Local authority powers relating to land

PLA power to acquire land by agreement

A PLA is, for these purposes, a council elected for a non-metropolitan county, a district or a London borough, and in relation to Wales, means a county or county borough.

A PLA may acquire as purchaser or lessee any land or interest in land (easement or right in, to or over land) inside or outside of its area by agreement:

1. •

   for any of its functions under the  Local Government Act 1972 (LGA 1972) or any other enactment, or

2. •

    or for the benefit, improvement or development of its area

This is the case even where the land is not immediately required for the purpose above in which case until it is required for the purposes for which it was acquired, the land may be used for the purposes of any of the council's functions, see: Acquisition by principal councils of land by agreement: Halsbury’s Laws of England (69A) 603.

PLA power to compulsorily acquire land and rights over land