Compulsory purchase orders and acquiring authorities: guidance on next steps for confirmed orders

4. Delivery of the CPO project

4.1. It is worth emphasising that the Acquiring Authority remains ultimately responsible for the implementation of the Compulsory Purchase Order and delivery of the underlying project, whether they are using a third party contractor or not.

4.2. The Acquiring Authority should ensure that contractors and other people acting on its behalf follow good practice when dealing with affected landowners. It should ensure that responsibilities are clearly defined in contracts and that contractors carry out any agreed work and repair any damage that they cause before the work is signed off. It should also take steps to resolve any disputes that arise.

4.3. The Acquiring Authority should therefore ensure that it has in place a clear complaints process for any contract work, and provide a clear point of contact or liaison officer for land owners affected by the scheme who can (where necessary) raise issues with the contractor.