What is voluntary/compulsory purchase of property?
Voluntary purchase is where the Council has identified a site for redevelopment, and where negotiations will take place with the owners of affected properties regarding the purchase of their properties. This operates in the same way as for a conventional house buying and selling process.
The Council also has the power to make a Compulsory Purchase Order in respect of land required for various purposes. Here, an Order must be made and submitted to the appropriate Government department for consideration. The Minister may then confirm the Order with or without modifications or reject it. If confirmed, the owners of properties falling within the Order will have to sell their properties to the Council.
Further information may be obtained by contacting the Principal Legal Officer, Property and Commercial Section, on 01253 477411.