FGPnewsFISHER GERMAN

PRIESTNERCHARTERED SURVEYORS

L A T E S T N E W S F R O M F I S H E R G E R M A N P R I E S T N E R

The FGP team has moved up the street in Knutsford to new premises. “New” is an understatement - wow - the innocent looking door off Tatton Street opens into a fantastic modern office. The first thing that catches the eye is the glass staircase leading up to the main FGP work stations - the engine room of this fast moving business.

The mirage couldn’t be more different compared to the previous premises. Casting an eye around the ground floor, facilities for clients and staff can be noted. These include work stations for visiting clients, media updates, a gym and self-serve refreshments. Clients can book space for their own use whether specifically meeting FGP or not.

Behind the scenes is a new kitchen diner with all the gadgets to make sure staff can make best use of their down time. Showers and washing facilities for kit are included for staff returning to base after a hard day in the field. The innovation continues with biophilic design including a living wall to contribute to staff wellbeing.

New IT and file storage systems have been incorporated to increase efficiency and working practices.

The formal opening takes place on the evening of Thursday September 24th. FGP clients not able to make that date are welcome to make an impromptu visit at any time.

Find out more on our website: www.fgplimited.co.uk

NEW FGP OFFICE OPEN FOR BUSINESS

A U T U M N 2 0 1 5

In a linear sense what width of information can you gather on a single flight line?

A. At an altitude of 50m the width of the route plus 15m either side can be recorded on one pass in either resolution film (HD, ultra HD or 4k) or stills.

What are the technical limitations?

A. Depending on which SUAV I am using the main technical challenge is battery life. Current battery technology limits flight time to approximately 15 minutes depending on weather conditions and speed of flight. They don’t fly in wet weather or when winds are greater than 20 mph.

Can anyone fly one?

A. Well yes but not in a contractual situation. A pilot should not be hired

without a CAA permit for aerial work (PFAW) and public liability insurance.

For typical cross country construction would the service just be an extra for the

client or is it something that will enhance project inspection?

A. Available technology allows me to pre-program the SUAV to fly down exactly the same route each pass which saves time and money and also creates geo-referenced maps that can be used in GIS. Land agents can for example monitor crop condition and livestock grazing, removing room for argument on crop claims. Engineers may quickly identify health and safety issues and have a record to turn to. The client can “watch over” the project from afar and in the longer term the data may be useful to explain reasons for a fault in one area or another.

FGP will continue to consider the possibilities for offering the service. Interested clients should contact Claire Priestner for further details.

Fortunately within the Civil Aviation Authority regulatory framework (CAP722) it’s not that simple and rightly so; unregulated unmanned aircraft flying willy nilly would quickly lead to chaos. Christmas 2014 marked the start of a sharp spike in incidents. FGP clients will want to know whether the service will increase efficiency and reduce costs or is it more of an add on to provide more thorough monitoring of the situation on the ground.

FGP have recruited professional SUAV pilot David McArthur to consider the possibilities:

Could you fly your SUAV’s down a cable or pipeline route to collect continuous film data?

A. Yes and No: CAA regulations prohibit the aircraft to be flown further than 500m from the pilot and to be kept in visual line of sight at all times. Other regulations include not flying within 150m of built up areas, not crossing roads and railway lines and not within 30m of any person. Hazards such as mobile equipment or power lines must also be avoided.

So you would need access onto the route at intervals of 1 kilometre?

A. Ideally, to save time, I need vehicle access along the length of the route because there is a fair amount of equipment (spare batteries, back up drone, maps etc). If the right of way is not open this might involve taking access from the side possibly involving additional landowner agreements.

FGP WEIGH UP AIRBORNE SURVEY AND PROJECT MONITORING OPTIONS

With military forces flying drone sorties anywhere in the world it is tempting to conclude that Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAV) are the way forward for acquiring data in cross country construction for records of condition surveys, crop monitoring and assisting the engineering teams.

One of the busiest desks at FGP is involved with providing utility information. Contractors and developers planning excavations or other works need quick and up to date information on the position of existing services in the vicinity.

Solicitors often need to know similar information as part of their searches prior to property transactions. All information vital for feasibility surveys, design, cost management and meeting Health and Safety and CDM regulations.

FGP undertake to produce a report within 10 working days identifying the utility providers and providing a high quality ESRI ARC map to show where they are. Through dedicated software key providers are contacted and the information is fed into the report.

Customers of the service send an email to FGP with coordinates and a brief description of the site concerned.

The location is then geo-referenced and the searches for underground and over-ground services begin. Additional maps can be requested all to the same high standard as the main report.

UTILITY SEARCH REPORTS

Not many, if any, organisations would have the confidence to take on a project requiring over 900 licences to be completed in under two months - FGP have done just that this summer. FGP were tasked with keeping fast moving seismic survey crews moving across Cheshire.

Seismic Survey technology has changed since the last time Cheshire saw significant work of this type in the nineties. It is now far less intrusive for farmers and landowners so that the payment regime previously used had become outdated. FGP tested the market with key advisers prior to commencing formal discussions with landowners.

This lead to a fairer acreage based payment that has been well received and kept the survey work on track. The number of licences needed grew as new ownerships were identified. Obtaining licences was further complicated by residential ownerships with

small parcels caught by the survey area. This has meant significant out of hours work for the FGP team. All the licences need to be followed up with Records of Condition and compensation settlements for any damage arising will follow.

At the same time FGP have been securing drill sites of around 4-6 acres to take the gas exploration process to the next step. By holding early discussions with professional advisers representing landowners, a package of terms was produced by FGP that has proved acceptable to allow sites to be secured with the minimum of fuss.

PREPARING THE WAY

FOR EXPLORATION

FGP DEPARTMENTAL SERVICESFisher German Priestner Limited divides services on a departmental basis available to all clients.

CHARTERED SURVEYORSTeam leader - Claire Priestner

COMPULSORY PURCHASETeam leader - Claire Priestner

PROJECT MANAGEMENT Team leader - Kieron Harvard

MAPPING AND GIS SYSTEMSTeam leader - Robert Knight

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTSTeam leader - Neil Priestner

NEW APPOINTMENTSFGP has welcomed several new faces over the summer including:

TRAININGAgricultural Liaison Officer - Victoria Sherwin

SURVEYORSGraduate Surveyor - Peter CrichtonGraduate Surveyor - Sam Sykes

MARKETINGMarketing and Media - Harry Moore

GRAFTON GROUP (UK) AND ANOTHER vs SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT 2015A recent High Court ruling is a reminder that the principle of fairness remains key to determining whether individuals and companies should be dispossessed of their land. The Port of London Authority had made a CPO application to acquire a vacant Thames wharf, with a view to redeveloping it to handle river-borne aggregates and cement for concrete.

After a combined planning appeal and CPO hearing the Secretary of State turned down the planning appeal for the development while supporting the CPO on the grounds that there was still reasonable prospect for a revised scheme at some stage in the future.

Mr Justice Ouseley disagreed. He did not accept that a CPO could be granted for a fall back scheme that might not even occur. This would give no opportunity for public benefit to be considered and remove the opportunity for the landowners to respond to a new scheme. This was deemed unfair and the CPO was quashed.

Local Government Circular 06/04 refers

Energy minister, Lord Bourne’s announcement that development consent has been refused for the proposed Navitus Bay offshore wind park has left the industry with much to ponder.

Does this reflect a shift in Government policy, closer scrutiny of applications or was there a standout reason when compared to the successful applications?

In response to opposition to the proximity of the proposed wind farm to the coast, the promoters reduced the number of turbines but the decision letter made it clear that although the World Heritage Site is a geological one, the visual impact of the turbines was sufficient to refuse the project. This is only the second large offshore wind farm to be refused and Docking Shoal off the

Lincolnshire coast was considered before the Planning Act 2008 Development Consent Order process came into force.

Was there a hint of north south divide with North Sea applications being approved?

It seems not, the Rampion wind farm off the Sussex coast, where FGP are currently working, is about the same distance offshore and has been approved. Political opposition to onshore wind has virtually stopped onshore wind progression - has this been extended to “near shore” wind?

FISHER GERMAN PRIESTNER

4 and 5 Royal Court, Tatton Street, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6EN

Tel: 01565 757980 / 01565 655654 Email: enquiries@fgplimited.co.uk

fgplimited.co.uk FGP_Limited

CASE LAW

DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER FOR OFFSHORE WIND FARM REFUSED