Newbuild electricity connection - wayleaves/easements help?

sunflower_lass

We're currently trying to get a new electricity connection to our new-build site. We've consulted UK Power Networks, who sent an engineer out to quote the job, and they propose going across our neighbour's wood.

This will involve digging a narrow trench through the wood. Our neighbour is agreeable to it, but will expect a payment. I understand this is usually in the form of an 'easement' or 'wayleave'?

Does anyone have experience of this and could share advice? How much should we expect to offer to pay my neighbour? The cable will be about 70 meters long through the wood, which is unused and overgrown.

Thanks for your help!

ethank

I think that it is the utility company that has to pay - http://www.utilityserve.co.uk/wayleaves_and_easement.php

That said, you will be charged by the Utility company for the connection

dj1471

Yes. This will all be handled between the solicitors of UK Power Networks and your neighbour (or their solicitors). A contract will have to be drawn up to detail the work UKPN can perform, to what extent they need to clear up after themselves (I'm guessing not much if the land is overgrown) and arrangements for future access.

You will have to pay for all of this; it's possible that UKPN have already factored it into the price they gave you (look at the small print).

It sounds like the situation is straightforward, but bear in mind that the process can take many months. I've just had to wait 8 months for a company to get wayleave to run a cable into a building for the benefit of one of the tenants, even though the landlord was agreeable.