Acquisition of Land Act 1981

Changes to legislation:

Acquisition of Land Act 1981, Cross Heading: Compulsory purchase is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Act applied by 2023 asc 3 s. 43(2)
Act applied by 2023 asc 3 s. 50(13)
Act applied by 2023 asc 3 s. 137(6)

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 7(4) inserted by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 18 para. 3(2)(b)
s. 26(1A)-(3) substituted for s. 26(1)(2) by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 18 para. 3(3)

Compulsory purchaseE+W

2 Procedure for authorisation.E+W

(1)The authorisation of a compulsory purchase shall be conferred by an order (in this Act called a “compulsory purchase order”).

[F1(2)A compulsory purchase order authorising a compulsory purchase by an authority other than a Minister is to be—

(a)made by that authority,

(b)submitted to the confirming authority, and

(c)confirmed in accordance with Part 2 of this Act.]

(3)A compulsory purchase order authorising a compulsory purchase by a Minister shall be made by the Minister in accordance with Schedule 1 to this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 2(2) substituted (6.4.2018 for specified purposes, 6.4.2019 in so far as not already in force) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), ss. 181(3), 216(3); S.I. 2018/251, reg. 4(b) (with reg. 5); S.I. 2019/427, reg. 3 (with reg. 4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 2 excluded by 1975 c. 70, Sch. 4 para. 1(2) (as substituted (1.4.2006) by The Welsh Development Agency (Transfer of Functions to the National Assembly for Wales and Abolition) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3226), arts. 1(2), 7, Sch. 1 para. 33(1) (with art. 3(1)))

[F22ATunnels etcE+W

(1)A compulsory purchase order may provide that in the following provisions, a reference to land (however expressed) does not include specified land that is at least 9 metres or more below the surface.

(2)The provisions mentioned in subsection (1) are—

(a)Schedule 2A of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (objection to division of land),

(b)any substituted version of that Schedule that applies by virtue of provision made by or under any Act, and

(c)Schedule A1 to the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 (objection to division of land).]

Textual Amendments

F2S. 2A inserted (3.2.2017) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 17 para. 9; S.I. 2017/75, reg. 3(g)

3 Minerals.E+W

Schedule 2 to this Act (exception of minerals from purchases etc.) shall have effect.

4 Assessment of compensation.E+W

(1)In relation to a compulsory purchase the M1Land Compensation Act 1961 shall have effect subject to the provisions of this section.

(2)The [F3Upper Tribunal] shall not take into account any interest in land, or any enhancement of the value of any interest in land, by reason of any building erected, work done or improvement or alteration made, whether on the land purchased or on any other land with which the claimant is, or was at the time of the erection, doing or making of the building, works, improvement or alteration, directly or indirectly concerned, if the [F3Upper Tribunal] is satisfied that the creation of the interest, the erection of the building, the doing of the work, the making of the improvement or the alteration, as the case may be, was not reasonably necessary and was undertaken with a view to obtaining compensation or increased compensation.

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 4(2) substituted (1.6.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions (Lands Tribunal and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1307), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 150 (with Sch. 5)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2S. 4 applied (with modifications) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 155(3)(4)(7), Sch. 20 para. 6(1)(b)(c) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58)