Case No. UKUT-0269-(LC)

1.This is a decision to determine the compensation payable by Northumberland County Council (“the Council”) to Mustafa Behic, Mermer Ltd and Orhan Behic (“the claimants”) following the compulsory acquisition of land and premises at 4 & 4A Station Road, Blyth, Northumberland (“the reference land”) pursuant to The Northumberland County Council (Blyth Town Centre) Compulsory Purchase Order 2010 (“the CPO”).2.The compulsory acquisition was due to the reference land (Plots 23 & 24) and many other sites being required principally in connection with the provision of a new 65,000 sq ft Morrison’s foodstore and car park at Regent Street, Blyth, to replace an earlier and much smaller 1970’s built first-generation supermarket that formerly traded as Presto. Most of the required sites have been acquired by agreement, and it is understood that this reference is the only one under this CPO to proceed before the Upper Tribunal. 3.The claimants did not appear at the hearing and were not represented. Mr Martin Carter of counsel appeared for the acquiring authority and called Ms Elizabeth McLoughlin BSc (Hons) MRICS of Sanderson Weatherall, Newcastle upon Tyne, who provided a comprehensive statement setting out the background to the scheme and the acquisition of the reference land, and gave expert evidence relating to the value of the land and the extinguishment of the claimants’ businesses.