Notice Serving

Notice serving is a requirement for all statutory application procedures, and we are experienced in producing them in all relevant forms. Ardent has comprehensive knowledge of preparing and issuing a variety of acquisition notices such as general vesting declarations and notices to treat/enter.

For site notices, we use our innovative mobile technology to capture information at source. This not only improves accuracy and consistency, it has the added benefit of lowering costs.

We regularly serve a variety of statutory notices for Development Consent Order (DCO) applications. Our team is highly experienced in the erection and monitoring of site notices and this service is frequently combined with our land referencing facility.

When it comes to the acquisition of land post consent, the team can advise on the best method available to secure it.

Notices and documents we issue:

Development Consent Order (DCO)

A DCO is used to obtain permission for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects – this includes waste, water, energy and transport. Examples include Section 42, 56 and 134 Notices.

Transport and Works Act (TWA) Order

A TWA order is used to obtain permission for a new railway or tramway scheme in England or Wales. Examples include Rule 14 and 15 Notices.

Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)

A CPO allows certain the government, councils or utility companies to obtain land or property without the consent of the owner. This might be enforced when a motorway is being built and a landowner does not want to sell, for example.

Hybrid Bill

A hybrid Bill is a government measure involving a set of proposals for introducing new laws or changing existing ones. Examples include SO13 (owners, lessees and occupiers), SO12 (highway) and SO12A (footpath ) Notices.

Exercising Compulsory Purchase Powers

• General Vesting Declarations (GVD)
• Notice to Treat (NtT) procedures (involving notice to treat, notice of entry and conveyancing)

 

Why notices are integral to a DCO

A DCO application for consent to undertake an NSIP is made to the Planning Inspectorate and the process comprises six key stages covering: pre-application; acceptance; pre-examination; examination; decision; and post-decision stages. This process takes around 18 months.

At the pre-application stage, the responsibility to consult with all statutory consultees and the local community lies with the promoter. As a project progresses there are many other key statutory application procedure milestones where notice is again required to be issued to all statutory consultees and ‘interested parties’ who have made a ‘relevant representation’.

There are lead-in times for the service of notices set out under legislation and we have vast experience in developing tailored arrangements for clients involving the creation and implementation of notice serving in conjunction with their legal advisors.

For more information regarding our Land Referencing services, please contact Mike Crowther at: mikecrowther@ardent-management.com

ATLAS & GEOSPATIAL INSIGHTS (AGI)

Ardent’s AGI team utilises bespoke web-based applications to help record, monitor and report on notices served across a project. By adopting this digital, data-driven approach we are able to accurately map our notices, take necessary geolocated photographs and feed this live data back to the project teams. This approach helps to eliminate the risk of error in the data and it increases efficiency whilst saving on project costs. It allows for a complete audit trail which can be reported on at the click of a button.

For more information regarding our Atlas services, contact our Atlas & Geospatial Insights Lead, Adam Hankinson at: adamhankinson@ardent-management.com