Part IX

Acquisition and Appropriation of Land for Planning Purposes, etc.

Appropriation, disposal and development of land held for planning purposes, etc.

Disposal by local authorities of land held for planning purposes.
233
1
Where any land has been acquired or appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes and is for the time being held by them for the purposes for which it was so acquired or appropriated, the authority may dispose of the land to such person, in such manner and subject to such conditions as appear to them to be expedient in order—
a
to secure the best use of that or other land and any buildings or works which have been, or are to be, erected, constructed or carried out on it (whether by themselves or by any other person), or
b
to secure the erection, construction or carrying out on it of any buildings or works appearing to them to be needed for the proper planning of the area of the authority.
2
Land which consists of or forms part of a common, or formerly consisted or formed part of a common, and is held or managed by a local authority in accordance with a local Act shall not be disposed of under this section without the consent of the Secretary of State.
3
The consent of the Secretary of State is also required where the disposal is to be for a consideration less than the best that can reasonably be obtained and is not—
a
the grant of a term of seven years or less; or
b
the assignment of a term of years of which seven years or less are unexpired at the date of the assignment.
3A
The Secretary of State may give consent under subsection (3)—
a
in relation to any particular disposal or disposals, or in relation to a particular class of disposals,
b
in relation to local authorities generally, or local authorities of a particular class, or to any particular local authority or authorities, and
c
either unconditionally or subject to conditions (either generally, or in relation to any particular disposal or disposals or class of disposals).
4
Before disposing under this section of any land which consists of or forms part of an open space, a local authority—
a
shall publish a notice of their intention to do so for at least two consecutive weeks in a newspaper circulating in their area; and
b
shall consider any objections to the proposed disposal which may be made to them.
5
In relation to land acquired or appropriated for planning purposes for a reason mentioned in section 226(1)(a) or (3) the powers conferred by this section on a local authority, and on the Secretary of State in respect of the giving of consent to disposals under this section, shall be so exercised as to secure to relevant occupiers, so far as may be practicable, a suitable opportunity for accommodation.
6
A person is a relevant occupier for the purposes of subsection (5) if—
a
he was living or carrying on business or other activities on any such land as is mentioned in that subsection which the authority have acquired as mentioned in subsection (1),
b
he desires to obtain accommodation on such land, and
c
he is willing to comply with any requirements of the authority as to the development and use of such land;
and in this subsection “development” includes redevelopment.
7
In subsection (5) a suitable opportunity for accommodation means, in relation to any person, an opportunity to obtain accommodation on the land in question which is suitable to his reasonable requirements on terms settled with due regard to the price at which any such land has been acquired from him.
8
In relation to any such land as is mentioned in subsection (1), this section shall have effect to the exclusion of section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 (disposal of land by principal councils).
9
Section 128(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (which already gives protection to purchasers
etc
in respect of certain land transactions, including disposals under this section by certain authorities) applies in relation to every disposal of land under this section by a local authority for an area in England; and section 29 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1959 does not apply in relation to such a disposal.
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
Ss. 232, 233, 235(1) amended by Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c. 9, SIF 123:1), s. 66(2)
1972 c. 70.
S. 233: functions made exercisable concurrently (5.2.2025) by The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/115), regs. 1(2), 6
Pt. 9 applied (5.2.2025) by The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/117), regs. 1(2), 9(2)
S. 233: functions made exercisable concurrently (5.2.2025) by The Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/118), regs. 1(2), 6
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)
S. 233 functions made exercisable concurrently (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 19(1)(f)
S. 233: functions made exercisable concurrently (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 8
Pt. 9 applied (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 10(4)
S. 233(3A) inserted (25.6.2013 for E.) by Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 (c. 27), ss. 8(2), 35(1); S.I. 2013/1124, art. 3
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)
S. 233(9) inserted (25.6.2013 for E.) by Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 (c. 27), ss. 8(3), 35(1); S.I. 2013/1124, art. 3
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)
S. 233: functions made exercisable concurrently (5.2.2025) by The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/113), arts. 1(2), 16
S. 233: functions made exercisable concurrently (5.2.2025) by The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/117), regs. 1(2), 7
S. 233 functions made exercisable concurrently (23.12.2016) by The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1267), arts. 1(2), 6(1)(f)(2)
S. 233 functions made exercisable concurrently (17.3.2017) by The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/430), arts. 1(2), 7(1)(f)
S. 233 functions made exercisable concurrently (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 8
Pt. 9 applied (5.2.2025) by The Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/118), regs. 1(2), 8(2)
S. 233: functions made exercisable concurrently (7.5.2024) by The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/402), arts. 1(3), 35 (with art. 9)
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)
S. 233 functions made exercisable concurrently (30.1.2021) by The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Functions) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/112), arts. 1(2), 11(1)(f)(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)