PART 7

Compulsory purchase etc

Right to enter and survey land

Right to enter and survey land
172
1
A person authorised in writing by an acquiring authority may enter and survey or value land in connection with a proposal to acquire an interest in or a right over land.
2
The person—
a
may only enter and survey or value land at a reasonable time, and
b
may not use force unless a justice of the peace has issued a warrant under section 173(1) authorising the person to do so.
3
The person must, if required when exercising or seeking to exercise the power conferred by subsection (1), produce—
a
evidence of the authorisation, and
b
a copy of any warrant issued under section 173(1).
4
An authorisation under subsection (1) may relate to the land which is the subject of the proposal or to other land.
5
If the land is unoccupied or the occupier is absent from the land when the person enters it, the person must leave it as secure against trespassers as when the person entered it.
6
In this section and sections 173 to 178 —
a
“
acquiring authority
” means a person who could be authorised to acquire compulsorily the land to which the proposal mentioned in subsection (1) relates (regardless of whether the proposal is to acquire an interest in or a right over the land or to take temporary possession of it), and
b
“
owner
” has the meaning given in section 7 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.
S. 172 in force at 13.7.2016 by S.I. 2016/733, reg. 3(h)
Words in s. 172(6) substituted (22.9.2017) by Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (c. 20), ss. 26(8)(b), 46(1) (with s. 31); S.I. 2017/936, reg. 3(a) (with reg. 5)
S. 172(2)(3) applied (with modifications) (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 2 para. 1(5)(6)
S. 172(5) applied (with modifications) (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 2 para. 1(5)(6)
S. 172(2)(3) applied (with modifications) (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 2 para. 8(2)(3)
S. 172(5) applied (with modifications) (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 2 para. 8(2)(3)
S. 172 restricted (4.11.2022) by The A47/A11 Thickthorn Junction Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1070), art. 1, Sch. 9 para. 67(1) (with arts. 4, 52, Sch. 9 para. 82)
S. 172 restricted (18.7.2023) by The Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/734), art. 1, Sch. 15 para. 71(1) (with art. 19)
S. 172 restricted (3.8.2023) by The Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/800), art. 1, Sch. 9 Pt. 4 para. 4(1) (with arts. 42, 43, Sch. 9 Pt. 1 para. 4, Sch. 9 Pt. 3 para. 6(1), Sch. 9 Pt. 4 para. 20, Sch. 9 Pt. 9 para. 4) (as amended (31.1.2024) by S.I. 2024/117, art. 1(2), Sch.)
Pts. 6, 7: power to amend conferred (26.12.2023) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 132, 255(3)(a) (with s. 247)
S. 172 restricted (9.2.2024) by The A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening Development Consent Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/60), art. 1, Sch. 11 para. 69(1) (with arts. 4, 52, Sch. 11 paras. 6, 24, 39(1), 55(1), 71(3), 84)
S. 172 restricted (13.3.2024) by The Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/230), art. 1, Sch. 9 para. 95(1) (with Sch. 11 paras. 5, 22, 37, 47, 82, 110)
S. 172 restricted (28.3.2024) by The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/360), art. 1, Sch. 9 para. 66(1) (with arts. 18, 35, Sch. 9)
S. 172 restricted (11.4.2024) by The HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/436), art. 1(2), Sch. 10 para. 65(1) (with arts. 21, 41, Sch. 10)
S. 172 restricted (9.5.2024) by The Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon Extensions Offshore Wind Farm Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/564), art. 1, Sch. 14 Pt. 3 para. 4(1) (with arts. 35, 36, Sch. 14)
S. 172 restricted (3.8.2024) by The Mallard Pass Solar Farm Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/796), art. 1, Sch. 15 para. 76(1) (with Sch. 15)
S. 172 restricted (3.8.2024) by The Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/802), art. 1, Sch. 12 para. 109(1)(p) (with art. 44, Sch. 12)
S. 172 restricted (3.8.2024) by The Gate Burton Energy Park Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/807), art. 1, Sch. 14 para. 116(1) (with art. 45, Sch. 14)
S. 172 restricted (27.9.2024) by The Cottam Solar Project Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/943), art. 1, Sch. 15 para. 118(1) (with art. 48, Sch. 15)
S. 172 restricted (25.10.2024) by The Associated British Ports (Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal) Development Consent Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1014), art. 1, Sch. 4 para. 71(1)(g) (with arts. 36, 40, Sch. 4)
S. 172 restricted (17.2.2025) by The Heckington Fen Solar Park Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/85), art. 1, Sch. 13 para. 85(1)(q) (with art. 43)
S. 172 restricted (4.4.2025) by The North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/362), art. 1, Sch. 14 para. 49(1)(s) (with Sch. 14)
S. 172 restricted (28.4.2025) by The Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/468), art. 1, Sch. 10 Pt. 6 para. 4(s) (with arts. 47, 48, Sch. 10)
S. 172 restricted (1.5.2025) by The Viking CCS Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/509), art. 1(2), Sch. 9 para. 66(1) (with art. 41, Sch. 9)
S. 172 restricted (31.5.2025) by The East Yorkshire Solar Farm Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/585), art. 1, Sch. 14 para. 59(1) (with art. 49, Sch. 14)
S. 172 restricted (28.7.2025) by The Mona Offshore Wind Farm Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/870), art. 1, Sch. 10 para. 103(1) (with arts. 37, 38, Sch. 10)
S. 172 restricted (12.10.2025) by The Gatwick Airport (Northern Runway Project) Development Consent Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1054), art. 1, Sch. 9 para. 43(1) (with arts. 5, 9(6), 43, Sch. 9)
S. 172 restricted (22.10.2025) by The A46 Newark Bypass Development Consent Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1090), art. 1, Sch. 9 para. 34(1) (with arts. 4, 9, 51, Sch. 9)
S. 172 restricted (5.11.2025) by The Tillbridge Solar Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1105), art. 1, Sch. 15 para. 143(1) (with art. 49, Sch. 15)
S. 172 restricted (13.11.2025) by The Stonestreet Green Solar Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1175), art. 1, Sch. 13 para. 77(1) (with art. 40, Sch. 13)