Land management for linear infrastructure

For us, a comprehensive and reliable database is essential for the successful acquisition of legal title. As a rule, we take on planned routes with the cadastral parcels already defined – in some cases whilst the project is still in the approval phase. Existing details regarding owners and beneficial owners are checked, supplemented and unambiguously assigned to the relevant land parcels and transactions. We trace missing parties via publicly accessible sources, land registry and registration authorities, and, where necessary, on site. Even complex ownership, inheritance and representation arrangements are handled in consultation with the relevant probate and guardianship courts. We document the results in land acquisition registers or directly within our clients’ systems. Paper-based documents, digital maps and GIS data are consolidated into a traceable project database. Even large volumes of data from various sources can thus be processed in a structured manner and managed transparently through coordinated reporting.

Infrastructure projects require access, usage and ownership rights to be reliably secured at an early stage. We handle communication with the relevant landowners, licence holders, local authorities, companies and other stakeholders, and support the entire process of acquiring these rights. Our services range from access and building permits, through authorisation, usage and compensation agreements, to easements and land acquisition. We draft and amend project-specific contractual documents, conduct negotiations in writing, by telephone and in person, and document all contacts, feedback and agreements. Requests for amendments are clarified, incoming documents are reviewed and outstanding matters are consistently followed up. Where required, we support the process right through to notarised settlement, land registry entry and the payment of agreed compensation. Our project teams are supported in complex matters by our in-house lawyers as well as experts from the fields of agriculture, forestry and land management.

Linear infrastructure projects cross roads, railway lines, watercourses, utility lines, public paths, private land and numerous other facilities. In addition, landscape, nature, water and groundwater conservation areas, Natura 2000 sites, ongoing construction projects, routes already undergoing the approval process and land consolidation areas may be affected. Based on the planning data provided, we handle the relevant crossing and authorisation procedures. We liaise with operators, responsible authorities, public bodies and other stakeholders, compile the necessary documentation and oversee the processes through to agreement or authorisation. This includes, amongst other things, crossing agreements, special-use permits, and procedures relating to road, railway, water, nature conservation and forestry legislation. Deadlines, feedback, conditions and processing statuses are documented in a transparent manner and reported on a regular basis. Our project teams draw on technical expertise gained from many years of planning linear infrastructure and both open and enclosed junction structures. Where planning services are also provided within the DMT Group, the necessary interfaces can be coordinated internally.

In the case of large-scale linear infrastructure projects, construction work often begins on the first sections whilst the standard process of acquiring rights is still ongoing in other areas. Construction supervision under road legislation focuses on those sections for which the necessary rights have, in principle, already been secured and where concrete construction work is being prepared or has already commenced. Our staff are present on site and act as the road-law liaison between the project developer, construction companies, landowners and authorised users. They keep all parties informed, coordinate access routes and workspaces, and deal with road-law issues arising from the ongoing construction work. If additional access routes, storage areas or work areas are required, we draw up and secure the necessary agreements. Deviations from existing agreements, conflicts over use, complaints, as well as damage to land and other construction-related damage are recorded and documented. Depending on the task at hand, our staff either carry out the damage assessment themselves or coordinate external experts and surveying services.