Hanover Court and Princess Court Compulsory Purchase Update – What It Means for Leaseholders
If you own a flat at Hanover Court or Princess Court in Cambridge, you may already know that the redevelopment of the estate is moving forward. Following the making of the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), planning permission has now been approved for the scheme.
For many leaseholders, this raises an important question:
"What happens next, and what does it mean for me?"
The good news is that even though planning permission has been granted, you still have important rights. If your property is going to be acquired through compulsory purchase, you should not feel pressured into accepting the first offer made by the Council.
What Is Happening?
Cambridge City Council is proposing to demolish the existing Hanover Court and Princess Court buildings and replace them with new homes as part of a major regeneration project.
Planning permission has now been approved, meaning the Council can move forward with the development once all legal processes have been completed.
However, planning permission is not the same as compulsory purchase. The Council must still complete the compulsory purchase process before it can acquire any remaining privately owned properties.
I Own My Flat – What Are My Rights?
If you are a leaseholder, you are entitled to be paid fair compensation for your property. This is not simply whatever the Council offers.
The amount you receive should reflect what your property is worth under the compulsory purchase rules, together with any additional compensation you may be entitled to claim.
Depending on your circumstances, this could include:
The market value of your property.
Home Loss Payment.
Reasonable legal fees.
Surveyor's fees.
Removal costs.
Other disturbance payments where applicable.
Every case is different, which is why independent advice is so important.
Should I Accept the First Offer?
Many people assume they must accept the first valuation they receive from the acquiring authority.
In reality, the first offer is often the starting point for negotiations.
Having your own Chartered Surveyor review the valuation ensures that:
your property has been valued correctly;
all available compensation has been considered;
nothing has been overlooked; and
you have someone negotiating on your behalf.
In many cases, owners achieve a better outcome after obtaining independent professional advice.
Will I Have to Pay Surveyor's Fees?
One of the biggest concerns we hear is:
"Can I afford to appoint my own surveyor?"
In most compulsory purchase cases, the acquiring authority will pay the reasonable professional fees of your surveyor.
That means you can usually obtain independent valuation advice without having to fund those costs yourself.
How Can Olden Property Help?
At Olden Property, we specialise in acting only for property owners affected by compulsory purchase.
We do not act for acquiring authorities.
We can:
Explain the compulsory purchase process in plain English.
Assess whether the Council's offer is fair.
Prepare an independent valuation of your property.
Negotiate directly with the Council's surveyors.
Advise on Home Loss Payments, disturbance compensation and other claims.
Guide you through the process from start to finish.
Our aim is simple: to make sure you receive the full compensation you are entitled to and to take as much of the stress out of the process as possible.
Need Advice? If your property at Hanover Court or Princess Court is affected by the compulsory purchase scheme, it is worth obtaining independent advice before agreeing any compensation.
An early conversation can help you understand your rights, avoid common pitfalls and ensure you are properly represented throughout the process.
If you would like to discuss your situation, please get in touch with Olden Property. We're happy to have an initial conversation and explain how the compulsory purchase process works and how we can help.