Housing and Planning Bill (HL Bill 110)

Housing and Planning BillPage 90

(b) the authority would be required by section 52(1A) to
make the advance payment if it were not for this section,
and

(c) the land is subject to a mortgage the principal of which
5exceeds 90% of the relevant amount.”;

(b) in subsection (9)(c) for “section 52ZA(1)(b)” substitute “section
52ZA(1)(c)”.

(5) In section 52ZC (land subject to mortgage: supplementary provisions)—

(a) after subsection (3) insert—

(3A) 10The acquiring authority must make any payment under section
52ZA or 52ZB within the period of two months beginning with
the latest of the following—

(a) the day on which the authority receive the request under
section 52ZA(3) or 52ZB(3),

(b) 15if, within two months beginning with the day the
authority receive that request the authority require the
claimant to provide further information under
subsection (2), the day on which the authority receive
that information, or

(c) 20the day on which the amount of compensation is agreed
or estimated as mentioned in section 52(3).”;

(b) in subsection (4) omit “(4) and”.

174 Interest on advance payments of compensation

(1) The Land Compensation Act 1973 is amended as follows.

(2) 25In section 52A (right to interest where advance payment made)—

(a) in subsection (2), after the words “payment under section 52(1)” insert
“after the date of entry”;

(b) after subsection (2A) insert—

(2B) In respect of any period in relation to which the acquiring
30authority is required to pay interest under section 52B (interest
on advance payment), the interest payable under subsection (2)
is limited to the interest which accrues on the difference
between the total amount and the paid amount.”

(3) After section 52A insert—

52B 35 Interest on advance payments of compensation paid late

(1) If the acquiring authority are required by section 52(1A) to make an
advance payment of compensation but pay some or all of it late, the
authority must pay interest on the amount which is paid late (“the
unpaid amount”).

(2) 40Interest under subsection (1) accrues on the unpaid amount for the
period beginning with the day after the end of the period mentioned in
section 52(4).

(3) If the amount of the advance payment is greater than the compensation
as finally determined or agreed (“the actual amount”), the claimant
45must repay any interest paid under this section that is attributable to

Housing and Planning BillPage 91

the amount by which the advance payment exceeded the actual
amount.

(4) The Treasury must by regulations specify the rate of interest for the
purposes of subsection (1).

(5) 5Regulations under subsection (4) may contain further provision in
connection with the payment of interest under subsection (1).

(6) Regulations under subsection (4) are to be made by statutory
instrument.

(7) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (4) is
10subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of
Parliament.”

175 Repayment of advance payment where no compulsory purchase

(1) The Land Compensation Act 1973 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 52 (right to advance payment of compensation), after subsection (5)
15insert—

(5A) If the acquiring authority do not take possession of land in respect of
which they have made an advance payment under this section, the
claimant must repay it.”

(3) In section 52ZC (land subject to mortgage: supplementary provisions), after
20subsection (8) insert—

(8A) If the acquiring authority do not take possession of land in respect of
which they have made a payment to a mortgagee under section 52ZA
or 52ZB—

(a) the mortgagee must repay it, and

(b) 25an amount repaid is to be treated for all purposes (including for
the purposes of subsection (7)(a)) as if it had never been paid.”

Disputes

176 Objection to division of land

(1) Schedule 17 contains amendments about objecting to the division of land
30following a notice to treat under section 5 of the Compulsory Purchase Act
1965.

(2) Schedule 18 contains amendments about objecting to the division of land
following a general vesting declaration under section 4 of the Compulsory
Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981.

177 35Power to quash decision to confirm compulsory purchase order

In section 24 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (powers of the court), after
subsection (2) insert—

(3) If the court has power under subsection (2) to quash a compulsory
purchase order it may instead quash the decision to confirm the order
40either generally or in so far as it affects any property of the applicant.”

Housing and Planning BillPage 92

178 Extension of compulsory purchase time limit during challenge

(1) After section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (time limit for giving
notice to treat) insert—

4A Extension of time limit during challenge

(1) 5If an application is made under section 23 of the Acquisition of Land
Act 1981 (application to High Court in respect of compulsory purchase
order), the three year period mentioned in section 4 is to be extended
by—

(a) a period equivalent to the period beginning with the day the
10application is made and ending on the day it is withdrawn or
finally determined, or

(b) if shorter, one year.

(2) An application is not finally determined for the purposes of subsection
(1)(a) if an appeal in respect of the application—

(a) 15could be brought (ignoring any possibility of an appeal out of
time with permission), or

(b) has been made and not withdrawn or finally determined.”

(2) After section 5A of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981
(time limit for general vesting declaration) insert—

5B 20Extension of time limit during challenge

(1) If an application is made under section 23 of the Acquisition of Land
Act 1981 (application to High Court in respect of compulsory purchase
order), the three year period mentioned in section 5A is to be extended
by—

(a) 25a period equivalent to the period beginning with the day the
application is made and ending on the day it is withdrawn or
finally determined, or

(b) if shorter, one year.

(2) An application is not finally determined for the purposes of subsection
30(1)(a) if an appeal in respect of the application—

(a) could be brought (ignoring any possibility of an appeal out of
time with permission), or

(b) has been made and not withdrawn or finally determined.”

Power to override easements and other rights

179 35Power to override easements and other rights

(1) A person may carry out building or maintenance work to which this subsection
applies even if it involves—

(a) interfering with a relevant right or interest, or

(b) breaching a restriction as to the user of land arising by virtue of a
40contract.

(2) Subsection (1) applies to building or maintenance work where—

(a) there is planning consent for the building or maintenance work,

Housing and Planning BillPage 93

(b) the work is carried out on land that has at any time on or after the day
on which this section comes into force—

(i) become vested in or acquired by a specified authority, or

(ii) been appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes as
5defined by section 246(1) of the Town and Country Planning
Act 1990, and

(c) the authority could acquire the land compulsorily for the purposes of
the building or maintenance work.

(3) Subsection (1) also applies to building or maintenance work where—

(a) 10there is planning consent for the building or maintenance work,

(b) the work is carried out on other qualifying land, and

(c) a specified authority could acquire the land compulsorily for the
purposes of the building or maintenance work.

(4) A person may use land in a case to which this subsection applies even if the use
15involves—

(a) interfering with a relevant right or interest, or

(b) breaching a restriction as to the user of land arising by virtue of a
contract.

(5) Subsection (4) applies to the use of land in a case where—

(a) 20there is planning consent for that use of the land,

(b) the land has at any time on or after the day on which this section comes
into force—

(i) become vested in or acquired by a specified authority, or

(ii) been appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes as
25defined by section 246(1) of the Town and Country Planning
Act 1990, and

(c) the authority could acquire the land compulsorily for the purposes of
erecting or constructing any building, or carrying out any works, for
that use.

(6) 30Subsection (4) also applies to the use of land in a case where—

(a) there is planning consent for that use of the land,

(b) the land is other qualifying land, and

(c) a specified authority could acquire the land compulsorily for the
purposes of erecting or constructing any building, or carrying out any
35works, for that use.

(7) Land currently owned by a specified authority is to be treated for the purposes
of subsection (2)(c) or (5)(c) as if it were not currently owned by the authority.

(8) Nothing in this section authorises an interference with—

(a) a right of way on, under or over land that is a protected right, or

(b) 40a right of laying down, erecting, continuing or maintaining apparatus
on, under or over land if it is a protected right.

180 Compensation for overridden easements etc

(1) A person is liable to pay compensation for any interference with a relevant
right or interest or breach of a restriction that is authorised by section 179.

Housing and Planning BillPage 94

(2) The compensation is to be calculated on the same basis as compensation
payable under sections 7 and 10 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965.

(3) Where a person other than a specified authority is liable to pay compensation
under this section but has not paid—

(a) 5the liability is enforceable against the specified authority, but

(b) the authority may recover from that person any amount it pays out.

(4) A person who is entitled to compensation under this section may apply to the
Upper Tribunal for an order requiring the compensation to be paid.

181 Interpretation of sections 179 and 180

(1) 10In sections 179 and 180—

  • “building or maintenance work” means the erection, construction,
    carrying out or maintenance of any building or work;

  • “other qualifying land” means land in England and Wales that has at any
    time before the day on which this section comes into force been—

    (a)

    15acquired by the National Assembly for Wales or the Welsh
    Ministers under section 21A of the Welsh Development Agency
    Act 1975;

    (b)

    vested in or acquired by an urban development corporation or
    a local highway authority for the purposes of Part 16 of the
    20Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;

    (c)

    acquired by a development corporation or a local highway
    authority for the purposes of the New Towns Act 1981;

    (d)

    vested in or acquired by a housing action trust for the purposes
    of Part 3 of the Housing Act 1988;

    (e)

    25acquired or appropriated by a local authority for planning
    purposes as defined by section 246(1) of the Town and Country
    Planning Act 1990;

    (f)

    vested in or acquired by the Homes and Communities Agency,
    apart from land the freehold interest in which was disposed of
    30by the Agency before 12 April 2015;

    (g)

    vested in or acquired by the Greater London Authority for the
    purposes of housing or regeneration, apart from land the
    freehold interest in which was disposed of before 12 April
    2015—

    (i)

    35by the Authority, other than to a company or body
    through which it exercises functions in relation to
    housing or regeneration, or

    (ii)

    by such a company or body;

    (h)

    vested in or acquired by a Mayoral development corporation
    40(established under section 198(2) of the Localism Act 2011),
    apart from land the freehold interest in which was disposed of
    by the corporation before 12 April 2015;

  • “planning consent” means—

    (a)

    permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act
    451990 or section 293A of that Act, or

    (b)

    development consent under the Planning Act 2008;

  • “protected right” means—

    Housing and Planning BillPage 95

    (a)

    a right vested in, or belonging to, a statutory undertaker for the
    purpose of carrying on its statutory undertaking, or

    (b)

    a right conferred by, or in accordance with, the electronic
    communications code on the operator of an electronic
    5communications code network (and expressions used in this
    paragraph have the meaning given by paragraph 1(1) of
    Schedule 17 to the Communications Act 2003);

  • “relevant right or interest” means any easement, liberty, privilege, right or
    advantage annexed to land and adversely affecting other land
    10(including any natural right to support);

  • “specified authority” means—

    (a)

    a Minister of the Crown or the Welsh Ministers or a government
    department,

    (b)

    a local authority as defined by section 7 of the Acquisition of
    15Land Act 1981,

    (c)

    a body established by or under an Act, or

    (d)

    a statutory undertaker;

  • “statutory undertaker” means—

    (a)

    a person who is, or who is deemed to be, a statutory undertaker
    20for the purposes of any provision of Part 11 of the Town and
    Country Planning Act 1990, or

    (b)

    a person in relation to whom the electronic communications
    code is applied by a direction under section 106(3)(a) of the
    Communications Act 2003;

  • 25“statutory undertaking” is to be read in accordance with section 262 of
    that Act (meaning of “statutory undertakers”).

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend the definition of “specified
authority” in subsection (1).

182 Amendments to do with sections 179 and 180

30Schedule 19 gets rid of legislation replaced by sections 179 and 180.

Part 8 Public authority land

183 Engagement with public authorities in relation to proposals to dispose of land

(1) A Minister of the Crown must, in developing proposals for the disposal of the
35Minister’s interest in any land, engage on an ongoing basis with—

(a) each local authority in whose area the land is situated, and

(b) each public authority that is specified, or of a description specified, in
regulations.

(2) A relevant public authority must, in developing proposals for the disposal of
40the authority’s interest in any land, engage on an ongoing basis with other
relevant public authorities.

(3) In subsection (2), “relevant public authority” means a public authority that is
specified, or of a description specified, in regulations.

Housing and Planning BillPage 96

(4) A person who is subject to a duty under subsection (1) or (2) must have regard
to any guidance given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office about how the
duty is to be complied with.

(5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to proposals in respect of land
5that is specified, or of a description specified, in regulations.

(6) Regulations under subsection (3) may not be made so as to require a public
authority to carry out engagement under subsection (2)—

(a) in relation to proposals for the disposal of an interest in land in
Scotland, unless the authority is—

(i) 10a body to which paragraph 3 of Part 3 of Schedule 5 to the
Scotland Act 1998 applies, or

(ii) Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, or

(b) if the authority has functions that are exercisable only in or as regards
Wales and are wholly or mainly functions relating to—

(i) 15a matter in respect of which functions are exercisable by the
Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales or the Counsel
General to the Welsh Government, or

(ii) a matter within the legislative competence of the National
Assembly for Wales.

(7) 20In this section—

  • “interest” means a freehold or leasehold interest;

  • “local authority” means—

    (a)

    a county council,

    (b)

    a county borough council,

    (c)

    25a district council,

    (d)

    a London borough council,

    (e)

    a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local
    Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act
    2009,

    (f)

    30the Common Council of the City of London (in its capacity as a
    local authority),

    (g)

    the Council of the Isles of Scilly, or

    (h)

    the council for a local government area in Scotland;

  • “Minister of the Crown” has the same meaning as in the Ministers of the
    35Crown Act 1975 (see section 8(1) of that Act);

  • “public authority” means a person with functions of a public nature;

  • “regulations” means regulations made by the Minister for the Cabinet
    Office.

184 Duty of public authorities to prepare report of surplus land holdings

(1) 40A relevant public authority must, in respect of each reporting period, prepare
and publish a report containing details of surplus land in England and Wales.

(2) A relevant public authority must, in respect of each reporting period, prepare
and publish a report containing details of surplus land in Scotland.

(3) For the purposes of this section, land is “surplus land” in relation to a relevant
45public authority if—

(a) the authority owns an interest in the land,

Housing and Planning BillPage 97

(b) the authority has determined that the land is surplus to its
requirements, and

(c) the authority first determined that the land was surplus to its
requirements—

(i) 5in the case of land used wholly or mainly for residential
purposes, at any time before the beginning of the period of 6
months ending with the last day of the reporting period, and

(ii) in the case of other land, at any time before the beginning of the
period of two years ending with that day.

(4) 10In this section, “relevant public authority” means—

(a) a Minister of the Crown (within the meaning of the Ministers of the
Crown Act 1975), or

(b) a public authority that is specified, or of a description specified, in
regulations.

(5) 15In determining whether land is surplus to its requirements, and in carrying out
its other functions under this section, a relevant public authority must have
regard to guidance given by the Secretary of State.

(6) A report prepared by a relevant public authority must explain why the
authority has not disposed of surplus land.

(7) 20Regulations may provide that the definition of “surplus land” in subsection (3)
applies in relation to public authorities that are specified, or of a description
specified, in the regulations as if subsection (3)(c) were omitted.

(8) Regulations may provide that the duty under subsection (1) or (2) does not
apply in respect of specified land or descriptions of land.

(9) 25Regulations may make further provision about reports under this section,
including—

(a) provision about their form and timing,

(b) provision specifying information to be included in reports, and

(c) provision about their publication.

(10) 30Regulations may not specify a public authority for the purposes of subsection
(1) if the authority has functions—

(a) that are exercisable only in or as regards Wales, and

(b) that are wholly or mainly functions relating to—

(i) a matter in respect of which functions are exercisable by the
35Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales or the Counsel
General to the Welsh Government, or

(ii) a matter within the legislative competence of the National
Assembly for Wales.

(11) Regulations may not specify a public authority for the purposes of subsection
40(2) unless it is—

(a) a body to which paragraph 3 of Part 3 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act
1998 applies, or

(b) Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

(12) In this section—

  • 45“interest” means a freehold or leasehold interest;

  • “public authority” means a person with functions of a public nature;

  • Housing and Planning BillPage 98

  • “regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State;

  • “reporting period” means the period (not exceeding 12 months) specified
    by or determined in accordance with regulations.

185 Power to direct bodies to dispose of land

(1) 5Section 98 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (disposal of
land at direction of Secretary of State) is amended as follows.

(2) Before subsection (1) insert—

(A1) Where a body to which this Part applies is a relevant public authority,
the Secretary of State may in specified circumstances direct the body to
10take steps for the disposal of the body’s freehold or leasehold interest
in any land or any lesser interest in the land.

(B1) In subsection (A1)—

(a) “relevant public authority” has the same meaning as in section
184 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016;

(b) 15“specified” means specified by the Secretary of State in
regulations made by statutory instrument;

(c) the reference to steps for the disposal of an interest in land is a
reference to steps which it is necessary to take to dispose of the
interest and which it is in the body’s power to take.”

(3) 20After subsection (9) insert—

(10) A statutory instrument containing regulations made by virtue of
subsection (A1) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of
either House of Parliament.”

186 Reports on improving efficiency and sustainability of buildings owned by
25local authorities

(1) Each authority listed in Schedule 20 must prepare, in respect of each year
(beginning with 2017), a report containing a buildings efficiency and
sustainability assessment.

(2) A “buildings efficiency and sustainability assessment” is an assessment of the
30progress made by the authority, in the year to which the report relates, towards
improving the efficiency and contribution to sustainability of buildings that are
part of the authority’s estate.

(3) A report must, in particular, include an assessment of the progress made by the
authority, in the year to which the report relates, towards—

(a) 35reducing the size of the authority’s estate, and

(b) ensuring that buildings that become part of the authority’s estate fall
within the top quartile of energy performance.

(4) If a building that does not fall within the top quartile of energy performance
becomes part of the authority’s estate in the year to which the report relates,
40the report must explain why the building has nevertheless become part of the
authority’s estate.

(5) A report under this section must be published not later than 1 June in the year
following the year to which it relates.

Housing and Planning BillPage 99

(6) In carrying out its functions under this section, an authority must have regard
to guidance given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

(7) For the purposes of this section, a building is part of an authority’s estate if—

(a) the building is situated in the authority’s area, and

(b) 5the authority has a freehold or leasehold interest in the building.

(8) The Minister for the Cabinet Office may by regulations provide for buildings
of a specified description to be treated as being, or as not being, part of an
authority’s estate for the purposes of this section.

(9) In this section, “building” means a building that uses energy for heating or
10cooling the whole or any part of its interior.

187 Reports on improving efficiency and sustainability of buildings in military
estate

(1) Section 86 of the Climate Change Act 2008 (report on the civil estate) is
amended as follows.

(2) 15In subsection (1)—

(a) the text from “buildings” to the end becomes paragraph (a), and

(b) after that paragraph insert , and

(b) buildings that are part of the military estate.”

(3) In subsection (2)—

(a) 20in paragraph (a), after “estate” insert “and the military estate”, and

(b) in paragraph (b), after “estate” insert “or the military estate”.

(4) In subsection (3)—

(a) after “estate”, in the first place it occurs, insert “or the military estate”,
and

(b) 25for “civil estate”, in the second place it occurs, insert “the estate in
question”.

(5) After subsection (7) insert—

(7A) For the purposes of this section, a building is part of the military estate
if—

(a) 30it is not part of the civil estate,

(b) the Secretary of State has a freehold or leasehold interest in the
building, and

(c) it is used by or for the purposes of Her Majesty’s armed forces.

(7B) The Minister for the Cabinet Office may by order provide for buildings
35of a specified description to be treated as being, or as not being, part of
the military estate for the purposes of this section.”

(6) In subsection (8), for “Any such order” substitute “An order under subsection
(7) or (7B)”.

(7) In the heading, after “estate” insert “and the military estate”.