The Pelham to Rayleigh Overhead Line Reinforcement scheme, promoted by National Grid plc, is a project involving the upgrade of approximately 100km of existing electricity lines primarily running through Essex but stretching into East Hertfordshire.
As part of the project an application for a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) has been made to the Secretary of State for Energy Security & Net Zero. That CPO will give National Grid plc powers to acquire or impose rights over land; to include rights needed to carry out the project works (i.e. rights of access and for construction compounds) but thereafter any easements and/or wayleaves required by National Grid.
The Pelham to Rayleigh Overhead Line Reinforcement scheme affected several hundred landowners and interested parties. We are assisting clients with Land Interest Questionnaires (LiQs), providing advice as to Deeds of Easements and Wayleave Agreements, as well as advice on the CPO process and legal procedure.
On current estimates, National Grid hope to start the project in 2027, with completion of the project before the end of the 2028 calendar year. In advance of that, National Grid will, or should, be liaising with relevant landowners and parties with a view to acquiring rights, and entering onto land, by agreement.
Our specialist team can help you to understand your legal rights and remedies, with appropriate advice and action to ensure that the scheme does not unlawfully or unfairly prejudice you, your property and your financial interests.
We can proactively manage all steps of the procedure, from initial notices, making representations, serving blight notices, seeking discretionary purchase, settling statutory compensation claims to formal legal challenge (High Court and Valuation Tribunal).
On this project we are assisting clients with Land Interest Questionnaires (LiQs), providing advice as to Deeds of Easements and Wayleave Agreements, as well as advice on the CPO process and legal procedure.
We seek the best outcome permissible by law. Our solicitors are members of the Compulsory Purchase Association (CPA) and National Infrastructure Projects Association (NIPA), but also recognised in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for their expertise in large schemes of this type.
Where there is a legal entitlement to reimbursement of your legal costs we claim these on your behalf, striving at all times to make our involvement cost-neutral where we can.
For clients affected by this scheme we can offer the following fixed-fee packages:
| Summary Review | Bespoke Review and Evaluation | Need to Sell Review |
|---|---|---|
| Helps you to understand the scheme, its likely progression and impact upon you and your likely remedies and/or appropriate next steps or action points. | Includes a bespoke letter of advice with full title review, consideration of proposed scheme works (on your land and adjacent), potential mitigation measures, likely heads of claim/compensation, evidence required to support statutory claims and/or the making of representations (objections) and appropriate action points to secure best outcomes. | Will ascertain whether you have, or may have, a qualifying blight claim and/or are able to pursue a “sale under shadow” or discretionary purchase of your property – giving you a clear route map to “move on” with your life, notwithstanding the scheme. |
| Cost - £695 plus VAT | Cost - £1,895 plus VAT and disbursements | Cost from - £1,295 plus VAT and disbursements (pricing depending on factors to nature whether freehold-leasehold and title entries) |
| This package is best for: Those who are unsure how the scheme impacts them and/or want a summary of what their rights are now or may be in future. | This package is best for: Those who wish to proactively protect their position with clear bespoke advice as to what to do, how to do it and when. | This package is best for: Those who wish to sell or are currently struggling to sell their property because of the scheme. |
We have further fixed fee structures available in respect of prescribed tasks or further action points, which we will outline following initial advice to you. Further details are available here.
Holmes & Hills will continue to monitor the progress of the scheme and full updates can be found by following the relevant link from the summary updates below.
The National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (Pelham to Rayleigh Overhead Line Reinforcement) Compulsory Purchase Order 2026 has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Energy Security & Net Zero. Owners and occupiers affected by the proposals should by now have received statutory notice of the proposals and an inquiry (date TBC) is likely to be convened to consider any unresolved objections.
The full suite of documents which support this National Grid proposal (including their statement of case and response to objections made) is available here.
If you are concerned about how these proposals may impact on your title interests, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our knowledgeable team of solicitors who specialise in compulsory purchase/ development consent order work.
If you have any concerns over the impact of a scheme on your land or property, or indeed any other compulsory purchase issue, our CPO solicitors are able to help.
Call us on 01206 593933 today to speak with one of our specialist CPO team. Or complete the form below.
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