How to Object to a Compulsory Purchase Order – Strategy, Grounds and Evidence That Matter
When a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is proposed, affected landowners and occupiers often assume the process is automatic and unavoidable. In reality, there is a formal and structured right to object, and well-prepared objections can influence outcomes, scope, compensation, and on occasion whether the scheme proceeds at all.
This article focuses on how objections work in practice, what decision-makers actually consider, and how professional evidence can materially strengthen your position.
Understanding What You Are Objecting To
A CPO is not a single decision but a process, usually promoted by a public authority or statutory undertaker to assemble land needed for a scheme said to be in the public interest.
Objections are not about whether you “like” the scheme. They must be directed at whether the legal tests for compulsory purchase have been met, including:
Is the scheme genuinely in the public interest?
Is there a compelling case for the acquisition of your land?
Has the acquiring authority demonstrated necessity, proportionality and deliverability?
The confirming authority-often the Secretary of State, advised by the Planning Inspectorate -must be satisfied on these points before a CPO can be confirmed.
Who Can Object to a CPO?
You may submit an objection if you are:
A freehold or leasehold owner
A business tenant or occupier
A party with private rights (easements, access, restrictive covenants)
In some cases, a mortgagee or long-term interest holder
Importantly, you do not need to object alone. Coordinated objections supported by valuation, planning, or technical evidence often carry greater weight.
Common Grounds of Objection That Carry Weight
Not all objections are equal. The most effective objections tend to fall into the following categories:
1. The Land Is Not Required
If your land is not strictly necessary for the scheme perhaps it is included for convenience, safeguarding or flexibility this can be a strong ground of objection.
Authorities must justify why each parcel of land is needed, not simply why the scheme as a whole is desirable.
2. The Scheme Is Not Deliverable
A CPO should not be confirmed unless there is a reasonable prospect of implementation. Objections often succeed where:
Funding is uncertain or conditional
Key consents have not been secured
The scheme timetable is unrealistic
Evidence showing delivery risk can undermine the “compelling case” required for confirmation.
3. The Impact Is Disproportionate
Even where a scheme has merit, the extent of land-take or interference with rights must be proportionate.
Examples include:
Excessive permanent acquisition where temporary rights would suffice
Failure to mitigate impacts on access, servicing, or business operations
Inclusion of land that could be avoided by reasonable design changes
4. Inadequate Consideration of Alternatives
Promoters must demonstrate that reasonable alternatives have been properly considered.
This may include:
Alternative alignments or layouts
Partial acquisition rather than full take
Retention of access or operational land
A well-reasoned objection can expose weaknesses in the promoter’s site selection or option testing.
The Objection Process Explained
The process typically follows these stages:
CPO is made and published
Statutory objection period opens (often 21–42 days)
Objections are submitted in writing
If objections remain outstanding, a public inquiry or hearing may be held
The Inspector reports to the confirming authority
The CPO is confirmed, modified, or rejected
Once confirmed, options narrow significantly. Early, properly framed objections are critical.
Why Evidence Matters More Than Emotion
Decision-makers place limited weight on personal hardship alone. What matters is evidence:
Valuation evidence showing excessive land-take
Planning evidence questioning deliverability
Operational evidence showing business disruption
Technical evidence on access, servicing, or design
This is where specialist professional input can materially shift the balance.
How Olden Property Can Help
At Olden Property, we regularly advise owners and occupiers affected by CPOs across infrastructure, regeneration and transport schemes.
Our role includes:
Reviewing CPO plans and land schedules
Advising on whether there are defensible grounds of objection
Preparing valuation and land-use evidence to support objections
Working alongside solicitors and planning advisers during inquiries
Positioning cases strategically for negotiation, even where schemes proceed
In many cases, the objective is not simply to stop a scheme, but to protect value, reduce impact, and strengthen compensation outcomes.
Objecting to a Compulsory Purchase Order is not about resisting change for its own sake. It is about ensuring that compulsory powers are exercised lawfully, proportionately, and only where truly justified.
If your land or business is affected, taking early professional advice can be the difference between reacting to a confirmed order and actively shaping the outcome.