Developers have criticised government proposals for a major change to the way that the compulsory purchase system works, under which councils will be able to forcibly acquire land at its existing use value.

An amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill tabled by government minister Baroness Scott in the Lords proposes that “in certain cases involving affordable housing, health or education”, ministers will be able to approve Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) without paying the landowner any “hope” value that it might receive a development permission.

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