The Minister may authorise a local authority to whom this section applies to acquire compulsorily any land within their area if he is satisfied—
(a) that the land is required in order to secure the treatment as a whole, by development, redevelopment or improvement, or partly by one and partly by another method, of the land or of any area in which the land is situated; or
(b) that it is expedient in the public interest that the land should be held together with land so required ; or
(c) that the land is required for development or redevelopment, or both, as a whole for the purpose of providing for the relocation of population or industry or the replacement of open space in the course of the redevelopment or improvement, or both, of another area as a whole ; or
(d) that it is expedient to acquire the land immediately for a purpose which it is necessary to achieve in the interests of the proper planning of an area in which the land is situated.
Where under subsection (1) above the Minister has power to authorise a local authority to whom this section applies to acquire any land compulsorily he may, after the requisite consultation, authorise the land to be so acquired by another authority, being a local authority within the meaning of the principal Act.
Before giving an authorisation under subsection (2) above the Minister shall—
(a) where the land is in a county borough, consult with the council of the borough;
(b) where the land is in a county district, consult with the councils of the county and the county district;
(c) where the land is in a London borough, consult with the council of the borough and with the Greater London Council.
The Act of 1946 shall apply to the compulsory acquisition of land under this section and accordingly shall have effect as if this section had been in force immediately before the commencement of that Act.
The local authorities to whom this section applies are the councils of counties, county boroughs, and county districts, the Greater London Council and councils of London boroughs.