Utilities

Obsidian Tower

We successfully managed the internal substation lease and easements for a major development project, part of an £84.5 million scheme on a challenging brownfield site in Salford city centre. This ambitious project includes a brand-new 26-storey tower, providing 250 exceptional new apartments and featuring top-tier residential amenities such as a gym, cinema, private dining room, and more. Our expertise ensured the seamless integration of essential infrastructure, supporting the creation of a premier living space in the heart of Salford

Shinfield

Birketts was engaged by a leading independent utilities network provider to negotiate a Deed of Easement from the point of connection in an SSE Primary Substation, across third-party and unregistered land, while considering the network operator’s licence conditions, statutory duties, regulatory constraints, and third-party landowner’s future redevelopment plans. Another intricate task involved securing a Licence for Works and Agreement for Easement for laying a mile of electricity cable through a state-of-the-art Business Hub, home to global giants like PepsiCo, Bayer, Thales, and Virgin Media. The exact route of the cable was initially unknown, necessitating an Agreement of Easement for excavation and exploratory works with minimal disruption to the Business Hub’s occupiers. This was further complicated by existing utilities protected by covenants, requiring extensive negotiations with other statutory providers. Birketts also expertly negotiated the Substation Lease granted out of a developer’s title nearing 1 million square feet, covering 18 state-of-the-art sound stages, workshops, offices, and post-production suites for industry leaders like Netflix and Disney+. With the title pending registration, Birketts secured appropriate indemnities and undertakings with other landowners to safeguard the client’s interests, skillfully navigating access and cable routes through multiple titles, including land belonging to Reading University, Thames Valley Science Park, and a new bridge over the M4.

Brent Cross

Birketts Real Estate Utilities Team was engaged by a leading independent utility networks provider to secure a new lease for the primary substation and gas governor at Brent Cross, a pivotal development in North London. This project is not just about infrastructure; it’s about setting a benchmark for sustainable urban living. The primary substation is designed to supply electricity to the entire Brent Cross Town, a development aiming to be net zero carbon by 2030. This substation is essential for powering 6,700 new net zero homes, 3 million sq ft of office space, and new retail and leisure areas. It houses the largest air source heat pump in Europe, showcasing cutting-edge technology in renewable energy. Encased in a steel wrap, the substation doubles as one of the UK’s largest public artwork displays, transforming it into a new landmark for London. This project exemplifies our expertise in navigating complex legal and logistical challenges to deliver critical infrastructure that supports sustainable development goals, and is a testament to our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community enhancement.