compulsory purchase

British  

noun

1. purchase of a house or other property by a local authority or government department for public use or to make way for development, regardless of whether or not the owner wishes to sell

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Example Sentences

The taskforce has recommended new towns are delivered by development corporations, which could have special planning powers to compulsory purchase land, invest in local services, and grant planning permission.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025

South Gloucestershire Council cabinet also approved the use of compulsory purchase orders to secure the necessary land, which had a variety of owners and could not be acquired through negotiation.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2023

"It will ultimately be for the Secretary of State to decide whether a compulsory purchase order can be approved and if the removal of hope value is appropriate."

From BBC • May 30, 2023

"We encourage people affected by compulsory purchase to take professional advice early to support their claims."

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2023

The poor, frightened country-people, therefore, hardly ventured to remonstrate at the mahouts walking off with great loads of their sugar-cane, or to object to the compulsory purchase of their farm produce for half its value.

From Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief by Roberts, Frederick Sleigh