(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.
(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 [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (disposal of land by principal councils).