(1)Where it appears to the Secretary of State, in the case of a building to which this section applies, that reasonable steps are not being taken for properly preserving it, the Secretary of State may authorise the council of the county, county borough or county district in which the building is situated or, in the case of a building situated in Greater London, the Greater London Council or the London borough council, to acquire compulsorily under this section the building and any land comprising or contiguous or adjacent to it which appears to the Secretary of State to be required for preserving the building or its amenities, or for affording access to it, or for its proper control or management.
(2)Where it appears to the Secretary of State, in the case of a building to which this section applies, that reasonable steps are not being taken for properly preserving it, he may be authorised under this section to acquire compulsorily the building and any land comprising or contiguous or adjacent to it which appears to him to be required for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.
(3)This section applies to any listed building, not being an excepted building as defined in section 58(2) of this Act.
(4)The Secretary of State shall not make or confirm a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of any building by virtue of this section unless he is satisfied that it is expedient to make provision for the preservation of the building and to authorise its compulsory acquisition for that purpose.
(5)The [1946 c. 49.] Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Act 1946 shall apply to the compulsory acquisition of land under this section and accordingly shall have effect—
(a)as if this section had been in force immediately before the commencement of that Act; and
(b)as if references therein to the enactments specified in section 1(1)(b) of that Act included references to the provisions of this section.
(6)Any person having an interest in a building which it is proposed to acquire compulsorily under this section may, within twenty-eight days after the service of the notice required by paragraph 3(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the said Act of 1946, apply to a magistrates' court acting for the petty sessions area within which the building is situated for an order staying further proceedings on the compulsory purchase order; and, if the court is satisfied that reasonable steps have been taken for properly preserving the building, the court shall make an order accordingly.
(7)Any person aggrieved by the decision of a magistrates' court on an application under subsection (6) of this section may appeal against the decision to the Crown Court.