Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953

10Closing orders in respect of certain buildings

(1)In any case where a local authority would be required, apart from this section, to make a demolition order under section eleven of the Housing Act, 1936, in respect of a house, the authority may, if they consider it inexpedient to make such an order having regard to the effect of the demolition of that house upon any other house or building, in lieu of making such an order make a closing order prohibiting the use of the house for any purpose other than a purpose approved by the local authority.

(2)A local authority by whom a closing order is made under this section shall serve a copy of the order upon every person upon whom they would be required to serve it if it were a demolition order made under the said section eleven.

(3)Where a closing order has been made by a local authority under this section in respect of a house, the authority may at any time revoke that order and make a demolition order under the said section eleven without further compliance with the provisions of subsections (1) to (3) of that section.

(4)The following provisions of the said Act, that is to say—

(a)so much of subsection (1) of section twelve as directs that the approval of the local authority shall not be unreasonably withheld and provides for the determination of a closing order ;

(b)section fourteen (which imposes a penalty for using premises in contravention of a closing order);

(c)section fifteen (which relates to appeals to the county court against notices, demands and orders);

(d)section eighteen (which enables local authorities to pay allowances to persons displaced from premises to which closing orders apply);

(e)section nineteen (which contains provisions for the protection of owners of houses); and

(f)section one hundred and fifty-six (which provides for the recovery of possession of premises subject to closing orders),

shall have effect in relation to a closing order made under this , section and to a house to which such an order applies as they have effect in relation to a closing order under the said section twelve and to a part of a building to which such an order applies, and as if references to Part II of that Act included references to this section.

(5)Section one hundred and sixty of the said Act (which empowers the county court to determine or .vary a lease of premises in respect of which a demolition order has become operative) shall have effect in relation to a closing order under this section which has become operative and to a house to which such an order applies as it has effect in relation to a demolition order which has become operative and to a house to which such an order applies.