Acquiring Authorities

Acquiring authorities implementing Compulsory Purchase Orders or possessing CPO powers often benefit from advice that looks beyond the immediate procedural task. A broader review of the planning and compensation issues can identify risks and opportunities to mitigate the effects of a scheme, reduce compensation liabilities or otherwise add value to the situation.

We can advise acquiring authorities across the UK on the planning aspects of compulsory purchase, including reviewing the planning status of affected land, assessing justification for acquisition and identifying potential CAAD or compensation exposure.

CASE STUDY

Resolving a Boundary Discrepancy

Jonathan Scott-Smith was instructed by a highway authority to advise on the value of a small parcel of land which had been acquired as part of a road improvement scheme. A review of historic plans and titles identified that they had taken a row of terraced houses, and were likely to have retained ownership of parts of several other gardens not needed for the scheme, but the instruction related to only one of them.

A review of the Land Registry titles confirmed this, and a site inspection revealed that part of this land had been incorporated into a neighbouring office car park, creating an unrecognised boundary encroachment. Further investigations established that the current office owners were unaware of the discrepancy.

Jonathan Scott-Smith led discussions and successfully negotiated the sale of all the encroached land, resolving the boundary issue and achieving a clear and commercially robust outcome for both sides.

CPO Services