities in relation to which right to buy exercisable
2 (1) Right to buy regulations must specify the kind, or kinds, of renewable electricity generation facilities in relation to which the right to buy is to be exercisable.
(2) The regulations must secure that the right to buy is not to be exercisable in relation to a renewable electricity generation facility if the total installed capacity of the facility is expected to be less than 5 megawatts.
(3) The regulations may specify a kind of renewable electricity generation facility by reference to one or more of the following factors—
(a) the renewable source of energy used at the facility;
(b) the technology used to generate electricity at the facility;
(c) the electricity generation capacity of the facility;
(d) whether the facility is a land-based facility or an offshore facility.
Identification of qualifying facilities
3 (1) Right to buy regulations must make provision enabling those renewable electricity generation facilities which are qualifying facilities to be identified.
(2) The regulations may make provision enabling the following to be identified—
(a) different renewable electricity generation facilities located at the same site;
(b) any facility at that site which is a qualifying facility.
(3) The regulations may make provision enabling the following to be identified in cases where there is expansion at a site where a renewable electricity generation facility is located—
(a) any new renewable electricity generation facility created by the expansion;
(b) any facility at that site which is a qualifying facility (including any existing facility which becomes a qualifying facility because its total installed capacity is expected to be 5 megawatts or more as a result of the expansion).
(4) Right to buy regulations may make provision about cases in which the right to buy is not to be exercisable in relation to a renewable electricity generation facility which would otherwise be a qualifying facility (an “excepted facility”).
(5) The functions that may be conferred by regulations under sub-paragraph (4) (in accordance with section 39(1)) include—
(a) the function of determining whether or not a renewable electricity generation facility is an excepted facility;
(b) the function of specifying that a particular renewable electricity generation facility is an excepted facility.
(6) The regulations may provide for an excepted facility to be identified by reference to one or more of the following factors—
(a) community ownership of the facility;
(b) community ownership of a stake in the facility;
(c) non-participation in a statutory energy scheme (whether or not there could be participation in the scheme in respect of the facility).
The promoter
4 (1) Right to buy regulations must make provision enabling the promoter of a qualifying facility to be identified in a case where the promoter is not, or is not expected to become, the facility operator.
(2) In this paragraph “promoter” means a person developing a qualifying facility.
The community
5 (1) Right to buy regulations must make provision enabling the following to be identified—
(a) the community in which a land-based facility is located;
(b) the community adjacent to which an offshore facility is located.
(2) A community must be a geographical area which is—
(a) wholly in England, wholly in Wales or wholly in Scotland;
(b) partly in England and partly in Wales; or
(c) partly in England and partly in Scotland.
(3) A community may be identified by reference to one or more of the following factors—
(a) distance measured from the facility or some other point (such as a point on a coastline adjacent to an offshore facility);
(b) the number of residents;
(c) administrative boundaries of any kind.
The members of the community
6 (1) Right to buy regulations must make provision enabling the following to be identified—
(a) individuals who may exercise the right to buy;
(b) groups who may exercise the right to buy.
(2) The individuals who may exercise the right to buy may be identified by reference to one or more of the following factors—
(a) how old an individual is;
(b) how long an individual has been resident in the community;
(c) whether the community is an individual's only (or main) place of residence.
(3) Right to buy regulations may specify the kind, or kinds, of individuals who may not exercise the right to buy.
(4) Those kinds of individuals may be identified by reference to one or more of the following factors—
(a) whether an individual is, or has been, bankrupt or subject to any other kind of arrangement relating to indebtedness;
(b) whether an individual has been convicted of a criminal offence involving fraud;
(c) whether an individual is connected with—
(i) the designated promoter or facility operator, or
(ii) bodies or individuals connected with the designated promoter or facility operator.
(5) The groups who may exercise the right to buy may be identified by reference to one or more of the following factors—
(a) the legal form of the group;
(b) the constitution, structure and management of the group;
(c) the criteria for membership of the group (including criteria relating to residence);
(d) the members of the group;
(e) the aims of the group;
(f) the activities of the group (including economic activities);
(g) the geographical area or areas in which, or in relation to which, the group operates;
(h) the treatment of income and profits of the group;
(i) the treatment of assets of the group (including on its dissolution);
(j) whether the group is connected with—
(i) the designated promoter or facility operator, or
(ii) bodies or individuals connected with the designated promoter or facility operator.
(6) The provision that may be made about membership, or members, of the group under sub-paragraph (5)(c) or (d) includes provision of any kind that may be made under sub-paragraph (2) or (4) about individuals.
(7) Right to buy regulations may specify the kind, or kinds, of groups who may not exercise the right to buy.
(8) Regulations under this paragraph may make provision about which persons are connected with which other persons for the purposes of any such regulations.
(9) The regulations may provide that one person (“A”) is connected with another person (“B”) by virtue of—
(a) a direct or indirect connection;
(b) connections arising from employment or office-holding, from family relationships, or from financial arrangements;
(c) A being the parent of B or another person connected with B;
(d) A being a subsidiary of B or another person connected with B.
Kinds of stake which may be bought through the right to buy
7 (1) Right to buy regulations must specify the kinds of stakes in qualifying facilities which may be bought through the right to buy.
(2) A stake may take any of the following forms—
(a) one or more shares in a company;
(b) any other interest in a body other than a company;
(c) an equitable interest;
(d) a right to a royalty related to revenues;
(e) a loan.
(3) Right to buy regulations may make provision about the rights, obligations, powers and other terms attaching to a stake.
Particular kind of stake which may be bought in particular facility
8 (1) Right to buy regulations must require the designated promoter or facility operator to choose the kind, or kinds, of stake in a qualifying facility that are to be available through the right to buy.
(2) The regulations must give the designated promoter or facility operator a choice of at least two different kinds of stake in relation to a qualifying facility.
(3) The regulations must require the designated promoter or facility operator—
(a) to carry out a consultation before choosing which kind, or kinds, of stake are to be available, and
(b) to take the results of that consultation into account in making the choice.
The price of the stakes
9 (1) Right to buy regulations must make provision about setting the price of the available stakes in a qualifying facility.
(2) In making the regulations, the Secretary of State must have regard to the desirability of the prices of available stakes reflecting a measure of fair value.
(3) In this paragraph “available stakes”, in relation to a qualifying facility, means the stakes in the qualifying facility that are to be offered through the right to buy.
Total value of the offer
10 (1) Right to buy regulations must require the offer to consist of stakes whose combined price is—
(a) equal to, or
(b) greater than,
the minimum amount described in the regulations.
(2) That minimum amount must be expressed as a percentage of the total capital costs of development of a qualifying facility.
(3) That percentage must not exceed 5%.
(4) The regulations may make provision about—
(a) the kinds of costs that are capital costs of development of a qualifying facility;
(b) calculation of the total capital costs of development of a qualifying facility.
(5) The provision about calculation of the total capital costs may provide for the total—
(a) to be calculated by reference to a period ending after the time of the calculation (including a period ending with commissioning of the facility);
(b) to include costs which have not been incurred at the time of the calculation;
(c) to include estimated costs.
(6) In this paragraph—
“combined price”, in relation to the stakes offered through the right to buy, means the total which the amounts to be paid for all of those stakes will add up to (assuming those stakes are all bought);
“offer” means the offer of stakes in a qualifying facility through the right to buy.
Buying a stake
11 (1) Right to buy regulations must make provision about the procedure for exercising the right to buy in relation to a qualifying facility (the “purchase procedure”).
(2) The purchase procedure must identify what stake or stakes—
(a) the individuals resident in the community, and
(b) the groups connected with the community,
may buy through the right to buy.
(3) The regulations may require the designated promoter or facility operator to conduct the purchase procedure.
(4) The purchase procedure must identify the period of time during which stakes in a qualifying facility may be applied for (the “application period”).
(5) The purchase procedure must secure that the application period does not begin until after planning consent has been given for the development of the qualifying facility.
(6) Here “planning consent” means whichever of the following is, or are, needed for that facility to be developed—
(a) development consent under the Planning Act 2008;
(aa) infrastructure consent under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024;
(b) planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
(c) a marine licence under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;
(d) consent of the Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989;
(e) planning permission under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;
(f) a marine licence under Part 4 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.
Excessive or insufficient take-up
12 (1) Right to buy regulations may make provision (including provision relating to the allocation of stakes)—
(a) about cases where applications made in the application period exceed the available stakes, and
(b) about cases where applications made in the application period do not exceed the available stakes.
(2) Provision about cases where applications made in the application period do not exceed the available stakes may—
(a) provide for the right to buy to be modified or to cease to apply;
(b) identify a subsequent period of time (a “secondary period”) during which the right to buy is to be exercisable.
(3) If right to buy regulations identify a secondary period, the regulations may make, in relation to the secondary period, any provision of the kinds mentioned in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2)(a) that may be made in relation to the application period.
(4) The power under section 55 to make different provision in community electricity right regulations for different purposes includes power to make provision relating to secondary periods that is different from provision relating to application periods.
(5) The provision that may differ includes provision about—
(a) the community in which a land-based facility is located or adjacent to which an offshore facility is located;
(b) the individuals resident in a community or the groups connected with a community who may exercise the right to buy.
(6) In this paragraph—
“application period” has the meaning given in paragraph 11;
“applications” means applications for stakes in a qualifying facility;
“available stakes” means the stakes in a qualifying facility that are available to be bought through the right to buy.
Subsequent disposal of a stake
13 (1) Right to buy regulations may make provision about the disposal of a stake in a qualifying facility after it has been bought through the right to buy (whether the disposal is by a person who bought the stake through the right to buy or by a person who has subsequently acquired it).
(2) The regulations may impose restrictions or prohibitions on the disposal of a stake.
(3) The regulations may impose duties to dispose of a stake in a case where the holder ceases to be—
(a) an individual resident in a community, or
(b) a body connected with a community.
(4) A restriction or prohibition may limit or prevent the disposal of a stake except to an individual or body who—
(a) would have been able to buy the stake at the time when the right to buy was originally exercisable, or
(b) would be able to buy the stake at the time of the disposal, were the right to buy exercisable at that time.
PART 2 Operators, ownership & related matters
“Operator and ownership regulations”
14 In this Schedule “operator and ownership regulations” means regulations under subsection (2) of section 38.
Bodies that may be facility operators
15 If operator and ownership regulations specify two or more kinds of bodies which may be a facility operator, the regulations may make provision about which kind of body may own which kind of facility in which circumstances.
Constitutions of facility operators
16 (1) Operator and ownership regulations may require the constitution of a facility operator to be in accordance with provision specified in the regulations.
(2) In the case of a facility operator that is a company, the regulations may require the constitution of the company to be in accordance with provision about—
(a) the voting rights attached to, or other characteristics of, shares in the company;
(b) the issuing of new shares in the company.
Ownership of facility operators
17 (1) Operator and ownership regulations may make provision about the ownership of facility operators.
(2) The regulations may—
(a) impose limitations on who may own a facility operator;
(b) require the owners of a facility operator to consist of, or include, one or more persons of a kind specified in the regulations.
Conduct of owners of facility operators
18 (1) Operator and ownership regulations may make provision about the conduct of the owners of facility operators.
(2) The regulations may impose duties, restrictions or prohibitions in relation to the exercise of rights or powers of owners (including a right or power to exercise a vote attached to a share).
Revenues
19 (1) Operator and ownership regulations may make provision about the treatment of the revenues earned by a qualifying facility.
(2) The regulations may restrict or prohibit the making of arrangements affecting the destination of the revenues.
PART 3 Information
“Information regulations”
20 In this Schedule “information regulations” means regulations under subsection (3) of section 38.
Particular kinds of information
21 Information regulations may make provision about the supply of—
(a) financial information relating to a renewable electricity generation facility;
(b) information relating to electricity generation at a renewable electricity generation facility.
Possible buyers of stakes
22 Information regulations may make provision about the supply of information by, or to, individuals and groups who are, or may be, interested in exercising the right to buy (were it available to them).
Prospective buyers of stakes
23 Information regulations may make provision about the supply of information by, or to, individuals and groups who are entitled to exercise the right to buy.
Applicants for stakes
24 Information regulations may make provision about the supply of information by, or to, individuals and groups who are exercising the right to buy.
Owners of stakes
25 Information regulations may make provision about the supply of information by, or to, individuals and groups who hold—
(a) stakes which they have bought through the right to buy, or
(b) stakes which they have acquired after their sale through the right to buy.
PART 4 Supplementary
Interpretation
26 In this Schedule—
“body” means an incorporated or unincorporated body of persons;
“company” includes any other kind of incorporated body;
“designated promoter”, in relation to a renewable electricity generation facility, means the promoter identified in accordance with regulations under paragraph 4;
“shares” includes any other instrument by which a person holds an interest in the equity of an incorporated body;
“total installed capacity”, in relation to a renewable electricity generation facility, means the maximum capacity at which the facility could be operated for a sustained period without causing damage to it.