Public may get to claim council land

Under new plans to encourage community regeneration, members of the public will be able to develop vacant plots owned by public bodies or councils.

 

The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that the "right to regenerate" scheme would make it easier to challenge public sector bodies to release land and properties for redevelopment.

 

Mr Jenrick has launched a consultation on the proposals, and said public sector owners of underused publicly owned land and unused social housing and garages could be required to sell "by default" to individuals, community groups and private companies, unless they could show a "compelling" reason for retaining it.

 

Speaking to a national broadsheet newspaper a housing source said: "You can't just build on anything you want. But if you see a building on the high street, you can inquire to the council about who owns that land and if it's publicly owned you can then make the challenge". By return the Council would have to demonstrate plans for using that building.

 

The source said, "If it's just sitting around with no plan, it's just on the books and nothing happening then you could intervene and require them to sell."

 

Mr Jenrick stated: "Right to regenerate is the simple way to turn public land into public good, with land sold by default, unless there is a very compelling reason not to do so. We are cutting through red tape so that communities can make better use of available land and derelict buildings, which means more new homes, businesses and community assets."

 

Comment was made that the new proposals would provide an opportunity for the public and local communities to redevelop local eyesores and to transform unused land or buildings into amenities for their area.

 

The consultation on the scheme closes on March 13th.

 

Collings Solicitors

Altrincham