Section 181 — Housing and Planning Act 2016: Confirmation by inspector

Confirmation by inspector 181 1 The Acquisition of Land Act 1981 is amended as follows.

2 After section 14C (inserted by section 180 of this Act), insert— Power to appoint inspector 14D 1 A confirming authority may appoint a person (“an inspector”) to act instead of it in relation to the confirmation of a compulsory purchase order to which section 13A applies.

2 An inspector may be appointed to act in relation to—

a a specific compulsory purchase order, or b a description of compulsory purchase orders.

3 An inspector—

a has the same functions as a confirming authority under this Part (excluding this section),

b retains those functions even if all remaining objections are withdrawn after the inspector has begun to act in relation to a compulsory purchase order, and c may hold a public local inquiry under section 13A(3)(a) or act as the person appointed to hear remaining objections under section 13A(3)(b).

4 Where an inspector is to act in relation to a compulsory purchase order, the confirming authority must inform—

a every person who has made a remaining objection, and b the acquiring authority.

5 Where an inspector decides whether or not to confirm the whole or part of a compulsory purchase order, the inspector's decision is to be treated as that of the confirming authority.

6 The confirming authority may at any time—

a revoke its appointment of an inspector, and b appoint another inspector.

7 If the confirming authority revokes its appointment of an inspector while the inspector is acting in relation to a compulsory purchase order and does not replace the inspector, the authority must give its reasons—

a to the inspector whose appointment has been revoked, and b to all those informed under subsection (4).

8 Where in any enactment there is a provision that applies in relation to a confirming authority acting under this Part, that provision is to be read as applying equally in relation to an inspector so far as the context permits.

9 In this section “ remaining objection ” is to be construed in accordance with section 13A.

3 In section 2 (procedure for authorisation), for subsection (2) substitute— 2 A compulsory purchase order authorising a compulsory purchase by an authority other than a Minister is to be—

a made by that authority, b submitted to the confirming authority, and c confirmed in accordance with Part 2 of this Act.