Acquisition of Land Act 1981

[F1 15 Notices after confirmation of order E+W

(1) After the order has been confirmed, the acquiring authority must—

(a) serve a confirmation notice and a copy of the order as confirmed on each person on whom a notice was required to be served under section 12, and

(b) affix a confirmation notice to a conspicuous object or objects on or near the land comprised in the order.

(2) The notice under subsection (1)(b) must—

(a) be addressed to persons occupying or having an interest in the land;

(b) so far as practicable, be kept in place by the acquiring authority until the expiry of a period of six weeks beginning with the [F2 date when the order becomes operative] [F2 day on which the authority takes the final step needed to comply with subsection (1)(a)].

(3) [F3 Unless the order was confirmed conditionally,] The acquiring authority must also publish a confirmation notice—

[F4 (a)] in one or more local newspapers circulating in the locality in which the land comprised in the order is situated [F5 , and

(b) on an appropriate website, until the end of the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the authority takes the final step needed to comply with subsection (1)(a).]

[F6 (3A) The acquiring authority must comply with subsections (1) and [F7 (3)] [F7 (3)(a)] before the end of—

(a) the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the order is confirmed, or

(b) such longer period beginning with that day as may be agreed in writing between the acquiring authority and the confirming authority.

(3B) If the acquiring authority fails to comply with subsections (1) and [F8 (3)] [F8 (3)(a)] in accordance with subsection (3A), [F9 or with subsection (3)(b),] the confirming authority may—

(a) take any steps that the acquiring authority was required but has failed to take to comply with those subsections, and

(b) recover the reasonable costs of doing so from the acquiring authority.]

(4) A confirmation notice is a notice—

(a) describing the land;

(b) stating that the order has been confirmed;

[F10 (ba) if the order was confirmed conditionally, stating the conditions and time specified under section 13BA(3);]

(c) (except in the case of a notice under subsection (1)(a)) naming a place where a copy of the order as confirmed and of the map referred to there may be inspected at all reasonable hours;

[F11 (ca) specifying a website on which those copies may be viewed;]

(d) that a person aggrieved by the order may apply to the High Court as mentioned in section 23.

[F12 (e) containing a prescribed statement about the effect of Parts 2 and 3 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981;

(f) inviting any person who would be entitled to claim compensation if a declaration were executed under section 4 of that Act to give the acquiring authority information about the person's name, address and interest in land, using a prescribed form.]

[F13 (4A) If the confirming authority is satisfied that, because of special circumstances, it is impracticable for the acquiring authority to make the copies referred to in subsection (4)(c) available for inspection at an appropriate place, the confirming authority may direct that the requirement in subsection (4)(c) is not to apply.]

[F14 (4B) If the order was confirmed conditionally and the confirming authority decides under section 13BA that the conditions have been met, the acquiring authority must serve—

(a) a copy of the order, and

(b) a fulfilment notice,

on each person on whom a notice was required to be served under section 12.

(4C) Where subsection (4B) applies, the acquiring authority must also—

(a) affix a fulfilment notice to a conspicuous object or objects on or near the land comprised in the order, and

(b) publish a fulfilment notice—

(i) in one or more local newspapers circulating in the locality in which the land comprised in the order is situated, and

(ii) on an appropriate website, until the end of the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the acquiring authority takes the final step needed to comply with subsection (4B).

(4D) The acquiring authority must comply with subsections (4B) and (4C)(a) and (b)(i) before the end of—

(a) the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the decision under section 13BA is made, or

(b) such longer period beginning with that day as may be agreed in writing between the acquiring authority and the confirming authority.

(4E) If the acquiring authority fails to comply with those provisions before the end of that period, or fails to comply with subsection (4C)(b)(ii), the confirming authority may—

(a) take any steps that the acquiring authority was required but has failed to take to comply, and

(b) recover the reasonable costs of doing so from the acquiring authority

(4F) A fulfilment notice is a notice—

(a) stating that the conditions subject to which the order was confirmed have been met and that the order will therefore become operative, and

(b) annexing the information that was contained in the confirmation notice.]

(5) A confirmation notice [F15 or fulfilment notice] must be in the prescribed form.

[F16 (6) The acquiring authority must send the confirmation notice [F17 , and any fulfilment notice,] to the Chief Land Registrar and [F18 it] [F18 each such notice] shall be a local land charge.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 15 substituted (6.8.2004 for specified purposes, 31.10.2004 in so far as not already in force) by Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c. 5), s. 100(7) (with s. 100(8)); S.I. 2004/2097, art. 2; S.I. 2004/2593, art. 2(a)

F2 Words in s. 15(2)(b) substituted (31.3.2024 for specified purposes) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 183(3)(a), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 2(j)

F3 Words in s. 15(3) inserted (31.3.2024 for specified purposes) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 183(3)(b), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 2(j)

F4 Words in s. 15(3) renumbered as s. 15(3)(a) (31.1.2024 for specified purposes, 30.4.2024 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 181(6)(a)(i), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/92, reg. 2(j); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 3(a) (with reg. 4)

F5 S. 15(3)(b) and word inserted (31.1.2024 for specified purposes, 30.4.2024 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 181(6)(a)(ii), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/92, reg. 2(j); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 3(a) (with reg. 4)

F6 S. 15(3A)(3B) inserted (22.9.2017) by Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (c. 20), ss. 34(1), 46(1) (with s. 34(2)); S.I. 2017/936, reg. 3(d)

F7 Word in s. 15(3A) substituted (31.1.2024 for specified purposes, 30.4.2024 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 181(6)(b), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/92, reg. 2(j); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 3(a) (with reg. 4)

F8 Word in s. 15(3B) substituted (31.1.2024 for specified purposes, 30.4.2024 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 181(6)(c)(i), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/92, reg. 2(j); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 3(a) (with reg. 4)

F9 Words in s. 15(3B) inserted (31.1.2024 for specified purposes, 30.4.2024 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 181(6)(c)(ii), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/92, reg. 2(j); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 3(a) (with reg. 4)

F10 S. 15(4)(ba) inserted (31.3.2024 for specified purposes) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 183(3)(c), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 2(j)

F11 S. 15(4)(ca) inserted (31.1.2024 for specified purposes, 30.4.2024 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 181(6)(d), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/92, reg. 2(j); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 3(a) (with reg. 4)

F12 S. 15(4)(e)(f) inserted (1.10.2016 for specified purposes, 3.2.2017 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 15 para. 2(2); S.I. 2016/956, reg. 2(b)(i); S.I. 2017/75, reg. 3(i); S.I. 2017/281, reg. 4(j)

F13 S. 15(4A) inserted (31.1.2024 for specified purposes, 30.4.2024 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 181(6)(e), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/92, reg. 2(j); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 3(a) (with reg. 4)

F14 S. 15(4B)-(4F) inserted (31.3.2024 for specified purposes) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 183(3)(d), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 2(j)

F15 Words in s. 15(5) inserted (31.3.2024 for specified purposes) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 183(3)(e), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 2(j)

F16 S. 15(6) inserted (3.2.2017 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 15 para. 2(3); S.I. 2017/75, reg. 3(i) (with reg. 5); S.I. 2017/281, reg. 4(j)

F17 Words in s. 15(6) inserted (31.3.2024 for specified purposes) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 183(3)(f)(i), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 2(j)

F18 Words in s. 15(6) substituted (31.3.2024 for specified purposes) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 183(3)(f)(ii), 255(7) (with s. 247); S.I. 2024/389, reg. 2(j)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 15 modified (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 169, Sch. 20 para. 2(2); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3.