Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the legislation on compulsory purchase orders to allow such orders to be used in a cost efficient and timely manner by local authorities proposing housing regeneration schemes in areas with high rates of (a) absentee landlords, (b) poor housing quality and (c) low housing demand.

Local authorities already have extensive compulsory purchase powers, which can be used to help facilitate a range of development and regeneration projects. However, they are intended as a last resort and there should always be a compelling case in the public interest to justify acquiring land and property compulsorily. The Government has recently introduced wide-ranging reforms to make the compulsory purchase process clearer, fairer and faster for all.