Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Infrastructure definition

What does Infrastructure mean? In legal practice, infrastructure describes assets and networks that provide essential or public services and the projects to procure, finance, construct, operate and maintain them. It is a descriptive term rather than a single defined legal concept; sectoral statutes and planning regimes define specific categories for particular purposes (for example, nationally significant infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008 in England and Wales; national or major developments in Scotland; regionally significant development in Northern Ireland; and strategic infrastructure development under Ireland’s Planning and Development Acts). Sectors commonly include transport (roads, railways, ports and airports), social infrastructure (schools, hospitals and justice estates),...

Electricity Act 1989 Schedule 4: street-opening powers and necessary wayleaves for electricity licence holders (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Energy expert

Practice notes

For comprehensive commentary on the regulation, consenting and incentivisation of the net zero energy transition under the law of England and Wales, see also: Collinson and Hockman on Energy Law: Regulating, Consenting and Incentivising the Energy Transition. That textbook offers detailed treatment of topics addressed in this Practice Note.

To establish any new connection—whether serving a generator, a dwelling, an office or an entire development—fresh network Infrastructure must be constructed.

Because network operators recover installation capital over a prolonged period (by levying suppliers for network use), a primary concern is the security of the network asset—that is, the right for it to be installed in, and remain within, the land.

This typically combines statutory powers granted to licensed electricity distribution and transmission network operators with private rights, such as long leases and easements.

What are street-opening powers?

Section 10 and Schedule 4 of the Electricity Act 1989 (EA 1989) confer street-opening powers on licensed electricity generators, network operators, suppliers and interconnector operators (termed ‘licence holders’ in this Practice Note) to the extent set...

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Matthew Collinson

Matt has specialised in energy and infrastructure projects since 2006, including in City practice and as an industry consultant. He has spent more than half his career as a general counsel in regulated energy supply and network businesses, and has written extensively on regulation of the gas and electricity sectors....

Web page updated on 29/05/2026

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