Compulsory Purchase and Compensation

Publisher: Estates Gazette Books

Author: Barry Denyer-Green

Price: £39.99

Edition: 9th Edition (November 2009)

ISBN: 978-0-7282-0574-1

Buy from Estates Gazette Books: Click Here

For both surveyors and lawyers, compulsory purchase is often misunderstood.  Indeed, some leading decisions often given conflicting judgments.  This problem has not been helped by the lack of coherent legislative development and the Law Commission has called for a drastic overhaul and consolidation of the legislation.  It is therefore more important than ever to have a coherent and accessible guide to the law.  Fortunately, this is exactly what Barry Denyer-Green's Compulsory Purchase and Compensation provides.

Written by an experienced compulsory purchase barrister and former surveyor, Compulsory Purchase and Compensation is written primarily with the student or surveyor in mind.  It does not, therefore, delve into the law in any great detail but instead provides a clear and engaging account of the law.  This problem (for more experienced lawyers and surveyors) could, however, be overcome by the inclusion of footnotes.  The text also explains a number of important cases in a similarly clear way.  For example, when discussing ransom values in compensation claims, Compulsory Purchase and Compensation looks at the important decision in Stokes v Cambridge Corporation (1962) 13 P & CR 77.

Compulsory Purchase and Compensation has an impressive aim: to cover compulsory purchase law from making the order to determining compensation.  To my mind, it strikes an excellent balance by providing just enough detail whilst, at the same time, setting out the important points to note.  It has been thoroughly updated since the last edition to include the case-law developments (including Spirerose and Urban Edge).  My only real criticism is the lack of footnotes: if they were included, with a fuller consideration of the law, it would be an excellent starting point for those wishing to delve deeper into this fascinating area of law.

Compulsory Purchase and Compensation remains a fantastic introductory text to this complex area of law: readers should, however, remember it is exactly an introduction.  It clearly explains the key issues and principles allowing the reader to quickly understand the law.  Those readers who, however, are looking for a more detailed and comprehensive consideration of the law should look at the considerably more bulky (and expensive!) texts and looseleafs.  Its price and quality does, however, mean it should (at the very least) be part of any practitioner's library.

Reviewed on 26 January 2010

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