Norfolk County Council’s £4.4m revamp of Heartsease roundabout in Norwich was at risk of being delayed due to land ownership issues. The council has now begun the process of becoming the registered owners of the land and is progressing with a compulsory purchase order. Owen Sennitt reported
The £4.4 million renovation of Heartsease roundabout faced a potential delay when it was discovered that Norfolk County Council did not have ownership of two pieces of land necessary for the project. The council has identified Greene King, the owner of two plots adjacent to the Heartsease pub, but is now seeking to claim another section of land outside the former Lloyd’s bank site, as it is unregistered and has no known legal owner.
The council has initiated a legal process to become the registered owners of the land and is also progressing a compulsory purchase order to acquire the two plots owned by Greene King, although the amount to be paid has not been disclosed.
Graham Plant, the cabinet member for highways, infrastructure, and transport, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the land purchasing process for the Heartsease roundabout project. He stated that since the plots in question were not registered to any known party, the council can proceed with the compulsory purchase order and does not expect any construction delays in those areas.
It is worth noting that over 85% of land in England and Wales has a registered owner. However, if a piece of land is found to be unregistered with the HM Land Registry, anyone can apply to take possession of it. However, if someone comes forward within 12 years and provides valid evidence of ownership, they can reclaim the land.
Norfolk County Council has faced criticism for its handling of the Heartsease roundabout renovation, with local councillors referring to it as a “fiasco” due to the uncertainty surrounding land ownership. Additionally, businesses in the area have experienced a significant decline in footfall and trade, and have called for compensation.
Overall, the council is working towards resolving the land ownership issue and ensuring that the renovation of Heartsease roundabout can proceed without further delays..