• About us

  • The Crown Estate is a diverse property business valued at more than £7 billion. We have been trusted to manage a wide range of properties across the UK including commercial and retail properties. In the country, it includes agricultural land, parkland and forestry. It includes shopping centres, business parks, farms and housing. And we have over half the foreshore and almost all of the seabed around the UK.

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  • We hope you're here because you believe your talents and experience match the exciting opportunities which exist in our unique organisation.

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• Home
• Urban

  • The Crown Estate's urban portfolio comprises a wide and varied mix of properties ranging from modern purpose-built offices, retail and shopping centres to Grade I listed buildings.

    • What we do
    • Our portfolio
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    Retail

    Prime retail is one of our core sectors.

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• Marine

  • We manage virtually the entire seabed out to the 12 nautical mile territorial limit, as well as around half of the foreshore.

    • What we do
    • Aggregates
    • Aquaculture
    • Cables and pipelines
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    Aggregates

    Our estate includes the rights to explore and utilise the mineral interests of the UK continental shelf.

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• Energy

  • The Crown Estate is a key player in supporting the delivery of a diverse and secure energy supply for the UK.

    • Offshore wind energy
    • Onshore renewables
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    Offshore wind energy

    As managers of the seabed out to the 12 nm limit, we play a major role in the development of the offshore wind energy industry in the UK.

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• Rural

  • The rural estate comprises the agricultural, mineral and forestry estates in England, Scotland & Wales, as well as residential and commercial property.

    • What we do
    • Agriculture
    • Development
    • Forestry
    • Minerals
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    • Rural residential
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    Agriculture

    Our agricultural interests include both livestock and arable farming over 106,000 hectares (263,000 acres) across the UK.

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• Windsor

  • The Windsor Estate covers approximately 6,400 hectares and includes Windsor Great Park, the Home Park of Windsor Castle, extensive forests, residential and commercial properties, golf courses, a racecourse and let farms.

    • What we do
    • Parkland
    • Ascot and surrounds
    • Forestry
    • Residential and commercial lettings
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    The Royal Landscape

    Situated in the southeast corner of Windsor Great Park lies The Royal Landscape, featuring the famous Savill and Valley Gardens.

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• Marine
• What we do
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• Aggregates
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  • Sustainability
• Aquaculture
  • Working with us
• Cables and pipelines
• Marine research
  • Aquaculture research
  • Energy research
  • Seabed and coastal research
  • Socio-economic research
  • Sustainability
• Marine stewardship fund
  • Our projects
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  • Working with us
  • Local focus
• Metal detecting
  • Metal detecting permit application
• Minerals potash
• Moorings and marinas
  • Our portfolio
  • Local focus
  • Working with us
• Wildfowling
• Case studies
• Downloads

Cables and pipelines

What we do

We manage almost all of the seabed out to the 12 nautical mile territorial limit.

Our permission is needed for the rights to lay, maintain and operate cables and pipelines on seabed for which we are landlord. We also ask to be informed of cables and pipelines that transit the UK continental shelf (within the 200 nautical mile limit), as other activities may be impacted.

Incoming applicants are required to obtain all necessary consents from government, and crossing and proximity agreements from existing tenants in close proximity to the works and works restriction zone.  The Crown Estate lease or licence is considered to be the final piece in the jigsaw and entrance to it must not taken until you're fully committed to your works.

Our rights to licence renewable energy generation on the UK continental shelf means our permission is needed for the full length of electricity cables (export cables) connecting offshore wind farms to shore and these rights are granted to either the associated wind farm developer or a dedicated Offshore Transmission Asset Owner (OFTO).

This section contains information on our standard terms, pro-forma licence and lease documents, decommissioning guidance and other background information.

For further information please contact Jack Steven via the 'Get in touch' module.

 

Oil and gas pipelines

From offshore fields to shore.

Pipelines act as conduits from offshore fields to shore and their distribution across the seabed follows the location of reserves and onshore processing terminals, the largest of which are found at Bacton, Aberdeen and Theddlethorpe. The route taken by the pipeline back to shore is determined from a range of factors including; physical features such as geology and other maritime users such as fishing and navigation. The pipelines vary in length and diameter.

The majority of pipelines serve producing fields, however the development of gas storage and carbon capture storage in former offshore fields may result in new pipelines or possibly a change in use for existing pipelines.

Interconnector Pipelines are used to transport gas between different countries, allowing for the trade of gas and helping to diversify the supply of gas to the UK. In periods of high demand these interconnectors provide an important source of gas and represent a significant proportion of gas imported to the UK. The UK is connected to Norway via the Langeled pipeline and continental Europe through the Interconnector pipeline which runs to Zebrugge in Belgium.

Submarine telecommunications

An important part of our national infrastructure.

With up to 95 per cent of overseas internet and telephone traffic supported by undersea fibre optic cables, they are an important part of our national infrastructure. As a key landing station between Europe and North America, the UK has a vital role in international communications.

There are active submarine telecom cables distributed over a significant area of the marine estate. The waters off the south west in particular are important to the Atlantic and other international systems and consequently host a large number of cables.

The development of offshore renewables has seen an increase in offshore activity on the marine estate and many projects have been proposed within the vicinity of cables.

Submarine cables are at risk of damage through scouring, fishing and anchorage. The amount of free space required for a vessel to safely manoeuvre and perform recovery or repair works is currently unclear and is an area in which we are working with the UKCPC, Renewable UK, government and several other interested parties.

In order to facilitate communication throughout the industry, we have established a database of contacts. Referred to as the 'phone book', the database provides a matrix of interactions from which developers and cable operators can identify projects within their surrounding area.

Work on the phone book is ongoing and will be available to relevant parties later in the year. For more information please contact Jack Steven.

Electricity cables

Electricity can be transmitted offshore via submarine cables.

We consider there to be four types of offshore electricity cable:

1. Export cables which transmit electricity from offshore generating stations such as wind farms to shore
2. Interconnectors which transfer electricity between different countries
3. Wayleaves and distribution cables which circulate power around the UK, principally for domestic use and
4. Electricity transmission cables which transport larger quantities of electricity around the UK network.

We are taking a pro-active role in the development of a strategic offshore transmission network which would include the electrical grid, transportation of CO₂ and natural gas. We are working in partnership with National Grid and other key stakeholders such as DECC and OFGEM on grid regulatory affairs and hope this will enable the timely and effective delivery of offshore grid.

The development of offshore renewables and drive for improved interconnection is increasing the demand for submarine power cables and we expect to see a significant increase in the number of submarine power cables located on the marine estate.

Working with us

We have a range of processes in place to help cable and pipeline operators meet their business objectives.

Our permission for cables and pipelines is given as a seabed lease or licence, associated with which are certain rights to enter onto the seabed, install, operate, maintain and repair. Occupation of any site and performance of works cannot commence until a legal agreement has been completed.

It typically takes between three and six months to conclude the application process and we advise applicants to provide ample time for the lease to be agreed well in advance of their construction start date. An option agreement or agreement for lease can be granted in advance of the licence or lease and this sets out the conditions which the developer must meet to satisfy the requirements of The Crown Estate.

We are supported by two companies: Powis Hughes, who act on our behalf as managing agent on a number of transactions, including rent reviews; and Bond Pearce act as our solicitors. Introductions to Bond Pearce and Powis Hughes will be made following the initial application while we maintain an involvement throughout.

Where appropriate we have sought to establish standard terms and a copy of our pipeline terms and submarine telecommunication cable terms is available to download from this page. These documents provide an explanation of the application process and our requirements. Our pro-forma cable licence and pipeline lease are also available via the 'Useful documents' module.

Of course if you have any questions please contact Jack Steven - contact details in the 'Get in touch' module.

The licence terms will be updated from time to time as required.

Under the terms of the licence or lease companies are liable for all structures crossing the seabed and this applies to both cables and pipelines. The licence holder is also responsible for the removal of cables and pipelines which are no longer in use. However, in certain circumstances environmental considerations may be such that the impact of the removal of a cable or pipeline may be deemed to be greater than leaving it in situ. Where residual cable and pipeline sections remain, liability will continue with the original licence holder. Cables and pipelines are to be decommissioned in accordance with applicable legislation.

Parties seeking our permission for rights to lay submarine telecoms cables will be required to prepare a decommissioning plan and you can find specific guidance on this via the 'Useful documents' module.

Our fees have been set following consultation with the industry and third party experts such as the Valuation Office. Fees are charged consistently across all dealings save where specific circumstances merit a slight departure. Further information on our fees is available from the heads of terms documents and can be made available on request. As is common practice The Crown Estate's legal and professional fees will be recovered from the applicant.

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