Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972

10 Grants and loans for preservation or enhancement of character or appearance of conservation areas

(1) If the Secretary of State is of opinion that any area designated as a conservation area under section 277 of the Act of 1971 or, in Scotland, section 1 of the [1967 c. 69.] Civic Amenities Act 1967 is an area of outstanding architectural or historic interest, he may out of moneys provided by Parliament make grants or loans for the purpose of defraying in whole or in part any expenditure incurred or to be incurred in or in connection with, or with a view to the promotion of, the preservation or enhancement of the character or appearance of the area or any part thereof.

(2) A grant or loan under this section may be made subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may think fit to impose.

(3) Any loan under this section shall be made on such terms as to repayment, payment of interest and otherwise as the Secretary of State may with the approval of the Treasury determine ; and all sums received by the Secretary of State by way of interest on, or repayment of, such a loan shall be paid by him into the Consolidated Fund.

(4) Before making any grant or loan under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult, both as to its making and as to the conditions subject to which it should be made, with the appropriate Council, that is to say, according as the conservation area in question is in England, Scotland or Wales (including Monmouthshire), the Historic Buildings Council for England, the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, or the Historic Buildings Council for Wales:

Provided that this subsection shall not apply in a case where the making of a grant or loan appears to the Secretary of State to be a matter of immediate urgency.

(5) The Secretary of State may out of moneys provided by Parliament pay to any member of any of the Councils referred to in subsection (4) above by whom services are rendered in connection with any question as to the exercise of his powers under this section such remuneration and allowances as the Secretary of State may with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service determine:

Provided that, in the case of any such member who is also a member of the House of Commons, the payments which the Secretary of State may make under this subsection shall extend only to allowances in respect of travelling and subsistence expenses, and any other expenses necessarily incurred by that member in connection with the rendering of the services in question.