Local authorities are preparing the ground for regeneration as the economy picks up, launching almost two-thirds more planning compulsory purchase orders last year compared with 2013.
Although short of the 2007 peak, planning CPOs increased by 61% in the UK last year, according to law firm Bond Dickinson, rising to 58 in 2014. The government announced a consultation in this month’s budget to look at ways to streamline the CPO process.
London, the Midlands and the North West remained hotspots for CPOs, but Bond Dickinson said the orders had become nationwide tools.
The report, which used freedom of information requests to acquiring authorities, found the total success rate of CPOs was above 95% while the time taken for opposed decisions had fallen.
The report also found housing CPOs had dropped considerably, but said these were less representative of general economic activity as they were more closely tied to public sector funding.
Bond Dickinson legal director Frank Orr said: “Acquiring authorities can take comfort from the good prospects of success, but must use CPOs with care and pay close attention to the circumstances of each case to meet legal and policy requirements.”
