AQW 41788/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 04/03/2026
Answered On Date: 13/03/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she has (i) undertaken an assessment of her Department's current vesting scheme; and (ii) any plans to review the scheme.

Answer:

The Local Government Act (NI) 1972 outlines the procedure for the compulsory acquisition of land by all departments and district councils via a vesting order. It establishes the legal framework for serving notices, handling objections and compensation. Functions under the Local Government Act (NI) 1972 were transferred to the Department for Communities by the Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (NI) 2016. As the 1972 Act forms the basis of compulsory acquisition by all departments and public bodies, the Department for Communities would have primary responsibility for any review of the procedures under that Act.

Regarding any review of how compulsory purchase compensation is calculated, the Department of Finance’s Land & Property Services (LPS) provides independent advice to all government departments and other public bodies on the assessment of compensation following the exercise of compulsory purchase powers. Any review of how compulsory purchase compensation is calculated would therefore be a matter for the Department of Finance.