SALE ORDERS

Businesses which block a £200m plan to redevelop Derby's Eagle Centre could be forced to sell to the city council. The council is considering ordering the sale of all the land needed for the work to go ahead. Without the council using this power, Westfield Shoppingtowns, joint owner of the Eagle Centre with MEPC, would have to reach agreement with 274 landowners, leaseholders and others with rights to use the land. Councillor Amar Nath, deputy leader of Derby City Council, said, "This is a quicker, cleaner, more efficient way of getting the development off the ground as soon as possible."

Westfield's development executive Neil Huntington said, "We are ready to invest £200m in this project, which will create 2,800 retail jobs and another 1,700 construction jobs. None of the landlords we are in talks with have refused to sell so far, but we need this order to provide certainty for the development." The council cabinet is expected to vote to make a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on behalf of Westfield. If this happens, businesses will be forced to sell to the council at a price to be decided by an independent valuation expert.

It would be the first time in at least 10 years that the council has used such powers. Westfield's plans were approved by the council in July. The scheme will see the creation of a department store, an 800-seat food court, more than 150 shops and restaurants and a 2,300-space multi-storey car park. This will mean the demolition of the Coliseum shopping centre and Castlefields Main Centre, with the loss of about 35 outlets and two office blocks. Westfield is trying to find alternative premises for all affected businesses and has bought the Victoria Chambers building in London Road for this purpose. It is offering financial compensation where relocation is not possible.

So far, the firm has reached agreement with only one out of six firms and 34 out of 65 leaseholders. The biggest potential stumbling blocks are five premises not yet owned by Westfield, which the developer is in negotiations to buy. These are: Hopewell, the furnishers, and The Baroque public house in London Road; The Shoe Factory Shop in Traffic Street; Bourne Street car park; and the Home Alone furniture store in Osmaston Road. Westfield must also reach agreement with a further 200 firms and individuals with rights of access or delivery.