24SFor section 179 (which makes provision as regards applications for planning permission being referred to a regional planning authority instead of being dealt with by a district planning authority) there shall be substituted the following section—
“179 Reference of applications to regional planning authority.
(1)A regional planning authority may, in the circumstances specified in subsection (2) below but subject to any regulations made under subsection (7) below, or to any such development order as is referred to in the said subsection (7), give to any district planning autliority within the district of the regional planning authority directions requiring any such application as is mentioned in section 23(2) of the Act of 1972 to be referred to them instead of being dealt with by the district planning authority.
(2)The circumstances referred to in subsection (1) above are both that the application concemed is not subject to a direction given by the Secretary of State under section 32 of the Act of 1972 and that—
(a)the proposed development does not conform to a structure plan approved by the Secretary of State ; or
(b)the proposed development raises a major planning issue of general significance to the district of the regional planning authority.
(3)Subject to subsection (4) below, any application in respect of which directions under subsection (1) above have been given shall be referred to the regional planning authority accordingly.
(4)A district planning authority may, subject to any regulations made under subsection (7) below, or to any such development order as is referred to in the said subsection (7), appeal to the Secretary of State against any directions given under subsection (1) above to them and the Secretary of State (whose decision sball be final) may, under section 177(4) of this Act, determine the appeal as if it were a matter arising under section 176(5) of this Act.
(5)Where an application is referred to a regional planning authority under this section, sections 21(2)(b), 23(1)(f) and (h), 24(2B), (2C), (2D) and (4), 26, 27(1), 27A, 33. 35, 54(3) and (subject to subsection (6) below) 34 of the Act of 1972 shall apply, with any necessary modifications, as if the application had been made to the regional planning authority:
Provided that, in the proviso to the said section 27(1) as so applied, the words “another planning authority” shall be construed as meaning a regional planning authority, a general planning authority and any district planning authority outwith the district of the regional planning authority to which the application has been referred.
(6)In the application of the said section 34 provided for in subsection (5) above, for the reference in that section to such period as may be prescribed by the development order there shall be substituted a reference to a period of 3 months, or such other period as a development order may prescribe, from the date when the application is referred to a regional planning authority.
(7)The Secretary of State may by regulations made under this subsection, or may in a development order, prescribe the time limits within which—
(a)a regional planning authority may exercise their powers under subsection (1) above ;
(b)a district planning authority may appeal under subsection (4) above ; or
(c)a district planning authority shall forward to the regional planning authority a copy of any application (together with copies of all the certificates, plans, and other supporting documents relating thereto) required by the latter authority by virtue of subsection (1) above.”.