A guide to the Thames Tunnel compensation programme

We understand that your home or business and quality of life is important and we care about how our proposals may affect you. We are committed to minimising disruption, wherever possible. Weve developed this compensation programme, which goes beyond the legal requirements, to ensure people living or working near our worksites are protected in the unlikely event they are affected by our works. We will need to construct the tunnel and connect it to the existing combined sewer overflows. We recognise that this may have an effect on neighbouring properties so we have put together a package of measures to protect you, should your property or business be adversely affected by our proposals. We also realise that publicising our proposals may have an impact on your ability to sell your property. A procedure is in place where the project may purchase your property, should you have a pressing need to do so (subject to you meeting eligibility criteria).

Need help?

Call our 24-hour Customer Centre on 0800 0721 086 or email thames.tunnel@thameswater.co.uk

Compensation available now:

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Exceptional hardship

If you cant sell your property because of the Thames Tunnel proposals and you have a pressing need to do so, please check whether you are eligible for our Exceptional hardship procedure available on our website www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk.

Compensation available during construction: Damage or loss

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In the unlikely event of damage occurring to your property because of our construction works taking place nearby, disturbance compensation may be available. In certain circumstances, this compensation may also be available should you experience financial loss because of the construction of the Thames Tunnel.

Protection measures
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If you are experiencing problems with the effects of the construction of the Thames Tunnel such as excessive noise, we may put in mitigation or protection measures such as secondary double glazing, to reduce the effects on your property.

Compulsory purchase
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In the event that we need to compulsorily purchase land or acquire other property rights, you will be compensated in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Thames Tunnel

Damage or loss

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In the unlikely event of damage occurring to your property because of our construction works taking place nearby, disturbance compensation may be available. In certain circumstances, this compensation may also be available should you experience financial loss because of the construction of the Thames Tunnel.

We recognise that because of the projects potential construction working hours, its duration, and the potential for construction sites to be close to neighbouring properties, there may be disturbance in certain locations which may give rise to financial loss or damage to property. It may be possible to recover this loss or damage by claiming compensation from the Thames Tunnel project. While the Thames Tunnel project team will comply with environmental and other statutory regulations at all times, this policy addresses particularly sensitive areas where claims may fall outside the current legal compensation regime. During construction, we will continually monitor and address possible impacts that the construction may have on surrounding properties. Despite this the project team recognises that disturbance may arise due to such things as: noise dust vibration light disturbance from our worksites at night damage to property as a result of construction.

Where an individual applies for compensation under this policy, it must include: a reasonable and valid claim supported with evidence to back it up an explanation of why our activity or impact is beyond the level of nuisance and disturbance, which would normally be expected and therefore tolerated in the vicinity of a major construction operation. how you are affected by the activity complained of and what, if any, personal factors may influence the impact of those activities confirmation that you have a legal interest in the property to which the claim relates confirmation that you are not making a legal claim against the project for the same circumstances.

In each case, an assessment panel made up of suitable and qualified project personnel will assess the claim. Any claim which is accepted will be made subject to specific conditions, and will likely include mitigation works or other required actions to reasonably reduce the ongoing disturbance. The cost and burden of carrying out these works will be dealt with as part of the panel assessment. Details of how to make a claim will be published once we have started setting up the sites to begin construction.

Need help?

Call our 24-hour Customer Centre on 0800 0721 086 or email thames.tunnel@thameswater.co.uk

Protection measures

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If you are experiencing problems with the effects of the construction of the Thames Tunnel such as excessive noise, we can put in mitigation or protection measures such as secondary double glazing, to reduce the effects on your property.

The Thames Tunnel project team is carrying out an ongoing process of identifying the need for mitigation and protection works to neighbouring properties, where it is sensible to do so in advance of major construction activity and where it may relieve concerns of the property owners. Mitigation or protection works may include: any works which are required to reasonably protect the interests of property owners and other affected interests environmental protection or other works beyond what may be required and set out in the proposed development consent order (see page four for more information on what a development consent order is) advance design and construction works for proposed new developments on neighbouring land.

The requirement for these works could come about because of the following: they are identified by the Thames Tunnel project team and recommended to the property owner they are identified by the property owner and subject to a request to the Thames Tunnel project team they are identified by any other interested party or statutory body and subject to a request to the Thames Tunnel project team and property owner.

Where a property owner requests mitigation or protection works, the Thames Tunnel project team will assess whether it meets the criteria set out above. Details of how to make a claim will be published once we have started setting up the sites to begin construction.

Need help?

Call our 24-hour Customer Centre on 0800 0721 086 or email thames.tunnel@thameswater.co.uk

Compulsory purchase

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In the event that we need to compulsorily purchase land or acquire other property rights, you will be compensated in accordance with the relevant legislation.

The construction of the Thames Tunnel is currently proposed to start in 2016. We will need to acquire or take rights over land on either a temporary or permanent basis to build the project. We may need to use powers of compulsory purchase to do this. This compensation policy has been created for people whose land is acquired compulsorily or where new rights will be acquired over their land. This policy may be revised following submission of the proposed Thames Tunnel project Development Consent Order (which is a combined planning permission and compulsory purchase order under the

provisions of the Planning Act 2008), which is due to be submitted in late 2012. Please note that this policy applies only to the compulsory purchase of property made once we have permission to proceed with the project. It does not apply to property that we may have to purchase beforehand. For our policy on this, please see our Exceptional hardship procedure available on our website www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk. In the negotiation and payment of any statutory compensation payable as a result of exercising compulsory purchase powers, the Thames Tunnel project team will fully comply with the provisions of the statutory compensation code.

The statutory compensation code is underwritten by the Law Commission, which is an independent body that reviews laws and recommends reform where needed. The code has been established over a number of years through the following combination of relevant legislation, statutory regulations and established case law:

The Thames Tunnel project team will follow government guidance for dealing with affected owners and the compensation payable to them. If it turns out that we dont need all of the land that we have acquired by compulsory purchase, we will offer to sell it back to its original owners at market value before putting it on the market. Where a reasonable and justifiable claim for compensation is made, you will be entitled to representation by a suitably qualified professional adviser. If this is the case, we will reimburse reasonable professional fees incurred which are proportionate to the complexity of the claim. Please note that fees must be agreed with us before they are incurred. Details of how to make a claim will be published once we have started setting up the sites to begin construction.

The Land Compensation Act 1961 The Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 The Land Compensation Act 1973 The Planning and Compensation Act 2004 The Water Industry Act 1991 The Planning Act 2008

Need help?

Call our 24-hour Customer Centre on 0800 0721 086 or email thames.tunnel@thameswater.co.uk