An Isle of Wight town council will look into the use of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) as a long-term solution to dereliction and vacant land problems.
Sandown councillors voted to dedicate office resources to researching and exploring the policy at its meeting on Monday (23rd March 2026), with devolution expected to bring enhanced regeneration and land assembly powers.
What compulsory purchase orders can do
CPOs allow public bodies to acquire land compulsorily and when used properly can contribute towards effective and efficient urban and rural regeneration, essential infrastructure, community revitalisation and business promotion, according to the government.
Prior to the vote, Mayor Alex Lightfoot told Sandown Town Council,
“I am seeking approval from council for us to properly get into looking at CPO as a long-term solution to some of our more problematic sites.
“With a view to the fact that with devolution coming and the increased CPO powers from the mayoral authority and potential upcoming changes to planning legislation that may affect the criteria of CPOs, that we start to do some of the legwork in preparation for money being available.”
Councillors back the move
Councillor Ian Boyd, a Sandown North representative, said,
“I think it’s absolutely the right thing to do, it sends an important signal, a statement of intent.
“The role of the mayoral authority is going to be super important, and it’ll be the places that have flagged their intention to take CPOs seriously that will be first in the queue.”
Andre: “This is the one thing that will really make a difference”
Local county and town councillor Debbie Andre said,
“In terms of Sandown, this is the one thing that will really make a difference.
“We’re actively doing something that the community are asking us for.”
A lengthy process with legal requirements
Another Sandown North town councillor, Joan Solomon, said,
“I’m in full agreement, we have to have our foot in the door, but I worked it out as being a four and a half to five-year programme once you get going and you can only do CPO as a last resort…you have to go through county council.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
