Alex Thomson speaking on BBC Radio Kent
Author: Localis |
Localis’ chief executive, Alex Thomson, appeared on the breakfast show of BBC Radio Kent today (04/02/2015).
Alex discussed the case for and against the local council using Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers to appropriate the site of the old cinema in Tonbridge Wells. While the site has changed hands three times, there are no plans to redevelop the site and it has laid derelict for 14 years.
Alex discussed that:
- this is an issue across the UK – 3 other councils have used CPOs on derelict cinemas recently.
- for a CPO to be effective, there needs to be a compelling case that the public interest outweighs the landowner’s.
- CPOs are both expensive and take a lot of time.
- there is potential for the council to create a revenue stream from redeveloping sites such as this, as discussed in our report Public Land, Public Good. This revenue could be used to repay the cost of the CPO.
- given that local government has had to deal with harsh austerity measures, the local council will be apprehensive about spending a lot of money on a CPO.
Listen back to the feature in full here. The feature begins at 1:07:15.