Birkhill Wood - Compulsory Purchase Order

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION (BIRKHILL WOOD SUBSTATION PROJECT)
COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER 2025

The Electricity Act 1989 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981
The Electricity Act 1989 (the 1989 Act) and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (the 1981 Act).

1. Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, in exercise of their powers under the above Acts, on 30 April 2026 confirmed the order submitted by National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC (company registration number 02366977).

2. The order as confirmed provides for the purchase for the purposes of carrying on the activities authorised by its transmission licence under the 1989 Act, and more particularly for the purpose of the construction and operation of a new 400kv substation to facilitate the connection of third party connectees to the national electricity transmission network, reconfiguration of existing overhead lines and provision of new electricity pylons together with a new vehicular access from the A1079 to serve a new access road to the new substation with onward connection to the existing Creyke Beck substation of the land and the new rights described in Schedule 1.

3. A copy of the order as confirmed and of the map referred to therein have been deposited at: Cottingham Centre, Market Green, Cottingham, HU16 5QG, Greenwood Avenue Library, 220 Greenwood Avenue, Hull, HU6 9RU, and Beverley Library, Champney Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley, HU17 8HE and may be seen at all reasonable hours. 

A copy of the order which gives details on the extent, description and situation of the land included in the order and of the map may be viewed online at https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/infrastructureprojects/creyke-beck-substation-extension/birkhill-wood. 

4. The order as confirmed becomes operative on the date on which this notice is first published. A person aggrieved by the order may, by application to the High Court within 6 weeks from that date, challenge its validity under section 23 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981. 

The grounds for challenge can be that the authorisation granted by the order is not empowered to be granted or that there has been a failure to comply with any relevant statutory requirement relating to the order.

5. Once the order has become operative, National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC may acquire any of the land described in Schedule 1 below by executing a general vesting declaration under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981. A statement on the effect of Parts 2 and 3 of that Act is set out in Schedule 2 below.

6. Every person who, if a general vesting declaration were executed under section 4 of that Act in respect of the land comprised in the order (other than land in respect of which notice to treat has been given), would be entitled to claim compensation in respect of any such land, is invited to give information to National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC at Dalcour Maclaren, The Barn, Bignell Park Barns, Chesterton, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 1TD about the person’s name, address and interest in land, using a prescribed form. The relevant prescribed form is set out in Schedule 3 below.

7. National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC has a period of 3 years beginning with the date the order becomes operative to serve a notice to treat or execute a general vesting declaration. The order will become operative on the date on which this notice is first published or, if the order is subject to special parliamentary procedure, the date on which the order becomes operative under the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945.

SCHEDULE 1
DESCRIPTION OF LAND AND THE NEW RIGHTS COMPRISED IN THE ORDER AS CONFIRMED
LAND TO BE ACQUIRED

Freehold Acquisition over 1801 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood) and public bridleway (ROWLB13); 394 square metres of wind turbine and hardstanding (south of Poplar Farm and east of Birkhill Wood); 119762 square metres of agricultural land, drains (east of Poplar Farm and south of Beverley Bypass, A1079), public footpaths (ROWLF12, SKIDF16 and WOODF07), public bridleway (WOODB06) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 9 square metres of electricity apparatus (north of Cottingham Parks and south of Beverley Bypass, A1079); 8095 square metres of agricultural land, hedgerow and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and west of Wanlass Farm); 5283 square metres of agricultural land, hedgerow and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and west of Wanlass Farm); 2766 square metres of access way to Wanlass Farm (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Creyke Beck); 1737 square metres of agricultural land (north of Creyke Beck and south of Wanlass Farm) and electricity cables.

NEW RIGHTS TO BE ACQUIRED
Construction Access Rights: over 1036 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood).

Overhead Line Rights: over 353 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 38 square metres of agricultural land and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 10008 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 199 square metres of agricultural land and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 8190 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 13338 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 7101 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 864 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 451 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 38 square metres of agricultural land and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 3407 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 207 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 17 square metres of agricultural land and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 1074 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 3040 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 484 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 37 square metres of agricultural land, drain and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 1387 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 281 square metres of drain and hedgerow (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 1968 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 44 square metres of agricultural land and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 6765 square metres of agricultural land (east of Poplar Farm and south of Beverley Bypass, A1079); 8049 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 1059 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and east of Birkhill Wood); 21627 square metres of agricultural land, drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and east of Birkhill Wood), public bridleway (WOODB06) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 411 square metres of agricultural land, access track and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood), public bridleway (WOODB06) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 17231 square metres of agricultural land, (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Poplar Farm), public bridleway (WOODB06), National Cycle Network Route (Route 1) and electricity cables and pylon; 104422 square metres of agricultural land, drains (south of Poplar Farm and east of Birkhill Wood), public bridleways (SKIDB07 and WOODB06) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 336 square metres of agricultural land (east of Poplar Farm and south of Beverley Bypass, A1079), public bridleway (WOODB06) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 23602 square metres of agricultural land, drain (east of Poplar Farm and south of Beverley Bypass, A1079), public bridleways (SKIDB07 and WOODB06) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 6349 square metres of agricultural land (north of Creyke Beck and west of Wanlass Farm).

Construction Compound Rights over 208 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 13395 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood) and public bridleway (ROWLB13); 9111 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood) and public bridleway (WOODB30); 58 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079) and public bridleway (WOODB30); 2401 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and east of Birkhill Wood); 1898 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and east of Birkhill Wood); 4027 square metres of agricultural land, (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Poplar Farm), public footpath (WOODF07), public bridleway (WOODB06) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1).

Permanent Access Rights over 208 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 13395 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood) and public bridleway (ROWLB13); 9111 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood) and public bridleway (WOODB30); 26 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 6 square metres of agricultural land and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 58 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079) and public bridleway (WOODB30); 1212 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 864 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 451 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 38 square metres of agricultural land and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 3407 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 207 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 17 square metres of agricultural land and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 1074 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 484 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 37 square metres of agricultural land, drain and pipeline (Teesside to Saltend Ethylene Pipeline, south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 1387 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Birkhill Wood); 1059 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and east of Birkhill Wood); 5537 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and east of Birkhill Wood); 2387 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Poplar Farm and east of Birkhill Wood); 151 square metres of agricultural land and drain (west of Wanlass Farm and east of Cottingham Parks); 21 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and west of Wanlass Farm); 132 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and west of Wanlass Farm); 138 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and west of Wanlass Farm); 19 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and west of Wanlass Farm); 611 square metres of agricultural land and drain (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and west of Wanlass Farm); 442 square metres of agricultural land (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and west of Wanlass Farm); 790 square metres of public bridleway (SKIDB07) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 290 square metres of agricultural land and hedgerow (north of Creyke Beck and west of Wanlass Farm), public bridleway (SKIDB07) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 264 square metres of agricultural land (north of Creyke Beck and west of Wanlass Farm), public bridleway (SKIDB07) and National Cycle Network Route (Route 1); 88 square metres of agricultural land (north of Creyke Beck and west of Wanlass Farm); 89 square metres of agricultural land (north of Creyke Beck and west of Wanlass Farm); 303 square metres of access way to Wanlass Farm (south of Beverley Bypass, A1079 and north of Creyke Beck).

SCHEDULE 2
FORM OF STATEMENT OF EFFECT OF PARTS 2 AND 3 OF THE COMPULSORY PURCHASE
(VESTING DECLARATIONS) ACT 1981
Power to execute a general vesting declaration
1. Once the order has become operative, National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC may acquire any of the land described in Schedule 1 above by executing a general vesting declaration under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 (“the Act”). This has the effect, subject to paragraphs 3 and 5 below, of vesting the land in National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC at the end of one of the periods mentioned in paragraph 2 below.

Notices concerning general vesting declaration
2. As soon as may be after National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC executes a general vesting declaration, they must serve notice of it on every occupier of any of the land specified in the declaration (except land where there is one of the tenancies described in paragraph 4) and on every person who gives them information relating to the land in pursuance of the invitation contained in the confirmation notice of the order. When the service of notices of the general vesting declaration is completed, a period specified in the declaration, of not less than three months (unless the expedited procedure is used under sections 4A and 14B of the Act), will begin to run. National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC may use the expedited procedure where: (1) the land is unoccupied and by reason of disrepair, neglect, contamination, or risk to health or safety, National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC considers the land is unfit for its ordinary use or (2) National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC has been unable to identify any person with an interest in the land. Where the expedited procedure is available, a period of not less than six weeks will begin to run. On the first day after the end of the relevant period the land described in the declaration will, subject to what is said in paragraphs 3 and 5, vest in National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC together with the right to enter on the land and take possession of it. Every person on whom National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC could have served a notice to treat in respect of his interest in the land (other than a tenant under one of the tenancies described in paragraph 4) will be entitled to claim compensation for the acquisition of his interest in the land, with interest on the compensation from the vesting date.

3. The “vesting date” for any land specified in a declaration will be the first day after the end of the relevant period mentioned in paragraph 2 above, unless:

1. a counter-notice is served under Schedule A1 to the Act within that period. In such circumstances, the vesting date for the land which is the subject of the counter-notice will be determined in accordance with Schedule A1, or

2. National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC enters into an agreement with the owner of any interest in the land to vary that vesting date.

Modifications with respect to certain tenancies
4. In the case of certain tenancies, the position stated above is subject to modifications. The modifications apply where the tenancy is either a “minor tenancy”, i.e. a tenancy for a year or a yearly tenancy or a lesser interest, or “a long tenancy which is about to expire”. The latter expression means a tenancy granted for an interest greater than a minor tenancy but having on the vesting date a period still to run which is not more than the period specified in the declaration for this purpose (which must be more than a year). In calculating how long a tenancy has still to run, where any option to renew or to terminate it is available to either party, it shall be assumed that the landlord will take every opportunity open to them to terminate the tenancy while the tenant will use every opportunity to retain or renew his interest.

5. The modifications are that National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC may not exercise the right of entry referred to in paragraph 2 in respect of land subject to a tenancy described in paragraph 4 unless they first serve notice to treat in respect of the tenancy and then serve every occupier of the land with a notice of their intention to enter and take possession after the period (not less than three months from the service of the notice) specified in the notice. The right of entry will be exercisable at the end of that period. The vesting of the land will be subject to the tenancy until the end of that period or until the tenancy comes to an end, whichever happens first.

SCHEDULE 3
FORM FOR GIVING INFORMATION
National Grid Electricity Transmission (Birkhill Wood Substation Project) Compulsory Purchase Order 2025.
To: National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC.
[I] [We] being [a person] [persons] who, if a general vesting declaration were executed under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 in respect of all the land comprised in the compulsory purchase order cited above in respect of which notice to treat has not been given, would be entitled to claim compensation in respect of [all] [part of] that land, give you the following information, pursuant to the provisions of section 15 of, or paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to, the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.

Name and address of informant(s) (i)
…………………………………………...

Land in which an interest is held by informant(s) (ii)
…………………………………………..

Nature of interest (iii)
…………………………………………..

Signed
…………………………………………..
[on behalf of]
…………………………………………..

Date
…………………………………………..
(i) In the case of a joint interest insert the names and addresses of all the informants.

(ii) The land should be described concisely.

(iii) If the interest is leasehold, the date of commencement and length of term should be given.

If the land is subject to a mortgage or other incumbrance, details should be given, e.g. name of building society and roll number.

National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc

Dated 29 May 2026