Advising Billings Group on a 4,000-home mixed-use development

We were instructed by Billings Group initially to provide a strategy report on the client’s options for its development site in Canterbury which was restricted by overhead lines. 

These two 132kV overhead lines restricted the development, resulting in land being sterilised.

Having provided the strategy report outlining their options, we were then instructed to pursue a loss in development claim after serving notice on the utility company to remove their apparatus, on the basis that the two overhead lines were restricting development. 

The cost of the diversion was in excess of £11million. After extensive negotiations and reports, the utility company agreed to divert the lines underground through the client’s land at nil cost in return for an easement. 

Thanks to our successful negotiations, we were able to save our client the full cost of diverting the lines, £11million, as well as free up valuable land for development.