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Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845
Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 (8 & 9 Vict. c. 18) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that standardised provisions and definitions relating to the purchase of land by the government in England and Wales and Ireland.[1]
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The act was passed to standardise how the government acquires private land for public projects and to ensure fair compensation for property owners.[2]
The Land Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845 (8 & 9 Vict. c. 19) made similar provisions for Scotland.
As of 2025[update], the act remains in force in the United Kingdom.
Subsequent developments
The act was amended by the Lands Clauses Consolidation Acts Amendment Act 1860 (23 & 24 Vict. c. 106), which allowed the Secretary of State for Defence to compulsory purchase land sought under the Defence Act 1842 (5 & 6 Vict. c. 94).
The act was further amended by the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1869 (32 & 33 Vict. c. 18), the Lands Clauses (Umpire) Act 1883 (46 & 47 Vict. c. 15) and the Lands Clauses (Taxation of Costs) Act 1895 (58 & 59 Vict. c. 11).[2]
Criticism
The Committee on Acquisition of Land Committee (1917–1919) chaired by Lord Justice Scott gave the following opinion on the act:[3]
We are of opinion that the Lands Clauses Acts are out of date, and fail to give effect to the requirements of the community of today, and therefore that they should be repealed and replaced by a fresh code.[4]