Part 9: Compulsory Purchase Procedure Section 185: Time limits for implementation Background
Under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 an acquiring authority must give at least three months’ advance notice of the date on which it will take ownership of the land which is the subject of the CPO. At present, once that date is set it cannot be varied.
	This section introduces new section 8A into the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 to allow for the postponement of the date on which the acquiring authority will take ownership of an interest in the land. It also makes consequential amendments to reflect new section 8A.
	The measure will give greater flexibility to the acquiring authority and the owner of an interest in the land should circumstances change after notice has been given.