Paragraph 7

The undertaker shall, as soon as reasonably practicable following the decision to proceed with the construction of the authorised works, commission a study of the effects of the construction of Work No. 8A under the harbour for the purposes of, and in accordance with, the provisions of this paragraph.

The study shall be carried out by an engineer approved by Railtrack and the undertaker or, in the absence of agreement, approved by the President for the time being of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

The object of the study shall be to investigate the effects of the construction of Work No. 8A (including any dredging associated with that construction), both alone and in combination with each of the other projects which at the date of the carrying out of the study can reasonably be expected to be undertaken in the harbour within 1,000 metres of Portsmouth Harbour Station before or at the same time as the construction of that work, on the foundations of Railtrack’s Portsmouth Harbour Station and to identify any measures which may be reasonably required to prevent or minimise any adverse impact from that construction; in particular the study shall take into account the effects of any changes of the tidal regime and currents in the harbour caused by that work (both alone and in combination with each of the other projects mentioned above).

The undertaker shall ensure that the study is completed and the results are available to Railtrack no later than, and as early as reasonably practicable before, the formal submission of plans for Railtrack’s approval under paragraph 8 below.

Railtrack shall disclose to the undertaker any similar study undertaken or obtained by it in relation to any project in the harbour and shall, if so required by the undertaker, not unreasonably refuse to accept as sufficient compliance with sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) above a joint study encompassing the requirements of sub-paragraph (3) above or a study which takes as its basis any such similar study which has already been undertaken.

The obligation of disclosure under paragraph (5) above is subject to any requirement of confidentiality applying in relation to any such study, but Railtrack shall use its reasonable endeavours to secure that any such study is not subject to a requirement of confidentiality, or, where it is, to obtain a release from that requirement.

Without prejudice to any other measures which may be required by the engineer under paragraph 9(1) below but subject to the requirement of reasonableness specified in that paragraph, any measures identified in the study as reasonably required in connection with the construction of Work No. 8 shall be treated as protective works which may be required by the engineer under that paragraph.