Confirmed my thoughts on this. I feel like they’re (DMBC) making public announcements to quell the likely emails and DM’s requesting updates. I feel it would be pretty foolish to pursue this given the judgement earlier in the month that Peel cannot be subjected to Judicial Review. I would suggest that DMBC place themselves in a position to have a Judicial Review carried out into themselves if they were to go down this route.
Have the council commissioned an independent review of the viability of aviation on-site and of the sites future as an airport? I would think this would be the most important starting point if they are intending on diverting funding to this. They talk about how vital the airport is, but don’t seem to have offered any answers as to how the airport can become a sustainable profitable business.
If there is still private sector interest in purchasing the site, then for me this is the only way the airport can be reopened. A CPO is high risk and possibly foolhardy, and there has been no attempt at taking an objective view to this which I feel exposes the Council to murky legal waters.
Careful about who you listen to.
There is no requirement to have tried to buy the land before issuing a CPO. This is quite a useful resource if you really want to know more -
https://assets.publishing.service.go...on_of_land.pdf. Biggest challenge will be showing the funding I suspect.
Undoubtedly there will be a challenge on Market Value. This won't stop it, there is an independent procedure if the parties cannot agree.
Expect some expensive and specialist lawyers to be kept busy...