Please provide the terms of any agreement between Devon Country Council and Wales & West Utilities giving rights to upgrade existing gas pipes into residential houses in Exeter, specifically focusing on Wales & West Utilities obligations under any agreements, the time scales given for such work to be completed and any extensions that may have been given.
No ‘agreement’ exists between Devon County Council (the Street Authority (SA)) and Wales &West Utilities (W&WU) which gives ‘rights to upgrade existing gas pipes into residential houses in Exeter’, therefore this information is not held by Devon County Council.
W&WU as a Statutory Undertaker (SU) has a legal right to access and inspect, maintain, replace, repair or renew its apparatus. Any decisions made to upgrade it is a matter for W&WU and its regulator Ofgem.
SUs make permit applications to the SA to occupy the highway to carry out works. The SA is responsible for granting, refusing or modifying any permit applications made to best facilitate occupation of the highway
The SA has a duty to coordinate street works on its highway and SUs have a duty to cooperate with the SA in its best endeavours to do so
Permit applications outline the nature of the works being promoted and the proposed duration all of which the SA considers as part of the overall assessment of the permit application
Permit applications will stipulate differing durations as this will entirely depend on the size and nature of the works being promoted
The SU may apply for and the SA may grant or refuse extensions to works activity. This will always be subject of negotiation between the SA and the SU.