Compulsory Purchase and Compensation

Francis Taylor Building is widely regarded as the go-to set for compulsory purchase compensation and land valuation.

Members of chambers are instructed to advise and appear for acquiring authorities, land owners in all aspects of compulsory purchase, compensation and land valuation.

Francis Taylor Building is widely regarded as the go-to set for compulsory purchase compensation and land valuation. Both the Encyclopaedia of Compulsory Purchase and Compensation and the leading textbook The Law of Compulsory Purchase are edited by members of Chambers.
Members of chambers are instructed to advise and appear for acquiring authorities, land owners and statutory undertakers in all aspects of compulsory purchase, compensation and land valuation.

The compulsory purchase of land may be authorised by compulsory purchase order, development consent order (for nationally significant infrastructure projects), Transport & Works Act Orders or Parliament Bills. Members of Chambers have advised in relation to all these procedures and have appeared at public inquiries and in Parliamentary Committees for both acquiring authorities and objectors on a very wide range of projects.

Examples include South Teeside Steel Works, HS2, Crossrail, the London Olympic Games 2012, Thameslink 2000, Wembley Stadium Link, Greenwich Peninsula, the Midland Metro system in Birmingham, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Compulsory purchase may be challenged in the Courts, sometimes raising human rights issues. Examples of cases in which members of Chambers have been involved include R (Iceland Foods Ltd) v Newport City Council, Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company Limited v. Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, R (Argos Ltd) v Birmingham City Council and Networks Rail Infrastructure Ltd, Sole v Secretary of State for Trade & Industry; Lisa Smith v Secretary of State for Trade & Industry.

There may also be challenges relating to the exercise by local authorities of powers to acquire land by agreement and to appropriate it for planning purposes – e.g. R (Manydown) v Basingstoke & Deane BC.

Claims for compensation following compulsory purchase are normally adjudicated by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) unless the parties agree to arbitration or mediation. Examples of significant cases in which Members of FTB have been involved include Purfleet Farms Ltd v Secretary of State for Transport; Colneway Ltd v Environment Agency; Christos v Secretary of State for Transport; Optical Express (Southern) Ltd v Birmingham City Council; Railtrack plc v Guiness Ltd; RMC and ACE v London Borough of Greenwich; Urban Edge Group Ltd v London Underground Ltd; Abbey Investments Ltd v London Development Agency; Rooff Ltd v London Development Agency; Kent County Council v Union Railways; Thomas Newall Ltd v Lancaster City Council' Singh v LDA; Welford v TfL; Clemdell v Dorset CC; Timec 1209 LLP v. Salford City Council; Leech Homes v. Northumberland CC.

Non tribunal cases in which members have been involved include CAAD challenges such as Harringay Meat Traders v SSCLG & GLA,Rooff Ltd v London Development Agency and Curzon Park Ltd. & Others v. Secretary of State for Transport.

There are numerous rights to compensation where the actions of public bodies impinge on the use or development of land, for example: for the effect of a public project even where no land has been taken, for revocation and modification of planning permissions, for restrictions imposed on mineral planning permissions, for works carried out for highways, for water supply, for land drainage or for pollution control, for flooding and the construction of flood defences. Examples of cases in which Members of FTB have been involved include Moto v. Secretary of State for Transport and Welford v EDF Energy Networks (LPN) Ltd.

30

Apr' 24

London Borough of Newham (James Riley Point) CPO 2023 Confirmed

An Inspector, appointed by the Levelling-Up Secretary, has confirmed the London Borough of Newham (James Riley Point) CPO 2023.

27

Mar' 24

Hynet - Development Consent Granted for Carbon Dioxide Pipeline

In a decision letter dated 20th March 2024. the Secretary of State has granted development consent for the Hynet Carbon Dioxide pipeline.

"Not just top KCs, but excellent juniors too. They are always on top of current topics and their training for junior professionals is a great idea and well received."

Legal 500, 2025

"Offers considerable expertise in relation to compulsory purchase orders and compensation",

Chambers and Partners, 2023

"FTB are the top Planning and Compulsory Purchase set in London. From Senior Silks to Juniors they have tremendous strength in depth, so it is surprising that their top Juniors are not Silks already".

Legal 500, 2022

"The clerks at Francis Taylor Building are absolutely superb and very quick to get back to you." "The team is very agile and very commercial in terms of their approach and you can discuss things based on client needs." "Paul Coveney, senior clerk, is streets ahead of other clerks; he understands the work and is strategic in his thinking. The clerking is excellent."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"First class service. Attentive and flexible."

Legal 500, 2022

"Viewed as an ‘academically strong and thorough' set, Francis Taylor Building is noted for being ‘very strong on CPO, infrastructure, and compensation cases’".

Legal 500, 2020

30

Apr' 24

London Borough of Newham (James Riley Point) CPO 2023 Confirmed

An Inspector, appointed by the Levelling-Up Secretary, has confirmed the London Borough of Newham (James Riley Point) CPO 2023.

27

Mar' 24

Hynet - Development Consent Granted for Carbon Dioxide Pipeline

In a decision letter dated 20th March 2024. the Secretary of State has granted development consent for the Hynet Carbon Dioxide pipeline.

04

Nov' 24

Annual Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Seminar (Hybrid)

Chairman: Richard Glover KC.
Speakers: James Pereira KC, Richard Honey KC, Mark Westmoreland Smith KC, Hugh Flanagan, Caroline Daly, Daisy Noble, Jonathan Welch, Mark O'Brien O'Reilly.

Confirmed Topics:

Temporary Possession Compensation
The Complexities of Agricultural Land Compensation
Ins and Outs of Costs in the Upper Tribunal
A Practical Guide to Resolving CPO Objections
The Reform Agenda

Practical Information

Date and Time: 4 November 2024. Registration will take place from 1.30 - 2.00pm. The seminar will run from 2.00pm - 5.30pm. It will be followed by a drinks reception until 6.30pm.
The seminar will be run as a hybrid event enabling either in-person or virtual attendance. Please select the relevant option when booking.

Venue: IET Savoy Place, 2 Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL. Virtual attendees can join by Zoom (joining instructions will be sent to attendees a few days before the event).

Cost: The cost for in person and virtual attendance is the same. The standard charge of £160 + VAT per attendee. An Early Bird rate of £140 + VAT per attendee is available until COB on 30 September. By booking three delegates at the same time, you will automatically be entitled to a special rate of three delegates for the price of two on both the Early Bird and standard rates.

Bookings can be made via Eventbrite and payment can be made by credit card at the time of booking or later by BACS but must be received prior to the event. Confirmation/s and invoice/s will be issued by Eventbrite after booking.

There are a limited number of free places for local authorities and government departments. Please contact Deirdre Mahon for further information.

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