Don't all regeneration projects for areas face these same issues? Some residents don't want to be regenerated and, shithole or not, it's home and they like it just the way it is.
Do governments, national and local, have a wider responsibility to force these projects through in the face of opposition for the wider benefit and for those coming along in the future? Eggs/Ommlettes. I don't think anyone in power is going to be worried about pissing off the local MP
When can and cant you use CPOs?
Everywhere has, or should have, a ‘signed off’ Area Plan, basically a master plan for a geographical area. If a development aligns with that master plan then outline planning permission - in principle - would be granted.
Unless I’ve missed it, there isn’t an Area Plan for the Aston area so any planning application will be judged against national planning policy. I suspect this would be more onerous because any aspect of policy can be used to derail the application, whereas an Area Plan agrees the basic parameters and objectives.
On thge flip-side, Villa might be reluctant to formally reveal their hand by via an Area Plan, and negatively impact negotiations with landlords/businesses etc.