Guidance to encourage the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) to promote urban regeneration has been published by the DTLR this week.
Produced by Drivers Jonas, the five booklets explain in detail how CPO’s work. Later in the year, the government will publish a CPO Manual which will provide authorities and developers with advice on the most efficient use of the system.
In a speech last week to the RTPI Planning Summer School in Exeter, planning minister Lord Falconer said: “There is too much doubt and uncertainty among local authorities on how to effectively use their powers to assemble land for brownfield development and urban regeneration. To help deal with this a guidance manual will soon be published by The Stationery Office. This will provide practical guidance on making the best use of the compulsory purchase system as it presently stands.”
Although a comprehensive review of CPO’s was announced in the government’s Urban White Paper, a spokesman for the DTLR said that the guides are intended to act as an “interim measure”.
Richard Owen, who heads the CPO compensation team at Drivers Jonas which produced the documents, said: “Acquiring authorities have, in many cases, lost the art of using compulsory purchase and need clear guidance if the process is to be used efficiently, effectively and fairly. There is a need for corresponding guidance for those who may be affected by the exercise of compulsory purchase powers.”
EGi News 13/09/01
