compulsory purchase order
noun [ C ]
UK ukus( abbreviation CPO); ( US eminent domain order) LAW, PROPERTY
a decision made in a court of law giving a government organization, etc. the right to buy private property if it needs the land to build something that will be of use to the public, such as a new road:
After the compulsory purchase order for a road or motorway has been granted, notice of the order is published by the Local Authority.