CHALLENGE
To identify and secure 52 Options for Servitude and associated access and temporary Land Rights over a 31km cable route from landfall to grid substation, together with acquisition of a new substation site in an area already heavily affected by grid infrastructure.
Referencing and consulting over an area of 1500 hectares to maintain broad optioneering routes during the route, environmental and engineering studies/selection process.
Community opposition to beach landfall and high-profile social media campaign.
Several sections of commercial forestry and interaction with railway infrastructure.
SOLUTION
Provide land referencing team with capacity and experience to undertake title searches and deliver a Book of Reference and subsequent revisions additions in a short timescale.
Provide wayleave surveyors with experience of negotiating similar schemes. Formulation of clear Land Strategy including voluntary negotiation, compensation structure and land budgets and clear justification of levels of offer. Responsiveness to changing Project requirements and landowners’ concerns was key.
Savills regular attendance at Project workshops and drop-in sessions resulted in twin-tracking some route sections and sensitive management of grantors’ expectations.
Maintaining a professional, honest and transparent approach in all dealings.
Savills Forestry agreed protocols for timber access, crossing and stacking points with landowner forestry advisors and agreed levels of Tree Crop Compensation and other mitigation measures both during and post construction.
During the construction phase Savills provided a locally based Agricultural Liaison Officer (ALO) who acted as liaison between the landowners, occupiers and project/construction teams. This proved crucial in ensuring mitigation and avoiding conflict in mutual land operations and activities as well as minimising possible additional claims for compensation.
RESULTS
- 100% voluntary Land Rights were acquired with nominal necessity for CPO action which whilst initiated on two landowners, was withdrawn.
- Proactive approach at all stages.
- Maintained relations with all parties affected.
- Construction commenced on time.