Local Employment Act 1970

2 Derelict land clearance areas

(1) Where the Minister is of opinion, with respect to a locality in Great Britain, that the economic situation in the locality is such that the exercise, in relation to land therein, of the powers conferred by section 20 of the Industrial Development Act 1966 (power of the Minister to acquire derelict land in a development area, and other land, and carry out works thereon, and power of the Minister of Housing and Local Government and of the Secretary of State to make grants to councils towards cost of acquiring and improving derelict land, &c.) would be particularly appropriate with a view to contributing to the development of industry in the locality, he may specify it by order as a derelict land clearance area, and that section shall have effect in relation to land in a derelict land clearance area as it has effect in relation to land in a development area.

(2) The reference in section 14(2) of the Local Employment Act 1960 to land acquired by the Board of Trade or the Minister under Part I of that Act shall not, by virtue of section 31(2) of the Industrial Development Act 1966 (Part II of the Industrial Development Act 1966 to be construed as one with Part I of the Local Employment Act 1960) be construed as including a reference to land acquired by the Minister under section 20 of the Industrial Development Act 1966 by virtue of this section, but where land so acquired by virtue of this section is situated in a locality which is not a derelict land clearance area the Minister shall have power, so long as he owns the land, to carry out thereon such work as appears to him expedient for the purpose of enabling so much of the land as appears to him to be derelict, neglected or unsightly to be brought into use or of improving its appearance, with a view to contributing to the development of industry in the locality in which it is situated.

(3) Where at any time a locality ceases to be a derelict land clearance area, the fact that it is no longer such an area shall not prejudice—

(a) the completion by the Minister of works begun before that time in the locality under section 20 of the Industrial Development Act 1966, or the exercise by the Minister in relation to land in that locality of his powers under that section so far as may be necessary for the purpose of fulfilling any agreement entered into by the Minister before that time;

(b) the making of a grant under that section in any case in which an application for the grant was received by the Minister of Housing and Local Government or the Secretary of State before that time ; or

(c) the continued operation of any agreement relating to any such grant.