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Guidance

Acquisition of land by general vesting declaration (PG54)

Advice about applications based on acquisition of land (practice guide 54).

Updates to this page

From:
HM Land Registry
Published:
13 October 2003
Last updated:
27 July 2026
Show all updates

  1. The guide has been amended to reflect how applications should be made using our digital systems.

  2. The guide has been amended to take into account changes made by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and Compulsory Purchase of Land (Vesting Declarations) (England) Regulations 2017 as amended by the Compulsory Purchase of Land (Vesting Declarations) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

  3. The guide has been amended as a result of the Land Registration Fee Order 2021 coming into force.

  4. Section 3.3 has been amended to clarify how you should contact us.

  5. Section 1 has been amended to refer to the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017. Section 38 of this Act relates to the advance payment of compensation.

  6. Section 1 has been amended to provide guidance on the action to be taken following the changes to the compulsory purchase regime by the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

  7. Section 1 has been amended to confirm that an authority’s powers of acquisition may be contained in legislation relating specifically to the development or project in question. Sections 3.1 and 4.2 have been amended to say that unless it is apparent from the documents lodged, HM Land Registry will require confirmation as to which statutory provisions are being relied upon for the acquisition of the land.

  8. The guide has been amended to take into account changes made by Part 7 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and to refer to the Compulsory Purchase of Land (Vesting Declarations) (England) Regulations 2017 and the Compulsory Purchase of Land (Vesting Declarations) (Wales) Regulations 2017.

  9. Link to the advice we offer added.

  10. Section 4 has been expanded to give more information about how Land Registry will deal with applications to cancel register entries relating to third party interests such as easements and restrictive covenants. A new section 5 deals with highway land and stopping-up orders.

  11. Welsh translation added.

  12. First published.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Practice guide 54: acquisition of land by general vesting declaration under the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981

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Details

This guide deals with applications to HM Land Registry based on acquisition of land by means of a general vesting declaration under section 1 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981. It is aimed at conveyancers, public authorities and other relevant public bodies. You should interpret references to ‘you’ accordingly. HM Land Registry staff will also refer to it.

We only provide factual information and impartial advice about our procedures. Read more about the advice we give.

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