Problems with new electricity supply crossing neighbours land

SeanG1

I'm hoping someone can offer some advice.
We have applied, and have been preliminarily quoted by the electricity board to put an electric supply onto our small holding. The supply has to cross a farmers field. Initially the farmer insisted the supply goes underground costing an aditional £10,000 which is quite understandable for an arable field. Unfortunately the farmer is now insisting on considerable compensation payments as well up to another £10,000+ and even says that he will not let it cross his land at all if we take our time over the decision.
Does anyone know if this is legal? Is there no law on the amount of compensation that can be paid? If the supply goes underground surely the farmer can not hold us to ransom like this.
We are not rich by any means and going round his field will add even more to the bill which is not an option, we are breaking the bank as it stands.
If anyone knows of anything that might help we would be really appreciate.
Thank you in advance

Sean

DVardysShadow

Is he being totally unreasonable or is it a negotiating position? And is the line required 415V/240V or is it 11kV with a transformer?

Generally, cables don't work well under arable land, because ploughing can bring them to the top over a period of years. His problem of course is that a T connection will require a stay on the pole, which will decommission an awkward patch of field. Do you understand the available routing options and the rationale behind them from the design perspective or are you just relying on what you are told?

Edit: obviously OP not interested in replies???

Premier_2

How much electricity/how often do you need electricitry in this small holding of yours?

With an initial installation cost of £10k+ plus compensation payments yets to be agreed, would your own generator not be a cheaper solution?

patman99

I suppose it all depends on whether or not the op intends to live on the small holding, in which case access to electricity would be a 'must'.

If it is a windy area, they could invest in a wind turbine and link it to a hydrogen gas reactor. This would produce hydrogen gas to power a generator (and solve the problem of 'how do you store the unused energy from a windturbine/solar panel').