Purpose

To seek authority to agree Heads of terms with
National Grid Electricity Transmission for the acquisition of land
at Iver on which to site an electrical substation.

Content

 
National Grid Electrical
Transmission (NGET) had identified the site as a location which
would best fill its requirement to construct an electrical
substation to provide much needed increased power capacity in the
region.
 
A resolution to grant Planning
consent PL/24/0449/FA was made in February 2025 subject to a
regular period for call in and legal challenge.  If agreement to allow NGET to acquire the land was
not reached with NGET, NGET were clear they would use their
statutory powers and acquire the site by means of a Compulsory
Purchase Order. To avoid the site being acquired by Compulsory
Purchase thereby negating the possibility of maximising value to
the Council, officers recommended reaching a negotiated
settlement.
The proposed development would
provide for an identified need for a new substation. The applicant,
National Grid, had advised that it had several signed customer
connection agreements associated primarily with data centres and an
independent distribution network operator in the area to the west
of Greater London.
 
The Local Planning Authority
concluded that the harm to the Green Belt and the other harm, was
clearly outweighed by other considerations in this case.
Consequently, it had been considered that the very special
circumstances necessary to justify the development exist in this
case, and the material considerations identified would outweigh the
proposals conflict with the Development Plan. The proposed
development would also result in economic benefits that would arise
because of developments that would obtain power from the proposed
substations.  
 
RESOLVED
that authority be given to
the Service Director Commercial Property & Regeneration in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Accessible Housing and
Resources to:
 

·      
Finalise the emerging Heads of Terms
attached in the confidential appendices for National Grid
Electricity Transmission to acquire Council owned land at Iver on
which to construct and operate a new Electrical Substation adjacent
to National Grid Electrical Transmissions’ existing
electrical facility.
 

·      
Subject to finalising the emerging
Heads of Terms and to planning, to accept National Grids offer set
out in the confidential appendices, prepare contracts, exchange and
complete on the transaction.
 

·      
Negotiate and agree terms to serve
notices on tenants to obtain vacant possession in so far as they
are required to facilitate this transaction.
 

·      
Enter into necessary revised easement
/ licence agreements and wayleaves with SSE group, National Grid
Electricity Transmission, Affinity Water and BT for the relocation
of their infrastructure on the subject land surrounding Council
owned land as a direct consequence of this scheme.