Commentary on Sections Part 3 — Buildings of special architectural or historic interest Chapter 5 — Acquisition and preservation of buildings of special interest Section 140 — Direction for minimum compensation where building deliberately allowed to fall into disrepairSection 141 — Application for removal of direction for minimum compensation
531.If an acquiring authority considers that a listed building has been deliberately allowed to fall into disrepair for the purpose of justifying its demolition and the development of the site or any adjoining site, under section 140 a compulsory purchase order relating to the building may contain a direction for minimum compensation. The effect of the direction is that the compensation payable for damage or loss caused by the acquisition will be assessed on the basis that planning permission and listed building consent would only be granted for the works which are necessary for the conservation of the building and its maintenance in a proper state of repair, and not for any development of the site. This would prevent any development value of the building/land from being considered as part of the compensation assessment.
532.According to section 210, the definition of “development” that applies to this Act is the definition in section 55 of the 1990 Planning Act. It is broadly framed and includes any building or other operations (including demolition and rebuilding) and any material change in the use of land.
533.Section 141 allows any person with an interest in a listed building in relation to which a direction for minimum compensation has been made to apply to a magistrates’ court for an order for the direction to be removed. The application would be made on the ground that the building had not been deliberately allowed to fall into disrepair for the purpose of justifying its demolition and the development of the site. The application must be made within 28 days after the day of the service of the compulsory acquisition notice. An appeal against the decision of the magistrates’ court can be made to the Crown Court.