The local housing authority, having declared an area to be a clearance area, may postpone for such period as they may determine the demolition of residential buildings on land purchased by them within the area if, in their opinion, the residential buildings are or can be rendered capable of providing accommodation of a standard which is adequate for the time being.
Where the local housing authority are satisfied that a residential building on land purchased by them within a clearance area which is not retained by them for temporary use for housing purposes—
they may retain the residential building for the time being and are not required to demolish it so long as it is required for that purpose or, as the case may be, so long as those powers are being exercised by the authority in relation to that area.
Where the demolition of any residential buildings in a clearance area is postponed under this section, the local housing authority may also postpone the taking of proceedings under section 290(1) (acquisition of land for clearance) in respect of buildings other than residential buildings within the area.
In this section and section 302 "residential building" has the same meaning as it has in section 289.