Town and Country Planning Act 1971

51 Orders requiring discontinuance of use or alteration or removal of buildings or works

(1) If it appears to a local planning authority that it is expedient in the interests of the proper planning of their area (including the interests of amenity), regard being had to the development plan and to any other material considerations—

(a) that any use of land should be discontinued, or that any conditions should be imposed on the continuance of a use of land; or

(b) that any buildings or works should be altered or removed,

the local planning authority may by order require the discontinuance of that use, or impose such conditions as may be specified in the order on the continuance thereof, or require such steps as may be so specified to be taken for the alteration or removal of the buildings or works, as the case may be.

(2) An order under this section may grant planning permission for any development of the land to which the order relates, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order; and the provisions of section 45 of this Act shall apply in relation to any planning permission granted by an order under this section as they apply in relation to planning permission granted by the local planning authority on an application made under this Part of this Act.

(3) The power conferred by subsection (2) of this section shall include power, by an order under this section, to grant planning permission, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order—

(a) for the retention, on the land to which the order relates, of buildings or works constructed or carried out before the date on which the order was submitted to the Secretary of State ; or

(b) for the continuance of a use of that land instituted before that date;

and subsection (3) of section 32 of this Act shall apply to planning permission granted by virtue of this subsection as it applies to planning permission granted in accordance with subsection (2) of that section.

(4) An order under this section shall not take effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State, either without modification or subject to such modifications as he considers expedient.

(5) The power of the Secretary of State under this section to confirm an order subject to modifications shall include power—

(a) to modify any provision of the order granting planning permission, as mentioned in subsection (2) or subsection (3) of this section ;

(b) to include in the order any grant of planning permission which might have been included in the order as submitted to the Secretary of State.

(6) Where a local planning authority submit an order to the Secretary of State for his confirmation under this section, that authority shall serve notice on the owner and oh the occupier of the land affected, and on any other person who in their opinion will be affected by the order; and if within the period specified in that behalf in the notice (not being less than twenty-eight days from the service thereof) any person on whom the notice is served so requires, the Secretary of State, before confirming the order, shall afford to that person and to the local planning authority an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(7) Where an order under this section has been confirmed by the Secretary of State, the local planning authority shall serve a copy of the order on the owner and occupier of the land to which the order relates.

(8) Where the requirements of an order under this section will involve the displacement of persons residing in any premises, it shall be the duty of the local planning authority, in so far as there is no other residential accommodation suitable to the reasonable requirements of those persons available on reasonable terms, to secure the provision of such accommodation in advance of the displacement.

(9) In the case of planning permission granted by an order under this section, the authority referred to in sections 41 (1)(b) and 42(4) of this Act is the local planning authority making the order or, where the Secretary of State in confirming the order exercises his powers under subsection (5) of this section, the Secretary of State.