Courts Act 1971

3 (1) This paragraph has effect where—

(a) the Secretary of State, not later than the expiration of a period of three years beginning with the appointed day, gives notice in writing to a local authority of his intention to acquire from that local authority (by compulsory purchase or otherwise) any premises which, up to the appointed day, were being wholly or mainly used for business of the abolished courts or other court purposes, and

(b) the Secretary of State, within the period of ten years beginning with the appointed day, makes a compulsory purchase order authorising the acquisition by him of, or of an interest or estate in, those premises or any part of them.

(2) If the Lord Chancellor is satisfied that the whole of the land comprised in the compulsory purchase order was, up to the appointed day, exclusively used for business of the abolished courts, and so certifies, paragraph 9 of Schedule 1 to the [1946 c. 49.] Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Act 1946 (special parliamentary procedure) shall not apply to the order.

(3) The compulsory purchase order may be framed so as also to apply to all or any fittings, furniture, equipment and other chattels in, or usually kept or used in, so much of the premises as was, up to the appointed day, being used for business of the abolished courts, or for the business of a magistrates' court, and all the provisions of the said Act of 1946, of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 and of the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 shall have effect accordingly, and subject to any necessary modifications.

(4) If the whole of the land comprised in the compulsory purchase order was, up to the appointed day, exclusively used for business of the abolished courts.—

(a) no compensation shall be payable in respect of the interest or estate of the local authority in the land, but without prejudice to any right to compensation for severance or other injurious affection in respect of any land not acquired, and

(b) no compensation shall be payable in respect of the interest of the local authority in any chattels to which the compulsory purchase order applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) above.

(5) Where sub-paragraph (4) above does not apply, the compensation otherwise payable shall be reduced by such amount as will, on a just assessment, secure that no compensation is payable in respect of the land or any chattels to the extent that the land, or any such chattel, was used for business of the abolished courts.