The government, local authority or utility company has the legal right to buy or take rights over owner and occupier of private property if it falls within a public or private construction project such as:

• airport expansions
• housing developments
• electricity pylons and cables flood defence works
• sewer, water or gas pipe schemes
• rail or road building project

Different compulsory purchase or statutory powers are needed to implement the above schemes. For example, water pipes are laid under statutory rights under the Water Industry Act 1991 and a road bypass will have its own compulsory purchase order through the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.

In all cases, the owners and occupiers of the properties to be acquired or affected by the scheme will be served Notices, with differing expiry times. All the schemes provide compensation to owners and occupiers directly affected by the scheme.