The Act – Section by Section Part 2 – Modifications of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 New section 9I – Compensation for loss due to stop notice
34.Subsection (1) sets out that where a stop notice ceases to have effect a person with an interest in the scheduled monument or the land in, on or under which the monument is situated is entitled to compensation in respect of any loss or damage that can be attributed to the matters in subsection (2). Those matters are the prohibition in the stop notice or the prohibition of works which cease to be relevant works due to the waiving or relaxing of a requirement in the scheduled monument enforcement notice. For the purposes of determining if compensation is payable a stop notice is taken to have ceased to have effect in the circumstances specified in subsection (3). Essentially these are where the stop notice is withdrawn or the associated enforcement notice is quashed or withdrawn. Subsection (4) clarifies that any compensation payable includes any sum payable in respect of a breach of contract caused by taking action necessary to comply with the stop notice. No compensation is, however, payable in the circumstances set out in subsection (5). The compensation provisions in section 9I are caught by section 47 of the 1979 Act which provides that any question of disputed compensation shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.