Question reference: S5W-08476
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 29 March 2017
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 April 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to permit the compulsory purchase of vacant commercial premises in town centres for the purpose of redeveloping them for social housing.
Answer
Local authorities have powers to compulsorily purchase land or property under a number of Acts of Parliament. These include powers under sections nine and ten of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 for, or in connection with, the provision of housing.
We committed in our Programme for Government to support interim measures to modernise compulsory purchase orders in advance of legislation, to ensure vacant and derelict land can be brought back into use in our communities, and are currently developing proposals to deliver on this commitment.