PRIVATE landowners who have been holding out in negotiations over a vast new retail quarter planned for Hull could face a compulsory purchase order (CPO).
The £440m Quay West development should open in 2012 or 2013 if all goes to plan.
But councillors will be told next week that "a small number of owners are presently refusing to engage in a meaningful way".
The 22-acre site, bounded to the east
by Princes Dock Street, Castle Street to the south and Ferensway to the west, is owned partly by the owners of Princes Quay, Henderson Global Investors, Hull Council and private owners.
A leaked report says every effort is being made to acquire all the private properties by agreement but "a number of owners have been reluctant to engage with Henderson Global Investors' agent".
It recommends councillors consider making a compulsory purchase order to send a "clear message" that CPO powers could be used as a last resort.
It adds: "This option has the advantage of bringing a sense of realism to negotiations in respect of property values and indicate to owners that they could not force the scheme to abort by not selling their property interest."
The 22-acre site includes around 60 retail units and two department stores, leisure facilities, offices, cafes and restaurants in large blocks linked by pedestrian streets, squares and open spaces, bounded to the east by Princes Dock Street, Castle Street to the south and Ferensway to the west.
It is understood that John Lewis has shown no interest in being part of the development despite a number of approaches.
It is estimated it will create more than 2,000 retail and leisure jobs and claw back shoppers currently going out of town to York, Meadowhall and Leeds. The scheme was given outline planning permission last year.
The full article contains 310 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
