Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (Chapter 67).

This Act provides generally with respect to compulsory purchase procedure in the United Kingdom. In particular the Act deals with the rights of appeal, and the consequent procedures. The Act applies in all compulsory purchase cases. Where an objection to a compulsory purchase order is made by an owner, lessee or occupier and is not withdrawn, then, unless satisfied that the objection is exclusively related to compensation, the confirming authority must use the written representation procedure or arrange for either a public inquiry or a hearing before an inspector appointed by the Minister.
The authorisation of a compulsory purchase shall be conferred by an order (in this Act called a “compulsory purchase order”). A compulsory purchase order authorising a compulsory purchase by an authority other than a Minister shall be made by that authority and submitted to and confirmed by the confirming authority in accordance with Part II of this Act. A compulsory purchase order authorising a compulsory purchase by a Minister shall be made by the Minister in accordance with Schedule 1 to this Act.