Compulsory Purchase
A legal mechanism allowing certain public bodies — 'acquiring authorities' — to acquire land without the owner's consent, typically to enable development, regeneration, or infrastructure projects. Exercised through a compulsory purchase order, which normally needs confirmation by a confirming authority before it takes effect.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Government guidance for people affected by a compulsory purchase order gives the concept in a single sentence: 'Compulsory purchase is a legal mechanism by which certain bodies (known as ‘acquiring authorities’) can acquire land without the consent of the owner.' The power exists to serve a public purpose rather than a private one — the same guidance describes it as supporting 'a range of development, regeneration and infrastructure projects in the public interest'.
Making the order is only the first step, not the last. The guidance is explicit that a compulsory purchase order is not, by itself, enough to let an authority take the land: '[e]ven though the CPO is made, it has no effect until confirmed by the confirming authority.' That extra layer of independent confirmation — usually by the relevant Secretary of State — is a deliberate check on the acquiring authority's own decision to compulsorily acquire someone's land.
Related terms
Official sources
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