Telecom Sites - lift & shift

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Fisher German is increasingly finding cases where owners wish to remove telecommunications sites off their property;  normally because they have or are hoping to obtain planning permission for an alternative use on their property.

Currently many of our clients for this type of work are private individuals, companies, schools, police forces and hospitals.

There may be other reasons like 'health and safety' issues near schools or the site is potentially depreciating residential or commercial property.

If the lease was originally well drawn up, then there should be provision to serve the telecommunications company with notice to quit if the site is going to be redeveloped.  However, in a lot of the earlier leases, when people were not properly advised, there was no such 'lift and shift' clause.

The Fisher German telecoms team increasingly finds that they are instructed to act for owners of commercial, residential and agricultural properties which are effected by telecom sites.  We then enter into negotiations with the telecommunications company to remove them completely, or relocate them to another part of the owner's property.

The cost to the telecommunications company of building a replacement site can typically be between £100,000 - £150,000 or if they need to split the 'cell' and build two sites instead, then the total cost can be £200,000 - £300,000.  It is, therefore, imperative to get proper professional legal and surveyor's advice to negotiate with the telecoms company to move the site and mitigate the cost.

For Further Information contact Mark Newton on 01858 4112125

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