Part 7: Compulsory Purchase Etc Disputes Section 202: Extension of compulsory purchase time limit during challenge
Once a compulsory purchase order becomes operative (see section 26 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981), acquiring authorities have three years to exercise their compulsory purchase powers. Where the validity of an order is challenged under section 23 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, acquiring authorities will usually wait until a final decision has been reached on the challenge, leaving them less time to implement the order.
	Section 202 inserts a new section 4A into the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 and a new section 5B into the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 to extend the time period allowed to implement a compulsory purchase order where an application is made under section 23 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981. The extended period will be for either (a) a period equivalent to the period from the date an application is made under section 23 until it is finally determined or withdrawn or (b) one year, whichever is the shorter period. Where an appeal is brought, an application is not finally determined until the appeal is finally determined or withdrawn.