CPO advice on the Thames Tideway Tunnel

TTT was a £3.6 billion pound super sewer project running 30 km west to east of London following the River Thames.

Chris Jakes was part of the Thames Tideway Tunnel (TTT) property team providing consultancy and advice, public consultation support and strategic input in respect of a variety of property related issues.

This involved regular advice during the pre-DCO application stage in respect of potential compensation liabilities, input into exceptional hardship procedure, discretionary compensation claims, non-statutory mitigation compensation procedure and non-statutory disturbance compensation procedure.

Chris provided further support in the examination by the Planning Inspectorate into the Development Consent Order Application for the Thames Tideway Tunnel made by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.

Services provided:

• Land rights negotiation
• Land and building acquisition
• Valuation
• Strategic advice
• Public consultation and engagement.

Working from the main project office, Chris was the property lead for the Blackfriars Bridge Foreshore and Victoria Embankment TTT Project sites, which involved land and building acquisition, consents, asset protection agreements and compensation management. His property support included acquiring 5 houseboat moorings in Battersea, securing property leasehold and freehold agreements with The Crown Estate, LB Lambeth, The City of London, City of Westminster, Port of London Authority (PLA) and St Mary’s Church in Putney.

Chris also reported to and supported the TTT property delivery team to ensure that the projects property acquisition and compensation costs were controlled against the project schedule of delivery, whilst also complying with overall governance procedures of TTT, Thames Water Utilities and Ofwat.

Outcomes & learnings

• Part of a team who ensured successful pre-acquisition of a land, property and interests ensuring a considerable de-risking of project delivery and property cost.
• Negotiation of agreements with local authorities for land acquisition and property consents, limiting post project completion liabilities.
• Compliance with DCO planning approach, property engagement and support generally to the Compulsory Purchase Acquisition process.
• Achieving best value for property acquisition and limiting pre-consent costs.