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Acquisition of Land Act 1981
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- 1981 c. 67
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Version Superseded: 23/02/2017
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- 01/02/1991- Amendment
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- 25/07/2003- Amendment
- 29/12/2003- Amendment
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- 03/02/2017
Point in time - 23/02/2017- Amendment
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- 08/12/2017- Amendment
- 11/02/2021- Amendment
- 26/12/2023- Amendment
- 04/11/2024- Amendment
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Acquisition of Land Act 1981, Introductory Text is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 February 2025. 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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Acquisition of Land Act 1981
1981 CHAPTER 67
An Act to consolidate the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Act 1946 and related enactments.
[30th October 1981]
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Act applied (with modifications) by Housing Act 1985 (c. 68, SIF 61), s. 578, by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 190(6), 201(6), by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 61), ss. 77(4), 78(1), Sch. 10 Pt. I para. 1, by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), ss. 10(1)(2), 112(3), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 5, Sch. 17 para. 35(1) and by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 1(2), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 26(2)(3)
C2Act applied by Housing Associations Act 1985 (c. 69, SIF 61), s. 88(3)(a), by Airports Act 1986 (c. 31, SIF 9), s. 59(1)(a), by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 9(3), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 4, by Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (c. 4, SIF 81:1), ss. 2(6), 23(2), 27(2), Sch. 3 para. 44(4), by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 151(4) (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), by Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8, SIF 123:1), ss. 226(7), 228(7), 254(2) and by Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c.9, SIF 123:1), ss. 47(2), 61(2)
C3Act extended by Airports Act 1986 (c. 31, SIF 9), s. 58, Sch. 2 para. 1(1), by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1)(3), Sch. 7 para. 2(1)(xlii), Sch. 8 para. 33 and by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 25 para. 1(2)(xxvii) (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)
C4Act modified by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1)(3), Sch. 7 para. 2 (10)(d), by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 25 para. 1(10)(ix) (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) and by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 3(2)(h), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1)
C5Act amended by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 25 para. 1(11)(v) (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) and by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 2(2)(9)(g), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1) and extended (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)(xxxi); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2
C6Power to modify Act conferred (1.12.1991) by Land Drainage Act 1991 (c. 59, SIF 73:1), ss. 62(5)(b), 76(2) (with ss. 67(3)(5)(8))
C7Act applied (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 155(4), 223(2) (with ss. 82(3), 186(1), 222(1), Sch. 14 para. 6)
Act applied (with modifications) (1.12.1991) by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), ss. 154(4), 225(2) (with saving in s. 182 and with ss. 16(6), 179, 222(3), Sch. 22 para. 1, Sch. 23 para. 6)
Act applied (1.12.1991) by Land Drainage Act 1991 (c. 59, SIF 73:1), ss. 62(3), 76(2) (with ss. 67(3)(5)(8), 72(6), 74(3)(4)); Act applied (with modifications) (6.5.1992) by Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13), s. 40(6); S.I. 1992/831, art. 2, Sch. 1
Act applied (with modifications) (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, ss. 162(4), 169, Sch. 20 Pt. I; S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3.
Act applied (with modifications) (1.1.1994) by 1993 c. 35, s. 42(6) (with s. 155(11)); S.I. 1993/3106, art. 4, Sch.
Act applied (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 35, ss. 3, 4, 308(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(2); S.I. 1994/507, art. 4, Sch. 2
Act applied (E.W.) (with modifications) (30.10.1994) by S.I. 1994/2716, art. 98(3)
Act applied (with modifications) (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(11)(d); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2
Act applied (1.11.1996) by 1995 c. 45, ss. 20, 21, Sch. 2 para. 3(2)
Act applied (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 20, 21, 583(2), Sch. 2 para. 3(2) (with s. 1(4)) (which Sch. 2 is prospectively repealed by 1998 c. 31, ss. 140(1)(3), 145(2)-(5) Sch. 30 para. 185, Sch. 31)
Act applied (with modifications) (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 205(6), 583(2) (with s. 1(4)) (which s. 205 is prospectively repealed by 1998 c. 31, ss. 145(4)(5), 140(1)(3), Sch. 30 para. 70, Sch. 31)
Act applied (18.12.1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 5(4)
Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.1998) by Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 (c. 70), Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 1(1) (as inserted (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 127, Sch. 13 para. 3 (with ss. 139(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art. 4
Act applied (with modifications) (25.11.1998 for specified purposes and otherwise 3.7.2000) by 1998 c. 45, ss. 20(4)(5), 43, Sch. 5 Pt. I; S.I. 1998/2952, art. 2; S.I. 2000/1173, art. 2(c)
Act applied (E.) (4.1.2000) and (W.) (prosp.) by 1977 c. 49, Sch. 5A para. 19(2) (as inserted (E.) (4.1.2000) and (W.) (prosp.) by 1999 c. 8, ss. 2(2), 67(1), Sch. 1; S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(3)(a), Sch. 2)
Act applied (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 156(8), Sch. 11 para. 19(1)(2) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(c), Sch. Pt. 3
Act applied (28.7.2000) by 2000 c. 21, s. 131, Sch. 8 para. 3(6)
Act: applied (with modifications) (E.) (2.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1368, art. 8
C8Act (except ss. 8(4), 32(6)): transfer of certain functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1
C9Act extended (26.3.2001) by 2000 c. 26, s. 95, Sch. 5, Pt. II para. 4(1); S.I. 2000/2957, art. 2(3), Sch. 3
C10Act applied (26.7.2002) by Education Act 1996 (c. 56), Sch. 35A para. 3(6) (as inserted (26.7.2002) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 65, Sch. 7 Pt. 1 {para. 1} (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2002, art. 2)
C11Act applied (with modifications) (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), s. 411(2), Sch. 4 para. 3(4) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3)); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)
C12Act applied (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 4 para. 46; S.I. 2004/759, art. 2
C13Act applied by 1994 c. 21, s. 4C(4) (as inserted (1.4.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 85(1), 105(3); S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(w) (with Sch. 3 para. 7))
C14Act applied (with modifications) (3.8.2005) by The Greater Manchester (Leigh Busway) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1918), art. 22
C15Act applied (coming into force in accordance with s. 208(4) of the amending Act) by National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42), Sch. 3 para. 27 (with s. 19(3))
C16Act applied (coming into force in accordance with s. 208(4) of the amending Act) by National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42), s. 159(5) (with s. 19(3))
C17Act applied (coming into force in accordance with s. 208(4) of the amending Act) by National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42), Sch. 2 para. 20(2) (with s. 19(3))
C18Act applied (1.3.2007) by National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), Sch. 3 para. 22(2)
C19Act applied (1.3.2007) by National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), Sch. 4 para. 27(2)(3)
C20Act applied (1.3.2007) by National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), s. 211(5)
C21Act applied (with modifications) (16.5.2008) by The London Gateway Port Harbour Empowerment Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1261), arts. 30, 33 (with arts. 41(1), 45, 54(2), 55, 56, 57, 58(6))
C22Act applied (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), s. 7(6)
C23Act applied (with modifications) (1.12.2008) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), s. 325(1), Sch. 2 para. 1; S.I. 2008/3068, art. 2(1)(d) (with arts. 6-13)
C24Act applied (1.4.2010) by The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/490), reg. 34(5) (with reg. 125)
C25Act applied by 2010 c. 32, Sch. 1 para. 5(6) (as substituted (1.2.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 14 para. 1; S.I. 2012/84, art. 3 (with art. 5))
C26Act applied (1.10.2014) by Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 6), ss. 56(9), 64(2) (with Sch. 5 para. 7); S.I. 2014/11, art. 3(1)(e)
C27Act applied by 2004 c. 21, s. 4D(16) (as inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 1 para. 5)
Commencement Information
I1Act wholly in force at 30.1.1982, see s. 35(2)
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