43Method of dealing with clearance area
(1)So soon as may be after a local authority have declared any area to be a clearance area, they shall, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Act, proceed to secure the clearance of the area in one or other of the following ways, or partly in one of those ways and partly in the other of them, that is to say—
(a)by making one or more orders (in this Act referred to as " clearance orders ") for the demolition of the buildings in the area ; or
(b)by purchasing the land comprised in the area and them selves undertaking, or otherwise securing, the demolition of the buildings on that land.
(2)Where the local authority determine to purchase any land comprised in the area declared by them to be a clearance area, they may purchase also any land which is surrounded by the clearance area and the acquisition of which is reasonably necessary for the purpose of securing a cleared area of convenient shape and dimensions, and any adjoining land the acquisition of which is reasonably necessary for the satisfactory development or use of the cleared area.
(3)Where the local authority have determined to purchase under this Part of this Act land comprised in, or surrounded by or adjoining, a clearance area they may purchase that land by agreement, or they may be authorised to purchase that land compulsorily by a compulsory purchase order made and submitted to the Minister and confirmed by him in accordance with the provisions of Parts I and II of the Third Schedule to this Act.
The powers conferred by this subsection shall be exercisable notwithstanding that any of the buildings within the clearance area have been demolished since the area was declared to be a clearance area.
(4)Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, an order authorising the compulsory purchase of land comprised in a clearance area shall be submitted to the Minister within six months, and an order authorising the compulsory purchase of land surrounded by or adjoining a clearance area shall be submitted to the Minister within twelve months, after the date of the resolution declaring the area to be a clearance area, or within such longer period as the Minister may, in the circumstances of the particular case, allow.
(5)The provisions of the Fourth Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the validity and date of operation of a compulsory purchase order made under this section.