Councils will be ‘empowered to buy cheaper land' through the use of compulsory purchase orders under proposals detailed by the Government today.

Under the proposed changes, which are being consulted on, councils, mayoral combined authorities and other public bodies including Homes England will be able to pay a ‘fair price' to owners for ‘vacant and derelict land' if it is to be used ‘in the public interest' to 'speed up housebuilding and infrastructure'.