Working with landowners, occupiers and other affected parties
We're committed to building honest and open working relationships with landowners and occupiers. We want to work closely with you as we develop our proposals for this essential electricity network reinforcement.
We will keep you updated as the project progresses, and we encourage you (or your representatives) to contact us if you have any questions.
Land Referencing
We have recently issued Landowner Information Questionnaires (LIQ’s) to confirm the interests in land potentially affected by the project. These questionnaires seek to confirm that the information we hold, based on publicly available records, is accurate and up to date.
It’s important that we receive responses to these questionnaires so we can ensure everyone affected by the project receives up-to-date information as the project progresses.
Questionnaires are generally issued to a precautionary area beyond the current project proposed boundary.
Unregistered Site Notices
Where we have been unable to identify a landowner, or where land is not registered with HM Land Registry, we have placed an ‘unregistered site notice’ on or adjoining the relevant land. These notices help raise awareness of the project and provide an opportunity for anyone with an interest in the land to get in touch with us.
Importantly, the placement of an unregistered site notice does not mean that National Grid intends to buy or acquire the land. The notices relate solely to helping us identify who has a legal interest in the land and requests for access to carry out surveys that will help us understand local conditions and inform the development of the project.
Surveys
Over the next 18 to 24 months, we need to carry out a series of ground investigation surveys. These surveys help us understand local ground conditions and are an important part of developing the project’s design and route alignment.
The works will include surveys such as:
- boreholes – narrow holes drilled into the ground to collect soil and rock samples. These are typically 10–50 metres deep, around 150–300mm in diameter and usually take between two and four days to complete
- trial pits – small trenches, generally around 1.2 metres wide and between one and three metres long and deep, used to assess shallower ground conditions. These are normally excavated and backfilled on the same day.
The information gathered from these surveys will help us better understand the local environment, assess potential impacts and continue refining the project. All work will be carried out by specialist contractors with experience in carrying out these investigations safely and responsibly.
Other surveys across the route
We are also carrying out a range of ecological and environmental surveys as part of our Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire project.
These are non-intrusive surveys where individuals walk over land, sometimes with measuring equipment to inform their assessments. They will help us to better understand the current conditions and will help shape the development of our plans.
Some of the environmental and ecological surveys can only be carried out at specific times of the year. For example, wintering bird surveys are usually carried out between November to February, as they determine the species and numbers of birds which migrate over this season.
The parishes we expect to be in over the next few months are:
Weston, Surfleet, Pinchbeck, Dunsby, Edenham, Corby Glen, North Witham, Buckminster, Gunby and Stainby, Sproxton, Garthorpe, Waltham on the Wolds and Thorpe Arnold, Ab Kettleby and Scalford.
Frequently asked questions
For further information about Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire, please visit our FAQs page.
This includes further information on National Grid's approach to engaging with landowners.