Compulsory Purchase And The Crichel Down Rules

When land acquired by compulsory purchase becomes surplus to requirements, the acquiring authority may be obliged to offer it back to the former owner. This issue is governed by the Crichel Down Rules (CDR) which set out who is entitled to have land returned and the process to be followed.

The CDR may be of particular interest to those affected by current roads projects such as the A9 and A96 Duallings, as well as recently completed ones, such as the M74 Completion. This is because all land needed for these projects is acquired on a permanent basis, even where the project need is in fact temporary – for example during the construction period only.

In these circumstances, former landowners or tenants might want to rely on the CDR after the project is completed, or at a later date, to secure the handback of their land.