Bond Dickinson partner to chair Compulsory Purchase Association

The CPA is a national organisation representing solicitors, barristers, surveyors, land referencers, planners and forensic accountants specialising in land assembly and compulsory purchase orders set up to promote best practice skills for all those who work in the sector.

Created in the early 2000s, the Association has about 650 members across the UK, including affiliate bodies in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Guyatt has been a committee member for five years. He has been heavily involved in consultation with Government departments, including on the compulsory purchase provisions of the Housing and Planning Bill, which was published this month.

Commenting on his appointment, Richard Guyatt, said: “The Association plays a key role in promoting reform to the CPO system. With proposed primary legislation published as a bill within 24 hours of becoming chairman, my tenure has been very busy already and I have several regional meetings and Government consultations planned for the rest of 2015.

“During my term I hope to stimulate further change to the existing CPO system with a focus on strengthening our links with Westminster as well as continuing to encourage greater training opportunities for junior members of the association. I am keen also to learn from our international links, to see how we can better promote the process as a positive tool for change, whilst recognising and minimising the stress and disruption the process can cause.”

See also: The CPO Circular - David Altaras and Marc Samuels of 4- Gray’s Inn Square review the Department for Communities and Local Government’s new circular on compulsory purchase and the Crichel Down Rules.