3-phase electricity in a private road

phuthu

I submitted an application and payment to our DNO, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) in early April 2025, and an installation date was agreed.  However, I was later informed that due to unresolved wayleave issues 

WSP, acting on behalf of SSEN, has advised that a wayleave is required because the cable route crosses privately owned verge or access land.  The road is private and it is now maintained by the road association (the chair of the road association has given us permission to dig under the road to connect to the supply).  All the homeowners on the road pay an annual sub to maintain the road.  However, WSP cannot accept that the road association is the freeholder of the road - the freeholder died decades ago.  We cannot find the executor of the deceased freeholder in order to transfer ownership of the road to the road association.

To my knowledge, at least one neighbouring property on the road have installed a three-phase connection from SSEN without a formal wayleave being in place. But the rep from WSP has stated that the way in which a job has been completed historically does not infer precedent for any future works which are proposed to be completed.  So, they are insisting on the freeholder to give approval.

Has anybody come across this issue?

HillStreetBlues

Looks like you either trace the freeholder or go to court.
WSP are correct in that just because something has been done in the past, doesn't mean that it can be done now.

35har1old

HillStreetBlues said:

Looks like you either trace the freeholder or go to court.
WSP are correct in that just because something has been done in the past, doesn't mean that it can be done now.

Who would you be taking to court?

QrizB

HillStreetBlues said:

Looks like you either trace the freeholder or go to court.

Or try an adverse possession claim. Might be better asked about over on the Property forum.

HillStreetBlues

QrizB said:

HillStreetBlues said:

Looks like you either trace the freeholder or go to court.

Or try an adverse possession claim. Might be better asked about over on the Property forum.

Don't think that would apply as I believe the "adverse" part of it is without owners consent with the land.

35har1old

phuthu said:

I submitted an application and payment to our DNO, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) in early April 2025, and an installation date was agreed.  However, I was later informed that due to unresolved wayleave issues 

WSP, acting on behalf of SSEN, has advised that a wayleave is required because the cable route crosses privately owned verge or access land.  The road is private and it is now maintained by the road association (the chair of the road association has given us permission to dig under the road to connect to the supply).  All the homeowners on the road pay an annual sub to maintain the road.  However, WSP cannot accept that the road association is the freeholder of the road - the freeholder died decades ago.  We cannot find the executor of the deceased freeholder in order to transfer ownership of the road to the road association.

To my knowledge, at least one neighbouring property on the road have installed a three-phase connection from SSEN without a formal wayleave being in place. But the rep from WSP has stated that the way in which a job has been completed historically does not infer precedent for any future works which are proposed to be completed.  So, they are insisting on the freeholder to give approval.

Has anybody come across this issue?

Is the cable in the road?
If it is in the road the likely dimensions will be 2M × 1M and depth to range from 75mm to 1.2M
Have they set any conditions for on going maintenance if you manage to have it excavated

phuthu

The cable is under the grass verge on the other side of the road.

phuthu

35har1old said:

phuthu said:

I submitted an application and payment to our DNO, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) in early April 2025, and an installation date was agreed.  However, I was later informed that due to unresolved wayleave issues 

WSP, acting on behalf of SSEN, has advised that a wayleave is required because the cable route crosses privately owned verge or access land.  The road is private and it is now maintained by the road association (the chair of the road association has given us permission to dig under the road to connect to the supply).  All the homeowners on the road pay an annual sub to maintain the road.  However, WSP cannot accept that the road association is the freeholder of the road - the freeholder died decades ago.  We cannot find the executor of the deceased freeholder in order to transfer ownership of the road to the road association.

To my knowledge, at least one neighbouring property on the road have installed a three-phase connection from SSEN without a formal wayleave being in place. But the rep from WSP has stated that the way in which a job has been completed historically does not infer precedent for any future works which are proposed to be completed.  So, they are insisting on the freeholder to give approval.

Has anybody come across this issue?

Is the cable in the road?
If it is in the road the likely dimensions will be 2M × 1M and depth to range from 75mm to 1.2M
Have they set any conditions for on going maintenance if you manage to have it excavated

The cable is under the grass verge on the other side of the road.

phuthu

phuthu said:

35har1old said:

phuthu said:

I submitted an application and payment to our DNO, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) in early April 2025, and an installation date was agreed.  However, I was later informed that due to unresolved wayleave issues 

WSP, acting on behalf of SSEN, has advised that a wayleave is required because the cable route crosses privately owned verge or access land.  The road is private and it is now maintained by the road association (the chair of the road association has given us permission to dig under the road to connect to the supply).  All the homeowners on the road pay an annual sub to maintain the road.  However, WSP cannot accept that the road association is the freeholder of the road - the freeholder died decades ago.  We cannot find the executor of the deceased freeholder in order to transfer ownership of the road to the road association.

To my knowledge, at least one neighbouring property on the road have installed a three-phase connection from SSEN without a formal wayleave being in place. But the rep from WSP has stated that the way in which a job has been completed historically does not infer precedent for any future works which are proposed to be completed.  So, they are insisting on the freeholder to give approval.

Has anybody come across this issue?

Is the cable in the road?
If it is in the road the likely dimensions will be 2M × 1M and depth to range from 75mm to 1.2M
Have they set any conditions for on going maintenance if you manage to have it excavated

The cable is under the grass verge on the other side of the road.

Our next door neighbour moled rather than dug under the road so there was less inconvenience and mess.  We were planning to do exactly the same.  But we are having this issue with wayleave and our neighbour was not asked for the same.