Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975

The Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 8) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which facilitated the onshore construction of offshore oil platforms for the UK Continental Shelf. Its provisions permitted the acquisition of land; the regulation of sea-based operations; the granting of licences for construction; the reinstatement of land; and financial provisions.

Background
In 1975 the UK government recognised that the development of offshore oil resources would make an important contribution to the UK economy, particularly at a time when the cost of imported crude oil was increasing rapidly. An immediate objective for the government and the oil industry was the building of offshore oil platforms; their construction required significant areas of coastal land. The 1975 Act addressed these issues; it had three purposes: to ensure that land was available for onshore construction; to ensure that construction was properly regulated; and that land was restored after use.

These purposes were enacted by the 1975 Act in detail as follows. Sections 1 and 2 and Schedules 1 and 2 of the Act empowered the Secretary of State of Scotland to acquire any land in Scotland for the purpose of platform construction. Sections 3 to 7 and Schedule 3 allowed the control and regulation of sea-based operations. The Secretary of State was empowered to make Sea Designation Orders and to grant licences for operations. Sections 8 and 9 required the reinstatement of land after construction activities, and provided planning authorities with powers to require a developer to reinstate land. Section 10 empowered the Secretary of State to carry out works on land for construction purposes or to contribute to their cost. Section 11 enabled the Secretary of State to make loans, or to guarantee the repayment of loans, to assist with construction operations. Section 12 enabled an acquisition order to be made in relation to any land, even land which was held "inalienably". The other substantive Sections of the Act included provisions for compensation for nuisance; to require information about land to be made available; and the rights of entry; and financial provisions.

The Government regarded the 1975 Act as a significant part of its oil strategy. The oil field developments encompassed by this legislation were crucial to the UK economy but had significant local social and environmental implications. The Act allowed developments to proceed with appropriate controls and safeguards.

Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975
The Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975 (1975 c. 8) received Royal Assent on 13 March 1975. Its long title is ‘An Act to provide for the acquisition by the Secretary of State of land in Scotland for purposes relating to exploration for and exploitation of offshore petroleum; to enable the Secretary of State to carry out works and facilitate operations for those purposes; to regulate such operations in certain sea areas; to provide for the reinstatement of land used for those purposes; and for purposes connected with those matters.'

Provisions
The Act comprises 20 Sections under 4 headings and 3 Schedules:


 * Acquisition of land for purposes of offshore petroleum development
 * Section 1. Acquisition of land for purposes connected with offshore petroleum
 * Section 2. Extinction of rights affecting land
 * Designated sea areas
 * Section 3. Designated sea areas
 * Section 4. Licences in relation to operations in designated sea areas
 * Section 5. Terms and effect, etc. of licences under s. 4
 * Section 6. Regulations for protection and control of operations in designated sea areas
 * Section 7. Execution and enforcement of regulations, etc. in designated sea areas
 * Reinstatement of land
 * Section 8. Reinstatement of land held under Act
 * Section 9. Arrangements to ensure reinstatement of other land developed for purposes connected with offshore petroleum
 * Miscellaneous and general
 * Section 10. Execution of works and disposal of land held under Act
 * Section 11. Loans and guarantees by Secretary of State for facilitating relevant operations
 * Section 12. Supplementary provisions as to acquisition and appropriation of land
 * Section 13. Compensation for adjoining owners and exclusion of actions for nuisance
 * Section 14. Power to require information as to interests in land
 * Section 15. Rights of entry
 * Section 16. Application to Crown land
 * Section 17. Financial provisions
 * Section 18. Savings
 * Section 19. Orders, etc.
 * Section 20. Short title, interpretation and extent
 * Schedules
 * Schedule 1. Making and Revocation of Expedited Acquisition Orders
 * Schedule 2. Effect of Expedited Acquisition Orders
 * Schedule 3. Making and Revocation of Sea Designation Orders

Effects and Status
By July 1975 the investment under the Act totalled £3.5 million.

The provisions of the Act included the following construction yards which were in use from the mid-1970s to the early-1990s. The 1975 Act is still (in 2020) in force. Only minor amendments and textural changes have been made by subsequent legislation.