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Cabinet agreed to the Compulsory Purchase of Willow View, The
Chase, March on 18th March 2024.

Decision - To approve to progress for a Compulsory Purchase Order
utilising the Town & Country Planning Act powers for a
long-term empty property in March - Fenland District
Council
 
This decision notice now
confirms that the Council would like to proceed with General
Vesting Date and then take the necessary action to dispose of the
property in the following way.
Option 1 - Acquire and sell as is:
·        
Minimise the period of Liability for Council
Tax
·        
Mitigate the financial risk of refurbishment
costs
·        
FDC can control the risk on sale price by
determining the reserve if sold at auction.
·        
The sale at Auction to include an obligation upon
the purchaser to commence/complete works within a specified
timescale to ensure the site is bought back into use as per the
intentions of the CPO. This may be difficult to contractually
achieve without it devaluing the sale, however the intention will
be to try and have some effectual obligation upon the purchaser to
this end.
·        
It is proposed to undertake clearance works to the
plot, remove the garage and general waste, maybe to the sum of
£10,000. This could have a beneficial effect upon the
eventual sale price
The
S215 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 notice came into effect on
21 May 2024 and no appeal has been lodged. Therefore, the S215
could be implemented by completing works in default to clear the
site (excluding the garage) with a charge placed on the property
which could be recouped from compensation if
and when this is paid. The use of the S215 notice has been
confirmed by the Planning Committee.
 
Decision
 
To:
·        
Conclude the CPO through to a General Vesting
Date,
·        
Undertake clearance works to the plot, remove the
garage and general waste
·        
Sell at Auction with a suitable reserve (agreed with
the Portfolio Holder for Assets and the Leader)
·        
Subject to legal check, attempt to effect sale
clauses to ensure the site is brought back into habitable use
within a reasonable set period of
time.
 
Legal
and Procurement Implications
 
As set out above.
 
Financial Implications
 
Forecast £38,000 loss.
That loss includes costs relating to enforcement over a 10-year
period. This is also on the basis that a legal certified claim for
the CPO valuation is made within a 6-year period.