Before tunnelling works can begin, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport must protect the integrity and ongoing operation of the new tunnels. One measure is underground land acquisition. The Land Acquisition Act (1969) was amended in July 2020 to safeguard the new tunnels.
With underground land acquisition, the land from 10 metres (or 3 storeys) beneath a property will be acquired.
Importantly, ownership of the land at the surface level (to 10 metres below the surface) are not affected as it does not need to be acquired. Property owners can continue to live in, work in or rent their properties like they do today.
Learn more about underground land acquisition on the Land Acquisition website.