Local Government and Housing Act 1989

93 General powers of local housing authority

(1) Where a local housing authority have declared an area to be a renewal area, the authority may exercise the powers conferred by this section.

(2) For the purpose of securing or assisting in securing all or any of the objectives mentioned in subsection (3) below, the authority may acquire by agreement, or be authorised by the Secretary of State to acquire compulsorily, any land in the area on which there are premises consisting of or including housing accommodation or which forms part of the curtilage of any such premises; and the authority may provide housing accommodation on land acquired under this subsection.

(3) The objectives referred to in subsection (2) above are—

(a) the improvement or repair of the premises, either by the authority or by a person to whom they propose to dispose of the premises;

(b) the proper and effective management and use of the housing accommodation, either by the authority or by a person to whom they propose to dispose of the premises comprising the accommodation; and

(c) the well-being of the persons for the time being residing in the area.

(4) For the purpose of effecting or assisting the improvement of the amenities in the area, the authority may acquire by agreement, or be authorised by the Secretary of State to acquire compulsorily, any land in the area (including land which the authority propose to dispose of to another person who intends to effect or assist the improvement of those amenities).

(5) The authority may—

(a) carry out works (including works of demolition) on land owned by the authority in the area (whether or not that land was acquired under subsection (2) or subsection (4) above); and

(b) assist in the carrying out of works on any land in the area not owned by the authority, either by providing grants, loans or guarantees or by incurring expenditure for the benefit of the person assisted or by executing the works themselves or by providing materials for the carrying out of the works;

but assistance may not be given under paragraph (b) above in respect of works for which assistance is being or has been provided under Part VIII of this Act.

(6) The authority may enter into an agreement with a housing association or other person under which, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, all or any of the authority’s functions under subsection (5) above are to be exercisable by that association or other person.

(7) If after—

(a) the authority have entered into a contract for the acquisition of land under subsection (2) or subsection (4) above, or

(b) a compulsory purchase order authorising the acquisition of land under either of those subsections has been confirmed,

the renewal area concerned ceases to be such an area or the land is excluded from the area, the provisions of the subsection in question shall continue to apply as if the land continued to be in a renewal area.

(8) The powers conferred by this section are without prejudice to any power which a local housing authority may have under or by virtue of any other enactment.