Housing Act 1985

17 Acquisition of land for housing purposes.

(1) A local housing authority may for the purposes of this Part—

(a) acquire land as a site for the erection of houses,

(b) acquire houses, or buildings which may be made suitable as houses, together with any land occupied with the houses or buildings,

(c) acquire land proposed to be used for any purpose authorised by sections 11, 12 and 15(1) (facilities provided in connection with housing accommodation), and

(d) acquire land in order to carry out on it works for the purpose of, or connected with, the alteration, enlarging, repair or improvement of an adjoining house.

(2) The power conferred by subsection (1) includes power to acquire land for the purpose of disposing of houses provided, or to be provided, on the land or of disposing of the land to a person who intends to provide housing accommodation on it.

(3) Land may be acquired by a local housing authority for the purposes of this Part by agreement, or they may be authorised by the Secretary of State to acquire it compulsorily.

(4) A local housing authority may, with the consent of, and subject to any conditions imposed by, the Secretary of State, acquire land for the purposes of this Part notwithstanding that the land is not immediately required for those purposes; but an authority shall not be so authorised to acquire land compulsorily unless it appears to the Secretary of State that the land is likely to be required for those purposes within ten years from the date on which he confirms the compulsory purchase order.