Local Employment Act 1972

8 Derelict land

(1) Where in the case of any land in a development area or intermediate area—

(a) it appears to the appropriate Minister that the land is derelict, neglected or unsightly ; and

(b) it appears to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry that it is expedient with a view to contributing to the development of industry in that area that steps should be taken for the purpose of enabling the land (in this section referred to as " the derelict land") to be brought into use or of improving its appearance,

the powers conferred by subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall be exercisable by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the appropriate Minister respectively.

(2) The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry may acquire by agreement or, if so authorised, compulsorily the derelict land and any other land the acquisition of which is reasonably required for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(b) of this section, and carry out on the derelict land and any other land such work as appears to him expedient for that purpose.

(3) The appropriate Minister may with the consent of the Treasury make grants, in such manner as appears to him to be requisite for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(b) of this section, to the council of the county, county borough or county district in which the land in question is situated—

(a) towards the cost of the exercise of any power of the council to acquire the derelict land or any other land;

(b) towards the cost of the carrying out by the council for that purpose of any work on the derelict land or on any other land.

(4) In this section—

• " the appropriate Minister " means, as respects land in England, in Scotland or in Wales, the Secretary of State for the time being having general responsibility in planning matters in relation to those countries respectively;

• " land " includes land covered with water.

(5) In the application of subsection (3) of this section to Scotland for any reference to the council of the county, county borough or county district in which the land in question is situated there shall be substituted a reference to any local authority, as defined for the purposes of the [1947 c. 43.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947, within whose area the land in question is situated.

(6) Where the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is of opinion, with respect to any locality in Great Britain, that the economic situation in the locality is such that the exercise, in relation to land therein, of the powers conferred by the foregoing provisions of this section would be particularly appropriate with a view to contributing to the development of industry in the locality, he may by order specify it as a derelict land clearance area, and those provisions shall have effect in relation to land in a derelict land clearance area as they have effect in relation to land in a development area or intermediate area.

(7) Section 1(4) of this Act shall apply, subject to the necessary modifications, to any order under subsection (6) of this section.