Section 611 — Housing Act 1985: Removal or alteration of apparatus of statutory undertakers.

Removal or alteration of apparatus of statutory undertakers. 611 1 Where by reason of the stopping up, diversion or alteration of the level or width of a street by a local housing authority under powers exercisable by them by virtue of this Act—

a the removal or alteration of apparatus belonging to statutory undertakers, or b the execution of works for the provision of substituted apparatus, whether permanent or temporary, is reasonably necessary for the purposes of their undertaking, the statutory undertakers may by notice in writing served on the authority require them to remove or alter the apparatus or to execute the works.

2 Where such a requirement is made and not withdrawn, the authority shall give effect to it unless—

a they serve notice in writing on the undertakers of their objection to the requirement within 28 days of the service of the notice upon them and b the requirement is determined by arbitration to be unreasonable.

3 At least seven days before commencing any works which they are required under this section to execute, the authority shall, except in case of emergency, serve on the undertakers notice in writing of their intention to do so;

and if the undertakers so elect within seven days from the date of service of the notice on them, they shall themselves execute the works.

4 If the works are executed by the authority, they shall be executed at the authority’s expense and under the superintendence (also at the authority’s expense) and to the reasonable satisfaction of the undertakers;

and if the works are executed by the undertakers, they shall be executed in accordance with the reasonable directions and to the reasonable satisfaction of the authority, and the reasonable costs of the works shall be repaid to the undertakers by the authority.

5 Any difference arising between statutory undertakers and a local housing authority under subsection (3) or (4), and any matter which by virtue of subsection (2)(b) is to be determined by arbitration, shall be referred to and determined by an arbitrator to be appointed, in default of agreement, by the Secretary of State.

6 In this section—

a “ statutory undertakers ” means any persons authorised by an enactment, or by an order, rule or regulation made under an enactment, to construct, work or carry on a railway, canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, tramway, gas, . . . , . . . or other public undertaking;

b “ apparatus ” means sewers, drains, culverts, watercourses, mains, pipes, valves, tubes, cables, wires, transformers and other apparatus laid down or used for or in connection with the carrying, conveying or supplying to premises of a supply of water, water for hydraulic power, gas or electricity, and standards and brackets carrying street lamps;

c references to the alteration of apparatus include diversion and the alteration of position or level.