Enfield Borough Council has approved an order to buy properties on an estate even if agreements with owners cannot be reached.

Members of Enfield Council's cabinet agreed tonight to approve the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for properties on the Alma Estate in Ponders End.

This means that if a negotiated settlement cannot be reached with those who are unwilling to relinquish their property, the council will still be able to buy those properties.

Councillor Ahmet Oykener, Enfield’s cabinet member for housing, said that the order would only ever be used as “a last resort” and was confident that such measures would not be necessary.