Kings Chambers barrister secures three CPO confirmations for council at public inquiry

All three involved the compulsory purchase of derelict houses under s.17 of the Housing Act 1985.

The three properties were:

• 29 Beech Crescent: a six-bedroom property which had seemingly been empty since 2004.
• 2 Bull Royd Avenue:  a derelict three-bedroom semi-detached property which the council had been attempting to bring back into use through discussions with the owner since 2004. It had become a focus of anti-social behaviour and since 2017 had been subject to a prohibition order which prevented anyone living at the property.
• 118 Cecil Avenue: a property which was frozen in transition between a semi-detached bungalow and a four-bedroom house. The owner had seemingly run out of funds midway through implementing a planning permission for a two-storey rear extension. The unlawful way the half-finished dwelling had been constructed also meant it was causing water to flow into the neighbouring property leading to a civil award of damages against the owner.

Piers Riley-Smith was instructed by Shereen Sheikh of Bradford MDC.