Compulsory purchase is the power to purchase or take rights over an estate in English land law, or to buy that estate outright, without the current owner's consent, in exchange for payment of compensation. In England and Wales, Parliament has granted several different kinds of compulsory purchase power, which are exercisable by various bodies in various situations. Such powers are meant to be used "for the public benefit". This expression is interpreted broadly but is subject to the test of overriding or compelling public interest.
Although land may be acquired by consent, or by conduct which raises another party's reasonable expectations, these private methods of acquiring land are often insufficient for adequate public regulation.[1] Building national infrastructure, such as railways, housing, and sewerage, typically needs compulsory purchase, typically because (i) private owners might not give up land required for public works except at an extortionate price (ii) private owners may unduly delay sale of land (and thereby delay the meeting of the public need for a project) (iii) the owner of land cannot be found (iv) the number of ownerships makes voluntary aquisition within a reasonable period unrealsistic.
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