Calls to use powers to free up land 'held hostage'

Councillors want compulsory purchase orders to be used to bring forward housing schemes

05:30, 03 Apr 2026

Calls have been made to use powers to force land owners holding sites ‘hostage’ to sell up to build much needed homes in the West Midlands.

Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed the issue of housing and barriers that can prevent schemes being brought forward.

During the debate, committee chair Councillor Andrew Burrow asked housing chiefs if the use of compulsory purchase orders (CPO) had been considered to acquire brownfield land for redevelopment.

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Officers said discussions are being held with Homes England around how such powers might be used to help progress schemes.

Latest figures for the region show more than 65,335 households on social housing waiting lists with 7,450 households, including 14,976 children, currently living in temporary accommodation.

Over the past few years, thousands of homes have been ‘unlocked’ through a number of WMCA funded schemes but more are needed.

Councillor Burrow said: “Has any thought been given to the Combined Authority getting compulsory purchase powers to try and overcome issues, particularly where we’ve got sites held to hostage by particular land owners.

“I know local authorities have got them but some are reluctant to use them particularly if it’s not their own scheme.

“Has consideration been given to that and are we lobbying the government so the combined authority could perhaps get those powers to unlock brownfield sites in particular?”

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Rob Lamond, Head of Strategy & Analysis, said: “We do have compulsory purchase order powers but we’ve never used them for housing purposes. We’ve used them for transport schemes.

“I think there has always been, not a reluctance but a ‘how’s this best done’? and for it to be seen as a democratic way forward.

“Generally speaking, local authorities are a bit keener to lead on CPOs and we’ve looked to support them where possible.

“Homes England have more extensive CPO powers which means they can bring forward a compulsory purchase order without the final scheme being fully agreed.

“They can do it up front rather than having worked up an entire scheme.

“We’ve talked quite extensively with Homes England about how we might look to do that in certain situations where we know there is a large area under a number of different ownerships which would be very difficult to bring forward without at least the threat of CPO.”

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