New Towns Act 1981

13 (1) In so far as a compulsory purchase order authorises the acquisition of any land forming part of any common, open space or fuel or field garden allotment, the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure unless the Secretary of State (in the case of an open space other than a common or such an allotment as is mentioned in this sub-paragraph) or the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (in the case of a common or of a fuel or field garden allotment), is satisfied—

(a) that there has been or will be given in exchange for such land other land, not being less in area, and being equally advantageous to the persons (if any) entitled to rights of common or other rights, and to the public, and that the land given in exchange has been or will be vested in the persons in whom the land acquired was vested, and subject to the like rights, trusts and incidents as attached to the land acquired, or

(b) that the land is required for the widening of an existing highway and that rue giving in exchange of other land is unnecessary, whether in the interests of the persons, if any, entitled to rights of common or other rights or in the interests of the public,

and certifies accordingly.

(2) Where it is proposed to give a certificate under this paragraph, the Secretary of State or the Minister haying jurisdiction to give the certificate shall give public notice of his intention so to do, and—

(a) after affording opportunity to all persons interested to mako representations and objections in relation thereto, and

(b) after causing a public local inquiry to be held in any case where it appears to him to be expedient so to do, having regard to any representations or objections made,

the Secretary of State or that Minister may, after considering any representations and objections made and, if any inquiry has been held, the report of the person who made the inquiry, give the certificate.

(3) A compulsory purchase order may provide for vesting land given in exchange as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above in the persons, and subject to the rights, trusts and incidents, therein mentioned, and for discharging the land acquired from all rights, trusts and incidents to which it was previously subject.

(4) As soon as may be after the giving of a certificate under this paragraph the acquiring authority shall publish in the London Gazette and, in each of two successive weeks, in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality in which the land designated by the order is situated, a notice in the prescribed form stating that the certificate has been given.