Part IX

Acquisition and Appropriation of Land for Planning Purposes, etc.

Acquisition for planning and public purposes

Compulsory acquisition of land by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government .
228
1
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may acquire compulsorily—
a
any land necessary for the public service; and
b
any land which it is proposed to use not only for the public service but also—
i
to meet the interests of proper planning of the area, or
ii
to secure the best or most economic development or use of the land,
otherwise than for the public service.
1A
But subsection (1) does not permit the acquisition of any interest in Crown land unless—
a
it is an interest which is for the time being held otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown, and
b
the appropriate authority consents to the acquisition.
2
Where the Secretary of State has acquired or proposes to acquire any land under subsection (1) (“the primary land”) and in his opinion other land ought to be acquired together with the primary land—
a
in the interests of the proper planning of the area concerned; or
b
for the purpose of ensuring that the primary land can be used, or developed and used, (together with that other land) in what appears to him to be the best or most economic way; or
c
where the primary land or any land acquired, or which he proposes to acquire, by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection or of section 122(1)(a) or (b) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, forms part of a common, open space or fuel or field garden allotment, for the purpose of being given in exchange for that land,
he may compulsorily acquire that other land.
3
Subject to subsection (4), the power of acquiring land compulsorily under this section shall include power to acquire an easement or other right over land by the grant of a new right.
4
Subsection (3) shall not apply to an easement or other right over any land which would for the purposes of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 form part of a common, open space or fuel or field garden allotment.
5
References in this section to the public service include the service in the United Kingdom—
a
of any international organisation or institution whether or not the United Kingdom or Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom is or is to become a member;
b
of any office or agency established by such an organisation or institution or for its purposes, or established in pursuance of a treaty (whether or not the United Kingdom is or is to become a party to the treaty);
c
of a foreign sovereign Power or the Government of such a Power.
6
For the purposes of subsection (5)(b) “treaty” includes any international agreement and any protocol or annex to a treaty or international agreement.
7
The Acquisition of Land Act 1981 shall apply to any compulsory acquisition by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government under this section.
8
Crown land must be construed in accordance with Part 13.
Pt. 9 (ss. 226-246) modified (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 20(3), Sch. 5 Pt. III paras. 15(1), 20 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/3198, art. 4, Sch. 2
1980 c. 65.
1981 c.67.
S. 228(1A) inserted (7.6.2006) by Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c. 5), ss. 79, 121, Sch. 3 para. 4(2) (with s. 111); S.I. 2006/1281, art. 2
S. 228(8) inserted (7.6.2006) by Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c. 5), ss. 79, 121, Sch. 3 para. 4(3) (with s. 111); S.I. 2006/1281, art. 2
Words in s. 228 substituted (21.8.2006) by The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1926), art. 9, Sch. para. 3(2)
S. 228(1) extended (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 50(3), 148; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2
S. 228(1) extended (19.9.2007) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 41(3)(b), 148; S.I. 2007/2709, art. 2(a)
S. 228: functions of the First Secretary of State transferred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (21.8.2006) by The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1926), art. 4(1)(b)
Pt. 9 applied (5.2.2025) by The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/117), regs. 1(2), 9(2)
Words in s. 228(1) substituted (30.10.2024) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/991), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 3(2)(a) (with art. 7)
Pt. 9 applied (7.5.2024) by The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/402), arts. 1(3), 36(3) (with art. 9)
Pt. 9 applied (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 10(4)
Pt. 9 applied (23.12.2016) by The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1267), arts. 1(2), 8(4)
Pt. 9 applied (30.1.2021) by The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Functions) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/112), arts. 1(2), 13(4)
Words in s. 228(7) substituted (30.10.2024) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/991), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 3(2)(a) (with art. 7)
Pt. 9 applied (5.2.2025) by The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/113), arts. 1(2), 17(2)
Pt. 9 applied (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 9(4)
Words in s. 228 heading substituted (30.10.2024) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/991), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 3(2)(a) (with art. 7)
Pt. 9 applied (5.2.2025) by The Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/118), regs. 1(2), 8(2)
Pt. 9 applied (5.2.2025) by The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/115), regs. 1(2), 8(2)
Pt. 9 applied (17.3.2017) by The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/430), arts. 1(2), 9(2)
Pt. 9 applied (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 21(4)