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England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions >> GEO Networks Ltd v The Bridgewater Canal Company Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 1348 (30 November 2010) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2010/1348.html Cite as: [2010] 49 EG 79 (CS), [2010] EWCA Civ 1348, [2011] RVR 13, [2011] 1 WLR 1487 |
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COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL DIVISION)
ON APPEAL FROM THE CHANCERY DIVISION
MR JUSTICE LEWISON
HC09C04145
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
LORD JUSTICE LEVESON
and
LORD JUSTICE PATTEN
____________________
GEO NETWORKS LIMITED |
Appellant |
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- and - |
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THE BRIDGEWATER CANAL COMPANY LIMITED |
Respondent |
____________________
WordWave International Limited
A Merrill Communications Company
165 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2DY
Tel No: 020 7404 1400, Fax No: 020 7404 1424
Official Shorthand Writers to the Court)
Mr J Small Qc And Mr O Radley-Gardner (Instructed By Wake Smith & Tofields) For The Appellant
Hearing date : 16 November 2010
____________________
Crown Copyright ©
The Chancellor
"to award such sum as the arbitrator may determine in respect of one or both of the following matters, that is to say—
(i) compensation to the person who objects to the works in respect of loss or damage sustained by that person in consequence of the carrying out of the works, and
(ii) consideration payable to that person for the right to carry out the works."
By an interim award made on 7th August 2009 the Arbitrator concluded, for the reasons he explained in the award, that
"the provisions of 13(2)(e) relate solely to the carrying out of the works and not to any granting of rights".
"..what the operator must pay for is the right to carry out the works; which right carries with it the right to keep the works on (or under or over) the relevant land in accordance with whatever terms and conditions the arbitrator awards. The price payable must be fair and reasonable but will take into account everything that the operator acquires by carrying out the works. Because the price is one that is fair and reasonable it will not include a ransom value. Accordingly, I consider that the arbitrator came to an erroneous conclusion."
Accordingly Lewison J set aside the Arbitrator's award and remitted it for reconsideration in the light of his judgment. Geo now appeals from the order of Lewison J with the permission of the judge. Before considering the reasons given by Lewison J, the submissions for the parties and my conclusions it is necessary to refer to the relevant provisions of the Code.
(1) In the former the notice under paragraph 12(4) is given to the person in control of the land, in the latter paragraph 5(1) requires the notice to be given to the person whose agreement is required to bind his or any relevant interest in the land.
(2) The linear obstacle regime provides for the person to whom the notice was given to serve a counter-notice of objection and requirement for payment of compensation under paragraph 12(6) and (8) but the general regime does not.
(3) In the case of the linear obstacle regime differences as to what may be done and what should be paid are referred to arbitration but in the case of the general regime they are determined by the County Court.
The issue on this appeal is whether the matters for which consideration or compensation should be paid are also different.
"(10) In this paragraph "relevant land" means land which is used wholly or mainly either as a railway, canal or tramway or in connection with a railway, canal or tramway on that land, and a reference to the person with control of any such land is a reference to the person carrying on the railway, canal or tramway undertaking in question."
This definition operates to confine the linear obstacle regime to a railway, canal or tramway and associated land. Further the person to whom a notice must be given and by whom a counter-notice may be given is the person carrying on the undertaking of a railway, canal or tramway whether or not he owns the land on or over which it runs.
"Subject to the following provisions of this code, the operator shall, for the statutory purposes, have the right in order to cross any relevant land with a line, to install and keep the line and other electronic communications apparatus on, under or over that land and—
(a) to execute any works on that land for or in connection with the installation, maintenance, adjustment, repair or alteration of that line or the other electronic communications apparatus; and
(b) to enter on that land to inspect the line or the other apparatus."
Sub-paragraph (2) deals with deviations. Sub-paragraph (3) prohibits installations which interfere with traffic on the railway, canal or tramway on that land.
"(4) The operator shall not execute any works on any land in pursuance of any right conferred by this paragraph unless—
(a) he has given the person with control of the land 28 days' notice of his intentions to do so; or
(b) the works are emergency works."
.....
"(6) If, at any time before a notice under sub-paragraph (4) above expires, the person with control of the land gives the operator notice of objection to the works, the operator shall be entitled to execute the works only—
(a) if, within the period of 28 days beginning with the giving of the notice of objection, neither the operator nor that person has given notice to the other requiring him to agree to an arbitrator to whom the objection may be referred under paragraph 13 below; or
(b) in accordance with an award made on such a reference; or
(c) to the extent that the works have at any time become emergency works."
......
"(8) If within the period of 28 days beginning with the giving of a notice under sub-paragraph (7) above [in respect of emergency works] the person to whom that notice was given gives a notice to the operator requiring him to pay compensation, the operator shall be liable to pay that person compensation in respect of loss or damage sustained in consequence of the carrying out of the emergency works in question; and any question as to the amount of that compensation shall, in default of agreement, be referred to arbitration under paragraph 13 below."
(a) to require the operator to submit to the arbitrator a plan and section in such form as the arbitrator may think requisite for the purposes of the arbitration;
(b) to require the observations on any such plan or section of the person who objects to the works to be submitted to the arbitrator in such form as the arbitrator may think requisite for those purposes;
(c) to direct the operator or that person to furnish him with such information and to comply with such other requirements as the arbitrator may think requisite for those purposes;
(d) to make an award requiring modifications to the proposed works and specifying the terms on which and the conditions subject to which the works may be executed; and
(e) to award such sum as the arbitrator may determine in respect of one or both of the following matters, that is to say—
(i) compensation to the person who objects to the works in respect of loss or damage sustained by that person in consequence of the carrying out of the works, and
(ii) consideration payable to that person for the right to carry out the works."
In the case of emergency works sub-paragraph 3(b) provides that the arbitrator:
"(b) shall award to the person requiring the payment of compensation such sum (if any) as the arbitrator may determine in respect of the loss or damage sustained by that person in consequence of the carrying out of the emergency works in question."
"(5) In determining what award to make on a reference under this paragraph, the arbitrator shall have regard to all the circumstances and to the principle that no person should unreasonably be denied access to an electronic communications network or to electronic communications services.
(6) For the purposes of the making of an award under this paragraph—
(a) the references in sub-paragraphs (2)(e) and (3)(b) above to loss shall, in relation to a person carrying on a railway, canal or tramway undertaking, include references to any increase in the expenses of carrying on that undertaking; and
(b) the consideration mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(e) above shall be determined on the basis of what would have been fair and reasonable if the person who objects to the works had given his authority willingly for the works to be executed on the same terms and subject to the same conditions (if any) as are contained in the award."
"2(1) The agreement in writing of the occupier for the time being of any land shall be required for conferring on the operator a right for the statutory purposes—
(a)to execute any works on that land for or in connection with the installation, maintenance, adjustment, repair or alteration of electronic communications apparatus; or
(b)to keep electronic communications apparatus installed on, under or over that land; or
(c)to enter that land to inspect any apparatus kept installed (whether on, under or over that land or elsewhere) for the purposes of the operator's network."
"5(1) Where the operator requires any person to agree for the purposes of paragraph 2 or 3 above that any right should be conferred on the operator, or that any right should bind that person or any interest in land, the operator may give a notice to that person of the right and of the agreement that he requires.
(2) Where the period of 28 days beginning with the giving of a notice under sub-paragraph (1) above has expired without the giving of the required agreement, the operator may apply to the court for an order conferring the proposed right, or providing for it to bind any person or any interest in land, and (in either case) dispensing with the need for the agreement of the person to whom the notice was given.
(3) The court shall make an order under this paragraph if, but only if, it is satisfied that any prejudice caused by the order—
(a) is capable of being adequately compensated for by money; or
b) is outweighed by the benefit accruing from the order to the persons whose access to a an electronic communications network or to electronic communications services will be secured by the order;
and in determining the extent of the prejudice, and the weight of that benefit, the court shall have regard to all the circumstances and to the principle that no person should unreasonably be denied access to a an electronic communications network or to electronic communications services.
(4) An order under this paragraph made in respect of a proposed right may, in conferring that right or providing for it to bind any person or any interest in land and in dispensing with the need for any person's agreement, direct that the right shall have effect with such modifications, be exercisable on such terms and be subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.
(5) The terms and conditions specified by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) above in an order under this paragraph, shall include such terms and conditions as appear to the court appropriate for ensuring that the least possible loss and damage is caused by the exercise of the right in respect of which the order is made to persons who occupy, own interests in or are from time to time on the land in question.
.....
7(1) The terms and conditions specified by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 5 above in an order under that paragraph dispensing with the need for a person's agreement, shall include—
(a) such terms with respect to the payment of consideration in respect of the giving of the agreement, or the exercise of the rights to which the order relates, as it appears to the court would have been fair and reasonable if the agreement had been given willingly and subject to the other provisions of the order; and
(b) such terms as appear to the court appropriate for ensuring that that person and persons from time to time bound by virtue of paragraph 2(4) above by the rights to which the order relates are adequately compensated (whether by the payment of such consideration or otherwise) for any loss or damage sustained by them in consequence of the exercise of those rights."
"If that goes for compensation under paragraph 13 (2) (e) (i) it is difficult to see how a different approach is warranted for paragraph 13 (2)(e)(ii), which is introduced by the same words."
49. [Paragraph 13 (2) (e) (ii)] is concerned with "consideration" (i.e. price). Since loss and damage to the undertaker has been dealt with in paragraph 13 (2) (e) (i), the natural reading of paragraph 13 (2) (e) (ii) is that it is dealing with something else. What is that something else, if not the value to the operator of acquiring the right? If, as I think, part of the notion of carrying out works is the permanent (or indefinite) consequence of carrying them out, then it seems to me that paragraph 13 (2) (e) (ii) envisages that the consideration will take into account the fact that the right to carry out the work will carry with it the right to retain on or under the land whatever apparatus has been installed as a result of those works. The notion that the consideration must be assessed on the assumption that the operator has no right to retain or use the apparatus after it has been installed seems to be to be both counter-factual and far divorced from the real world. If a counter-factual assumption is to be made, then it must be spelled out clearly. There is only one counter-factual assumption referred to in this part of the Code, and that is the counter-factual assumption that authority has been willingly given. So far as the real world is concerned, if an operator and an undertaker were discussing the consideration that the operator would be required to pay in order to acquire the right to carry out works to install apparatus, the first question that the operator would ask would surely be: can I keep it there once I have installed it? If the answer is no, it is difficult to see why the operator should agree to pay anything, particularly since he will have to compensate the undertaker for any loss or damage suffered in consequence of the works. Yet paragraph 13 (2) (e) (ii) must have contemplated that consideration would be payable, at least in some circumstances. [Counsel for Geo] was not able to explain satisfactorily in what circumstances consideration would be payable.
50. In addition, the consideration must be "fair and reasonable". It does not seem to me to be fair that an operator should have something for nothing. If he acquires something of value to him, fairness seems to me to require that he pays for it. As I have said, [Counsel for Geo] warned against allowing persons in control of linear obstacles extracting ransom payments from operators. However, it seems to me that the use of the phrase "fair and reasonable" precludes the extraction of a ransom payment, as Mance LJ observed in Cabletel. Once that objection has been cleared out of the way, I do not consider that there is a compelling argument against the payment of consideration by an operator."
"no person should unreasonably be denied access to an electronics communications network or to electronic communications services."
2 (1) The agreement in writing of the occupier for the time being of any land shall be required for conferring on the operator a right for the statutory purposes—
(a) to execute any works on that land for or in connection with the installation, maintenance, adjustment, repair or alteration of electronic communications apparatus; or
(b) to keep electronic communications apparatus installed on, under or over that land; or
(c) to enter that land to inspect any apparatus kept installed (whether on, under or over that land or elsewhere) for the purposes of the operator's network.
2 (5) A right falling within sub-paragraph (1) above shall not be exercisable except in accordance with the terms (whether as to payment or otherwise) subject to which it is conferred; and, accordingly, every person for the time being bound by such a right shall have the benefit of those terms.
2 (9) Subject to paragraphs 9(2) and 11(2) below, this paragraph shall not require any person to give his agreement to the exercise of any right conferred by any of paragraphs 9 to 12 below.
5 (1) Where the operator requires any person to agree for the purposes of paragraph 2 or 3 above that any right should be conferred on the operator, or that any right should bind that person or any interest in land, the operator may give a notice to that person of the right and of the agreement that he requires.
5 (2) Where the period of 28 days beginning with the giving of a notice under sub-paragraph (1) above has expired without the giving of the required agreement, the operator may apply to the court for an order conferring the proposed right, or providing for it to bind any person or any interest in land, and (in either case) dispensing with the need for the agreement of the person to whom the notice was given.
5 (3) The court shall make an order under this paragraph if, but only if, it is satisfied that any prejudice caused by the order—
(a) is capable of being adequately compensated for by money; or
(b) is outweighed by the benefit accruing from the order to the persons whose access to an electronic communications network or to electronic communications services will be secured by the order;
and in determining the extent of the prejudice, and the weight of that benefit, the court shall have regard to all the circumstances and to the principle that no person should unreasonably be denied access to an electronic communications network or to electronic communications services.
5 (4) An order under this paragraph made in respect of a proposed right may, in conferring that right or providing for it to bind any person or any interest in land and in dispensing with the need for any person's agreement, direct that the right shall have effect with such modifications, be exercisable on such terms and be subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.
5 (5) The terms and conditions specified by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) above in an order under this paragraph, shall include such terms and conditions as appear to the court appropriate for ensuring that the least possible loss and damage is caused by the exercise of the right in respect of which the order is made to persons who occupy, own interests in or are from time to time on the land in question.
7 (1) The terms and conditions specified by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 5 above in an order under that paragraph dispensing with the need for a person's agreement, shall include -
(a) such terms with respect to the payment of consideration in respect of the giving of the agreement, or the exercise of the rights to which the order relates, as it appears to the court would have been fair and reasonable if the agreement had been given willingly and subject to the other provisions of the order; and
(b) such terms as appear to the court appropriate for ensuring that that person and persons from time to time bound by virtue of paragraph 2(4) above by the rights to which the order relates are adequately compensated (whether by the payment of such consideration or otherwise) for any loss or damage sustained by them in consequence of the exercise of those rights.
7 (2) In determining what terms should be specified in an order under paragraph 5 above for requiring an amount to be paid to any person in respect of -
(a) the provisions of that order conferring any right or providing for any right to bind any person or any interest in land, or
(b) the exercise of any right to which the order relates,
the court shall take into account the prejudicial effect (if any) of the order or, as the case may be, of the exercise of the right on that person's enjoyment of, or on any interest of his in, land other than the land in relation to which the right is conferred.
7 (4) The terms specified by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) above in an order under paragraph 5 above may provide -
(a) for the making of payments from time to time to such persons as may be determined under those terms; and
(b) for questions arising in consequence of those terms (whether as to the amount of any loss or damage caused by the exercise of a right or otherwise) to be referred to arbitration or to be determined in such other manner as may be specified in the order.
9 (1) The operator shall, for the statutory purposes, have the right to do any of the following things, that is to say -
(a) install electronic communications apparatus, or keep electronic communications apparatus installed, under, over, in, on, along or across a street or, in Scotland, a road;
(b) inspect, maintain, adjust, repair or alter any electronic communications apparatus so installed; and
(c) execute any works requisite for or incidental to the purposes of any works falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above, including for those purposes the following kinds of works, that is to say -
(i) breaking up or opening a street or, in Scotland, a road;
(ii) tunnelling or boring under a street or, in Scotland, a road; and
(iii) breaking up or opening a sewer, drain or tunnel;
9 (2) This paragraph has effect subject to . . . paragraph 3 above and the following provisions of this code, and the rights conferred by this paragraph shall not be exercisable in a street which is not a maintainable highway or, in Scotland, a road which is not a public road without either the agreement required by paragraph 2 above or an order of the court under paragraph 5 above dispensing with the need for that agreement.
11 (1) Subject to paragraph 3 above and the following provisions of this code, the operator shall have the right for the statutory purposes -
(a) to execute any works (including placing any buoy or seamark) on any tidal water or lands for or in connection with the installation, maintenance, adjustment, repair or alteration of electronic communications apparatus;
(b) to keep electronic communications apparatus installed on, under or over tidal water or lands; and
(c) to enter any tidal water or lands to inspect any electronic communications apparatus so installed.
11 (2) A right conferred by this paragraph shall not be exercised in relation to any land in which a Crown interest, within the meaning of paragraph 26 below, subsists unless agreement to the exercise of the right in relation to that land has been given, in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) of that paragraph, in respect of that interest.
Linear obstacles
12 (1) Subject to the following provisions of this code, the operator shall, for the statutory purposes, have the right in order to cross any relevant land with a line, to install and keep the line and other electronic communications apparatus on, under or over that land and -
a) to execute any works on that land for or in connection with the installation, maintenance, adjustment, repair or alteration of that line or the other electronic communications apparatus; and
(b) to enter on that land to inspect the line or the other apparatus.
(2) A line installed in pursuance of any right conferred by this paragraph need not cross the relevant land in question by a direct route or by the shortest route from the point at which the line enters that land, but it shall not cross that land by any route which, in the horizontal plane, exceeds the said shortest route by more than 400 metres.
(3) Electronic communications apparatus shall not be installed in pursuance of any right conferred by this paragraph in any position on the relevant land in which it interferes with traffic on the railway, canal or tramway on that land.
(4) The operator shall not execute any works on any land in pursuance of any right conferred by this paragraph unless -
(a) he has given the person with control of the land 28 days' notice of his intention to do so; or
(b) the works are emergency works.
(5) A notice under sub-paragraph (4) above shall contain a plan and section of the proposed works or (in lieu of a plan and section) any description of the proposed works (whether or not in the form of a diagram) which the person with control of the land has agreed to accept for the purposes of this sub-paragraph.
(6) If, at any time before a notice under sub-paragraph (4) above expires, the person with control of the land gives the operator notice of objection to the works, the operator shall be entitled to execute the works only -
(a) if, within the period of 28 days beginning with the giving of the notice of objection, neither the operator nor that person has given notice to the other requiring him to agree to an arbitrator to whom the objection may be referred under paragraph 13 below; or
(b) in accordance with an award made on such a reference; or
(c) to the extent that the works have at any time become emergency works.
(7) If the operator exercises any power conferred by this paragraph to execute emergency works on any land, he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after commencing those works, give the person with control of the land a notice identifying the works and containing -
(a) a statement of the reason why the works are emergency works; and
(b) either the matters which would be required to be contained in a notice under sub-paragraph (4) above with respect to those works or, as the case may require, a reference to an earlier notice under that sub-paragraph with respect to those works.
(8) If within the period of 28 days beginning with the giving of a notice under sub-paragraph (7) above the person to whom that notice was given gives a notice to the operator requiring him to pay compensation, the operator shall be liable to pay that person compensation in respect of loss or damage sustained in consequence of the carrying out of the emergency works in question; and any question as to the amount of that compensation shall, in default of agreement, be referred to arbitration under paragraph 13 below.
(9) If the operator commences the execution of any works in contravention of any provision of this paragraph, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(10) In this paragraph "relevant land" means land which is used wholly or mainly either as a railway, canal or tramway or in connection with a railway, canal or tramway on that land, and a reference to the person with control of any such land is a reference to the person carrying on the railway, canal or tramway undertaking in question.
Arbitration in relation to linear obstacles
13 (1) Any objection or question which, in accordance with paragraph 12 above, is referred to arbitration under this paragraph shall be referred to the arbitration of a single arbitrator appointed by agreement between the parties concerned or, in default of agreement, by the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
(2) Where an objection under paragraph 12 above is referred to arbitration under this paragraph the arbitrator shall have the power—
(a) to require the operator to submit to the arbitrator a plan and section in such form as the arbitrator may think requisite for those purposes;
(b) to require the observations on any such plan or section of the person who objects to the works to be submitted to the arbitrator in such form as the arbitrator may think requisite for those purposes;
(c) to direct the operator or that person to furnish him with such information and to comply with such other requirements as the arbitrator may think requisite for those purposes;
(d) to make an award requiring modifications to the proposed works and specifying the terms on which and the conditions subject to which the works may be executed; and
(e) to award such sum as the arbitrator may determine in respect of one or both of the following matters, that is to say -
(i) compensation to the person who objects to the works in respect of loss or damage sustained by that person in consequence of the carrying out of the works, and
(ii) consideration payable to that person for the right to carry out the works.
(3) Where a question as to compensation in respect of emergency works is referred to arbitration under this paragraph, the arbitrator -
(a) shall have the power to direct the operator or the person who requires the payment of compensation to furnish him with such information and to comply with such other requirements as the arbitrator may think requisite for the purposes of the arbitration; and
(b) shall award to the person requiring the payment of compensation such sum (if any) as the arbitrator may determine in respect of the loss or damage sustained by that person in consequence of the carrying out of the emergency works in question.
(4) The arbitrator may treat compliance with any requirement made in pursuance of sub-paragraph (2)(a) to (c) or (3)(a) above as a condition of his making an award.
(5) In determining what award to make on a reference under this paragraph, the arbitrator shall have regard to all the circumstances and to the principle that no person should unreasonably be denied access to an electronic communications network or to electronic communications services.
(6) For the purposes of the making of an award under this paragraph -
(a) the references in sub-paragraphs (2)(e) and (3)(b) above to loss shall, in relation to a person carrying on a railway, canal or tramway undertaking, include references to any increase in the expenses of carrying on that undertaking; and
(b) the consideration mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(e) above shall be determined on the basis of what would have been fair and reasonable if the person who objects to the works had given his authority willingly for the works to be executed on the same terms and subject to the same conditions (if any) as are contained in the award.
(7) In the application of this paragraph to Scotland, the reference to an arbitrator shall have effect as a reference to an arbiter and the arbiter may and, if so directed by the Court of Session, shall state a case for the decision of that Court on any question of law arising in the arbitration.
Alteration of apparatus crossing a linear obstacle
14 (1) Without prejudice to the following provisions of this code, the person with control of any relevant land may, on the ground that any electronic communications apparatus kept installed on, under or over that land for the purposes of the operator's network interferes, or is likely to interfere, with -
(a) the carrying on of the railway, canal or tramway undertaking carried on by that person, or
(b) anything done or to be done for the purposes of that undertaking,
give notice to the operator requiring him to alter that apparatus.
(2) The operator shall within a reasonable time and to the reasonable satisfaction of the person giving the notice comply with a notice under sub-paragraph (1) above unless before the expiration of the period of 28 days beginning with the giving of the notice he gives a counter-notice to the person with control of the land in question specifying the respects in which he is not prepared to comply with the original notice.
(3) Where a counter-notice has been given under sub-paragraph (2) above the operator shall not be required to comply with the original notice but the person with control of the relevant land may apply to the court for an order requiring the alteration of any electronic communications apparatus to which the notice relates.
(4) The court shall not make an order under this paragraph unless it is satisfied that the order is necessary on one of the grounds mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above and in determining whether to make such an order the court shall also have regard to all the circumstances and to the principle that no person should unreasonably be denied access to an electronic communications network or to electronic communications services.
(5) An order under this paragraph may take such form and be on such terms as the court thinks fit and may impose such conditions and may contain such directions to the operator or the person with control of the land in question as the court thinks necessary for resolving any difference between the operator and that person and for protecting their respective interests.
(6) In this paragraph references to relevant land and to the person with control of such land have the same meaning as in paragraph 12 above.
16 (1) Where a right conferred by or in accordance with any of the preceding provisions of this code is exercised, compensation shall be payable by the operator under section 10 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (compensation for injurious affection to neighbouring land etc) as if that section had effect in relation to injury caused by the exercise of such a right as it has effect in relation to injury caused by the execution of works on land that has been compulsorily purchased.
21 (1) Where any person is for the time being entitled to require the removal of any of the operator's electronic communications apparatus from any land (whether under any enactment or because that apparatus is kept on, under or over that land otherwise than in pursuance of a right binding that person or for any other reason) that person shall not be entitled to enforce the removal of the apparatus except, subject to sub-paragraph (12) below, in accordance with the following provisions of this paragraph.
21 (2) The person entitled to require the removal of any of the operator's electronic communications apparatus shall give a notice to the operator requiring the removal of the apparatus.
21 (3) Where a person gives a notice under sub-paragraph (2) above and the operator does not give that person a counter-notice within the period of 28 days beginning with the giving of the notice, that person shall be entitled to enforce the removal of the apparatus.
21 (4) A counter-notice given under sub-paragraph (3) above to any person by the operator shall do one or both of the following, that is to say -
(a) state that that person is not entitled to require the removal of the apparatus;
(b) specify the steps which the operator proposes to take for the purpose of securing a right as against that person to keep the apparatus on the land.
21 (5) Those steps may include any steps which the operator could take for the purpose of enabling him, if the apparatus is removed, to re-install the apparatus; and the fact that by reason of the following provisions of this paragraph any proposed re-installation is only hypothetical shall not prevent the operator from taking those steps or any court or person from exercising any function in consequence of those steps having been taken.
21 (6) Where a counter-notice is given under sub-paragraph (3) above to any person, that person may only enforce the removal of the apparatus in pursuance of an order of the court; and, where the counter-notice specifies steps which the operator is proposing to take to secure a right to keep the apparatus on the land, the court shall not make such an order unless it is satisfied -
(a) that the operator is not intending to take those steps or is being unreasonably dilatory in the taking of those steps; or
(b) that the taking of those steps has not secured, or will not secure, for the operator as against that person any right to keep the apparatus installed on, under or over the land or, as the case may be, to re-install it if it is removed.
21 (7) Where any person is entitled to enforce the removal of any apparatus under this paragraph (whether by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) above or an order of the court under sub-paragraph (6) above), that person may, without prejudice to any method available to him apart from this sub-paragraph for enforcing the removal of that apparatus, apply to the court for authority to remove it himself; and, on such an application, the court may, if it thinks fit, give that authority.
Lord Justice Leveson
Lord Justice Patten