Town and Country Planning Act 1990

Part I Planning Authorities

1 Local planning authorities: general

(1) In a non-metropolitan county—

(a) the council of a county is the county planning authority for the county, and

(b) the council of a district is the district planning authority for the district,

and references in the planning Acts to a local planning authority in relation to a non-metropolitan county shall be construed, subject to any express provision to the contrary, as references to both the county planning authority and the district planning authorities.

(2) The council of a metropolitan district is the local planning authority for the district and the council of a London borough is the local planning authority for the borough.

(3) In England (exclusive of the metropolitan counties, Greater London and the Isles of Scilly) and in Wales all functions conferred on local planning authorities by or under the planning Acts shall be exercisable both by county planning authorities and district planning authorities.

(4) In this Act “mineral planning authority” means—

(a) in respect of a site in a non-metropolitan county, the county planning authority; and

(b) in respect of a site in a metropolitan district or London borough, the local planning authority.

(5) This section has effect subject to any express provision to the contrary in the planning Acts and, in particular—

(a) subsections (1) to (4) have effect subject to sections 5 to 8 of this Act and Part I of Schedule 17 to the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (National Parks);

(b) subsections (1) and (2) have effect subject to sections 2 and 9; and

(c) subsection (3) has effect subject to section 4 and Schedule 1 (which contains provisions as to the exercise of certain functions under this Act by particular authorities and liaison between them).

2 Joint planning boards

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient that a joint board should be established as the county planning authority for the areas or parts of the areas of any two or more county councils or as the district planning authority for the areas or parts of the areas of any two or more district councils, he may by order—

(a) constitute those areas or parts as a united district for the purposes of this Act; and

(b) constitute a joint board (in this Act referred to as a “joint planning board”) as the county planning authority or, as the case may be, the district planning authority for that united district.

(2) The Secretary of State shall not make such an order except after holding a local inquiry unless all the councils concerned have consented to the making of the order.

(3) Where a joint planning board is constituted for a united district, references in the planning Acts to the area of a local planning authority—

(a) in relation to the board, shall be construed as references to that district; and

(b) in relation to any local planning authority being the council of a county or district of which part (but not the whole) is included in the united district, shall be construed as references to so much of the county or district as is not so included.

(4) A joint planning board constituted by an order under subsection (1) shall consist of such number of members as may be determined by the order, to be appointed by the constituent councils.

(5) A joint planning board so constituted shall be a body corporate, with perpetual succession and a common seal.

(6) An order constituting a joint planning board and any order amending or revoking any order constituting a joint planning board—

(a) may, without prejudice to the provisions of section 241 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (which authorises the application of the provisions of that Act to joint boards), provide for regulating the appointment, tenure of office and vacation of office of members of the board, for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the board, and for the payment of the expenses of the board by the constituent councils;

(b) may provide for the transfer and compensation of officers, the transfer of property and liabilities, and the adjustment of accounts and apportionment of liabilities;

(c) may contain such other provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be expedient for enabling the board to exercise their functions; and

(d) may apply to the board, with any necessary modifications and adaptations, any of the provisions of sections 102 and 103 of the Local Government Act 1972.

(7) This section shall have effect subject to sections 5 to 9 of this Act and Part I of Schedule 17 to the Local Government Act 1972 (joint planning boards and special planning boards for National Parks).

3 Joint planning committee for Greater London

(1) The joint planning committee for Greater London established under section 5 of the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985 shall continue to discharge the functions mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) The joint planning committee shall—

(a) consider and advise the local planning authorities in Greater London on matters of common interest relating to the planning and development of Greater London;

(b) inform the Secretary of State of the views of those authorities concerning such matters including any such matters as to which he has requested their advice;

(c) inform the local planning authorities for areas in the vicinity of Greater London, or any body on which those authorities and the local planning authorities in Greater London are represented, of the views of the local planning authorities in Greater London concerning any matters of common interest relating to the planning and development of Greater London and those areas;

and the committee may, if it thinks fit, contribute towards the expenses of any such body as is mentioned in paragraph (c).

(3) The expenses of the joint planning committee which have been incurred with the approval of at least two-thirds of the local planning authorities in Greater London shall be defrayed by those authorities in such proportions as they may decide or, in default of a decision by them, as the Secretary of State may determine.

(4) References in this section to the local planning authorities in Greater London are to the authorities which are local planning authorities for the purposes of Part II.

4 National Parks

(1) As respects an area in a National Park outside a metropolitan county all functions conferred by or under the planning Acts on a local planning authority or district planning authority shall, subject to subsections (2) and (3), be functions of the county planning authority and no other authority, and references in those Acts in their application to a National Park outside a metropolitan county to a local planning authority or district planning authority shall be construed accordingly.

(2) The functions conferred on a local planning authority by sections 198 to 201, 206 to 209 and 211 to 215 shall as respects any part of a National Park outside a metropolitan county be exercisable concurrently with the county planning authority by the district planning authority whose area includes that part of the Park.

(3) Where an order is made under section 7 of the National Parks and Access to the [1949 c. 97.] Countryside Act 1949 designating or extending the area of a National Park, the functions exercisable by a local planning authority immediately before the coming into force of the order for any area which under the order becomes part of the Park shall continue to be exercisable by that authority as respects that area unless and until a joint planning board is constituted under section 2 or a National Park Committee is appointed under Part I of Schedule 17 to the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 for an area co-terminous with or including that area or, as the case may be, is authorised to exercise those functions.

(4) Where a joint planning board for a National Park situated partly in one or more metropolitan counties is the local planning authority as respects the part of the Park situated in that county or those counties, it shall continue to be so.

5 The Broads

(1) For the purposes of Chapter I of Part VIII and sections 249, 250, 300 and 324(1)(b) and (c) and (7) and any other provision of this Act so far as it has effect for the purposes of those provisions, “local planning authority”, in relation to land in the Broads, includes the Broads Authority.

(2) For the purposes of the provisions mentioned in subsection (3) the Broads Authority shall be the sole district planning authority for the Broads.

(3) The provisions referred to in subsection (2) are sections 36 to 49, 50(6) to (9), 51, 62, 64 to 72, 76 to 81, 91 to 95, 97 to 99, 102, 103, 106, 172, 173, 178, 183, 184, 188, 191 to 197, 211 to 215, 219 to 221, 224, 294, 295, 297, 299, 301, 316(1) to (3) and 324(1)(a).

6 Enterprise zones

(1) An order under paragraph 5 of Schedule 32 to the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (designation of enterprise zone) may provide that the enterprise zone authority shall be the local planning authority for the zone for such purposes of the planning Acts and in relation to such kinds of development as may be specified in the order.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 15(1) of that Schedule (modification of orders by the Secretary of State), an order under that paragraph may provide that the enterprise zone authority shall be the local planning authority for the zone for different purposes of the planning Acts or in relation to different kinds of development.

(3) Where such provision as is mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) is made by an order designating an enterprise zone or, as the case may be, an order modifying such an order, while the zone subsists the enterprise zone authority shall be, to the extent mentioned in the order (as it has effect subject to any such modifications) and to the extent that it is not already, the local planning authority for the zone in place of any authority who would otherwise be the local planning authority for the zone.

(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations make transitional and supplementary provision in relation to a provision of an order under paragraph 5 of that Schedule made by virtue of subsection (1).

(5) Such regulations may modify any provision of the planning Acts or any instrument made under any of them or may apply any such enactment or instrument (with or without modification) in making such transitional or supplementary provision.

7 Urban development areas

(1) Where an order is made under subsection (1) of section 149 of the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (urban development corporation as planning authority), the urban development corporation specified in the order shall be the local planning authority for such area as may be so specified in place of any authority who would otherwise be the local planning authority for that area for such purposes and in relation to such kinds of development as may be so specified.

(2) Where an order under subsection (3)(a) of that section confers any functions on an urban development corporation in relation to any area the corporation shall have those functions in place of any authority (except the Secretary of State) who would otherwise have them in that area.

8 Housing action areas

(1) Where an order is made under subsection (1) of section 67 of the [1988 c. 50.] Housing Act 1988 (housing action trust as planning authority), the housing action trust specified in the order shall be the local planning authority for such area as may be so specified in place of any authority who would otherwise be the local planning authority for that area for such purposes and in relation to such kinds of development as may be so specified.

(2) Where an order under subsection (3)(a) of that section confers any functions on a housing action trust in relation to any area the trust shall have those functions in place of any authority (except the Secretary of State) who would otherwise have them in that area.

9 Power to make consequential and supplementary provision about authorities

Regulations under this Act may make such provision consequential upon or supplementary to the provisions of sections 1 and 2 as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.

Part II Development Plans

Chapter I Unitary Development Plans: Metropolitan Areas including London

Preliminary

10 Application of Chapter I to Greater London and metropolitan counties

This Chapter applies, subject to section 28, to the area of any local planning authority in Greater London or a metropolitan county (other than any area in such a county which is part of a National Park).

Surveys etc.

11 Survey of planning areas

(1) The local planning authority—

(a) shall keep under review the matters which may be expected to affect the development of their area or the planning of its development; and

(b) may, if they think fit, institute a survey or surveys of their area or any part of their area for examining those matters.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the matters to be kept under review or examined under that subsection shall include—

(a) the principal physical and economic characteristics of the area of the authority (including the principal purposes for which land is used) and, so far as they may be expected to affect that area, of any neighbouring areas;

(b) the size, composition and distribution of the population of that area (whether resident or otherwise);

(c) without prejudice to paragraph (a), the communications, transport system and traffic of that area and, so far as they may be expected to affect that area, of any neighbouring areas;

(d) any considerations not mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) which may be expected to affect any matters mentioned in them;

(e) such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Secretary of State may in a particular case direct;

(f) any changes already projected in any of the matters mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (e) and the effect which those changes are likely to have on the development of that area or the planning of such development.

(3) A local planning authority shall, for the purpose of discharging their functions under this section of keeping under review and examining any matters relating to the area of another such authority, consult with that other authority about those matters.

Preparation and adoption of unitary development plans

12 Preparation of unitary development plan

(1) The local planning authority shall, within such period (if any) as the Secretary of State may direct, prepare for their area a plan to be known as a unitary development plan.

(2) A unitary development plan shall comprise two parts.

(3) Part I of a unitary development plan shall consist of a written statement formulating the authority’s general policies in respect of the development and other use of land in their area (including measures for the improvement of the physical environment and the management of traffic).

(4) Part II of a unitary development plan shall consist of—

(a) a written statement formulating in such detail as the authority think appropriate (and so as to be readily distinguishable from the other contents of the plan) their proposals for the development and other use of land in their area or for any description of development or other use of such land;

(b) a map showing those proposals on a geographical basis;

(c) a reasoned justification of the general policies in Part I of the plan and of the proposals in Part II of it; and

(d) such diagrams, illustrations or other descriptive or explanatory matter in respect of the general policies in Part I of the plan or the proposals in Part II of it as the authority think appropriate or as may be prescribed.

(5) A unitary development plan shall also contain such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Secretary of State may in any particular case direct.

(6) In formulating the general policies in Part I of a unitary development plan the authority shall have regard—

(a) to any strategic guidance given by the Secretary of State to assist them in the preparation of the plan;

(b) to current national and regional policies;

(c) to the resources likely to be available; and

(d) to such other matters as the Secretary of State may direct the authority to take into account.

(7) The proposals in Part II of a unitary development plan shall be in general conformity with Part I.

(8) Part II of a unitary development plan may designate any part of the authority’s area as an action area, that is to say, an area which they have selected for the commencement during a prescribed period of comprehensive treatment by development, redevelopment or improvement (or partly by one and partly by another method) and if an area is so designated that Part of the plan shall contain a description of the treatment proposed by the authority.

(9) In preparing a unitary development plan the authority shall take into account the provisions of any scheme under paragraph 3 of Schedule 32 to the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 relating to land in their area which has been designated under that Schedule as an enterprise zone.

13 Publicity in connection with preparation of unitary development plan

(1) When preparing a unitary development plan for their area and before finally determining its contents the local planning authority shall take such steps as will in their opinion secure—

(a) that adequate publicity is given in their area to the matters which they propose to include in the plan;

(b) that persons who may be expected to desire an opportunity of making representations to the authority with respect to those matters are made aware that they are entitled to an opportunity of doing so; and

(c) that such persons are given an adequate opportunity of making such representations.

(2) The authority shall consider any representations made to them within the prescribed period.

(3) Where the local planning authority have prepared a unitary development plan, before adopting it they shall—

(a) make copies of it available for inspection at their office and at such other places as may be prescribed; and

(b) send a copy to the Secretary of State.

(4) Each copy made available for inspection under subsection (3) shall be accompanied by a statement of the time within which objections to the plan may be made to the authority.

(5) The copy of a unitary development plan sent to the Secretary of State under subsection (3) shall be accompanied by a statement—

(a) of the steps which the authority have taken to comply with subsections (1) and (2); and

(b) of the authority’s consultations with, and their consideration of the views of, other persons.

(6) If, on considering the statement submitted with and the matters contained in a unitary development plan and any other information provided by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State is not satisfied that the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) have been adequately achieved by the steps taken by the authority in compliance with that subsection, he may, within 21 days of the receipt of the statement, direct the authority not to take further steps for the adoption of the plan without taking such further action as he may specify in order better to achieve those purposes and satisfying him that they have done so.

(7) A local planning authority who are given directions by the Secretary of State under subsection (6) shall—

(a) immediately withdraw the copies of the unitary development plan made available for inspection as required by subsection (3); and

(b) notify any person by whom objections to the plan have been made to the authority that the Secretary of State has given such directions.

14 Withdrawal of unitary development plan

(1) A unitary development plan may be withdrawn by the local planning authority at any time before it is adopted by the authority or approved by the Secretary of State and shall be withdrawn by the authority if the Secretary of State so directs.

(2) Where a unitary development plan is withdrawn the authority shall—

(a) withdraw the copies made available for inspection and sent to the Secretary of State under section 13(3); and

(b) give notice that the plan has been withdrawn to every person who has made an objection to it.

(3) In determining the steps to be taken by a local planning authority to secure the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) of section 13, the authority and the Secretary of State may take into account any steps taken to secure those purposes in connection with any unitary development plan which the authority have previously withdrawn.

(4) Where a unitary development plan is withdrawn the copies of the plan shall be treated as never having been made available under section 13(3).

15 Adoption of unitary development plan by local planning authority

(1) After the expiry of the period given for making objections to a unitary development plan or, if such objections have been duly made during that period, after considering those objections, the local planning authority may, subject to the following provisions of this section and to sections 17 and 18, by resolution adopt the plan either as originally prepared or as modified to take account—

(a) of those objections;

(b) of any other objections made to the plan;

(c) of any other considerations which appear to the authority to be material.

(2) A unitary development plan shall not be adopted unless Part II of the plan is in general conformity with Part I.

(3) Where an objection to a unitary development plan has been made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the local planning authority do not propose to modify the plan to take account of the objection, the authority—

(a) shall send the Secretary of State particulars of the objection and a statement of their reasons for not modifying the plan to take account of it; and

(b) shall not adopt the plan unless the Secretary of State authorises them to do so.

(4) Subject to the following provisions of this Chapter and to section 287, a unitary development plan shall become operative on the date on which it is adopted.

16 Local inquiries

(1) For the purpose of considering objections to a unitary development plan the local planning authority may, and shall in the case of objections made in accordance with regulations under this Chapter, cause a local inquiry or other hearing to be held by a person appointed by the Secretary of State or, in such cases as may be prescribed by regulations under this Chapter, by the authority themselves.

(2) Subsections (2) and (3) of section 250 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (power to summon and examine witnesses) shall apply to an inquiry held under this section as they apply to an inquiry under that section.

(3) The [1971 c. 62.] Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 shall apply to a local inquiry or other hearing held under this section as it applies to a statutory inquiry held by the Secretary of State, but as if in section 12(1) of that Act (statement of reasons for decisions) the reference to any decision taken by the Secretary of State were a reference to a decision taken by a local planning authority.

(4) Regulations made for the purposes of this section may—

(a) make provision with respect to the appointment and qualifications for appointment of persons to hold a local inquiry or other hearing under this section, including provision enabling the Secretary of State to direct a local planning authority to appoint a particular person or one of a specified list or class of persons;

(b) make provision with respect to the remuneration and allowances of a person appointed for that purpose.

(5) No local inquiry or other hearing need be held under this section if all persons who have made objections have indicated in writing that they do not wish to appear.

Secretary of State’s powers concerning plans

17 Direction to reconsider proposals

(1) After a copy of a unitary development plan has been sent to the Secretary of State under section 13(3) and before it is adopted by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State may, if it appears to him that the plan is unsatisfactory, direct the authority to consider modifying the proposals in such respects as are indicated in the direction.

(2) An authority to whom a direction is given shall not adopt the plan unless they satisfy the Secretary of State that they have made the modifications necessary to conform with the direction or the direction is withdrawn.

18 Calling in of unitary development plan for approval by Secretary of State

(1) After a copy of a unitary development plan has been sent to the Secretary of State under section 13(3) and before it is adopted by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State may direct that the whole or part of the plan shall be submitted to him for his approval.

(2) If such a direction is given—

(a) the authority shall not take any further steps for the adoption of the plan until the Secretary of State has given his decision on the plan or the relevant part of it; and

(b) the plan or the relevant part of it shall not have effect unless approved by him and shall not require adoption under the previous provisions of this Chapter.

(3) Where particulars of an objection to a unitary development plan have been sent to the Secretary of State under section 15(3), then, unless he is satisfied that the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food no longer objects to the plan, the Secretary of State must give a direction in respect of it under subsection (1).

(4) Subsection (2)(a) applies in particular to holding or proceeding with a local inquiry or other hearing in respect of the plan under section 16; and at any such inquiry or hearing which is subsequently held or resumed a local planning authority need not give any person an opportunity of being heard in respect of any objection which has been heard at an examination, local inquiry or other hearing under section 20 or which the Secretary of State states that he has considered in making his decision.

19 Approval of unitary development plan by Secretary of State

(1) Subject to section 20, the Secretary of State may after considering a plan or part of a plan submitted to him under section 18(1) either approve it (in whole or in part and with or without modifications or reservations) or reject it.

(2) In considering a plan or part of a plan submitted to him under that section the Secretary of State may take into account any matters which he thinks relevant, whether or not they were taken into account in the plan or that part of it.

(3) The Secretary of State shall give a local planning authority such statement as he considers appropriate of the reasons governing his decision on any plan or part of a plan submitted to him.

(4) Where the whole or part of Part I of a unitary development plan is approved by the Secretary of State with modifications, the local planning authority shall, before adopting the remainder of the plan, make such modifications in Part II as may be directed by the Secretary of State for bringing it into general conformity with Part I and, in the absence of any such direction, shall make such modifications for that purpose in Part II as appear to the authority to be required.

(5) Subject to section 287, a plan or part of a plan which is approved by the Secretary of State under this section shall become operative on such day as he may appoint.

20 Local inquiry, public examination and consultation by Secretary of State

(1) Before deciding whether or not to approve a plan or part of a plan submitted to him under section 18(1), the Secretary of State shall consider any objection to it so far as made in accordance with regulations under this Chapter.

(2) Where the whole or part of Part II of a unitary development plan is submitted to the Secretary of State under section 18(1) (whether or not the whole or part of Part I is also submitted), then, if any objections have been made to the plan or the relevant part of it as mentioned in subsection (1), before deciding whether to approve it he shall cause a local inquiry or other hearing to be held for the purpose of considering those objections.

(3) The Secretary of State need not under subsection (1) consider any objections which have already been considered by the local planning authority and need not cause a local inquiry or other hearing to be held under subsection (2) if that authority have already held a local inquiry or other hearing into the objections under section 16 or the Secretary of State, on taking the plan or the relevant part of it into consideration, decides to reject it.

(4) Where the whole or part of Part I of a unitary development plan (but not the whole or any part of Part II) is submitted to the Secretary of State under section 18(1) he may cause a person or persons appointed by him for the purpose to hold an examination in public of such matters affecting the Secretary of State’s consideration of the part of the plan submitted to him as he considers ought to be so examined.

(5) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Lord Chancellor, make regulations with respect to the procedure to be followed at any examination under subsection (4).

(6) The Secretary of State shall not be required to secure to any local planning authority or other person a right to be heard at an examination under subsection (4), and the bodies and persons who may take part shall be such only as he may, whether before or during the course of the examination, in his discretion invite to do so; but the person or persons holding the examination shall have power, exercisable either before or during the course of the examination, to invite additional bodies or persons to take part if it appears to him or them desirable to do so.

(7) An examination under subsection (4) shall constitute a statutory inquiry for the purposes of section 1(1)(c) of the [1971 c. 62.] Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 but shall not constitute such an inquiry for any other purpose of that Act.

(8) On considering a plan or part of a plan submitted to him under section 18(1) the Secretary of State may consult with or consider the views of any local planning authority or other person but he need not do so except as provided by this section.

Alteration of plans

21 Alteration or replacement of unitary development plan

(1) A local planning authority may at any time, and shall if so directed by the Secretary of State, make proposals for the alteration or replacement of a unitary development plan adopted or approved for their area under the previous provisions of this Chapter but, except in pursuance of such a direction, a local planning authority shall not without the consent of the Secretary of State make proposals under this section in respect of any plan or part of a plan if that plan or any part of it has been approved by him under those provisions.

(2) Subject to section 22, sections 12 to 20 (other than subsection (1) of section 12) shall apply in relation to the making of proposals under this section and to any alteration or replacement so proposed as they apply to the preparation of a unitary development plan under section 12 and to a plan prepared under that section.

(3) As soon as practicable after—

(a) an order has been made under paragraph 5 of Schedule 32 to the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (designation of enterprise zone); or

(b) a notification has been given under paragraph 11(1) of that Schedule (approval of modification of enterprise zone scheme),

the local planning authority for an area in which the zone is wholly or partly situated shall review any unitary development plan for that area in the light of the provisions of the scheme or modified scheme under that Schedule and prepare proposals under this section for any consequential alterations to the plan which they consider necessary.

22 Short procedure for certain alterations and replacements

(1) Where a local planning authority propose to alter or replace a unitary development plan and it appears to them that the issues involved are not of sufficient importance to warrant the full procedure set out in section 13(1) to (4), they may proceed instead in accordance with this section.

(2) They shall—

(a) prepare the relevant documents (that is, the proposed alterations or replacement plan),

(b) make a copy of them available for inspection at their office and at such other places as may be prescribed, and

(c) send a copy to the Secretary of State.

(3) Each copy of the documents made available for inspection shall be accompanied by a statement of the time within which representations or objections may be made.

(4) They shall then take such steps as may be prescribed for the purpose of—

(a) advertising the fact that the documents are available for inspection and the places and times at which and period during which they may be inspected, and

(b) inviting the making of representations or objections in accordance with regulations;

and they shall consider any representations made to them within the prescribed period.

(5) The documents sent by the local planning authority to the Secretary of State under subsection (2) shall be accompanied by a statement of the steps which the authority are taking to comply with subsection (4).

(6) If, on considering the statement submitted with and the matters contained in the documents sent to him under subsection (2) and any other information provided by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State is not satisfied with the steps taken by the authority he may, within 21 days of the receipt of the statement, direct the authority not to take further steps for the adoption of their proposals without—

(a) proceeding in accordance with section 13(1) to (4), or

(b) taking such further action as he may specify,

and satisfying him that they have done so.

(7) A local planning authority who are given directions by the Secretary of State under subsection (6) shall—

(a) immediately withdraw the copies of documents made available for inspection as required by subsection (2); and

(b) notify any person by whom objections to the proposals have been made to the authority that the Secretary of State has given such directions.

(8) Where a local planning authority proceed in accordance with this section, the references in sections 14(2)(a) and (4) and 18(1) to copies made available or sent to the Secretary of State under section 13(3) shall be construed as references to copies made available or sent to the Secretary of State under subsection (2).

Joint plans

23 Joint unitary development plans

(1) A joint unitary development plan or joint proposals for the alteration or replacement of such a plan may be prepared by two or more local planning authorities in Greater London or by two or more local planning authorities in a metropolitan county; and the previous provisions of this Chapter shall, in relation to any such joint plan or proposals, have effect subject to the following provisions of this section.

(2) Subsections (3) and (4) shall apply in relation to a joint unitary development plan instead of subsections (1) and (2) of section 13, and references in subsections (5) and (6) of that section and in section 14(3) to subsections (1) and (2) of section 13 and the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) of that section shall include references to subsections (3) and (4) of this section and the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (3) respectively.

(3) The local planning authorities shall jointly take such steps as will in their opinion secure—

(a) that adequate publicity is given in their areas to the matters proposed to be included in the plan;

(b) that persons who may be expected to desire an opportunity of making representations to any of the authorities are made aware that they are entitled to such an opportunity; and

(c) that such persons are given an adequate opportunity of making such representations.

(4) The local planning authorities shall consider any representations made to them within the prescribed period.

(5) Each of the local planning authorities by whom a joint unitary development plan is prepared shall have the duty imposed by subsection (3) of section 13 of making copies of the plan available for inspection.

(6) Objections to such a plan may be made to any of those authorities and the statement required by subsection (4) of section 13 to accompany copies of the plan shall state that objections may be so made.

(7) It shall be for each of the local planning authorities by whom a joint unitary development plan is prepared to adopt the plan under section 15(1) and they may do so as respects any part of their area to which the plan relates, but any modifications subject to which the plan is adopted must have the agreement of all those authorities.

(8) Where a unitary development plan has been prepared jointly, the power of making proposals in respect of the plan under section 21 may be exercised as respects their respective areas by any of the authorities by whom it was prepared and the Secretary of State may under that section direct any of them to make proposals as respects their respective areas.

(9) In relation to any proposals made jointly under section 21, the reference in subsection (2) of that section to sections 12 to 20 shall include a reference to subsections (3) and (4) of this section.

(10) In relation to any such joint proposals—

(a) the reference in section 22(1) to section 13(1) to (4) shall include a reference to subsections (3) and (4) of this section; and

(b) the references in section 22 to the local planning authority shall be construed as references to the authorities acting jointly, except that—

(a) each of the authorities shall have the duty under subsection (2) of making copies of the relevant documents available for inspection, and

(b) representations or objections may be made to any of the authorities, and the statement required by subsection (3) of that section shall state that objections may be so made.

(11) The date of the coming into operation of a unitary development plan prepared jointly by two or more local planning authorities or for the alteration or replacement of such a plan in pursuance of proposals so prepared shall be a date jointly agreed by those authorities.

Supplementary

24 Disregard of certain representations

Notwithstanding anything in the previous provisions of this Chapter, neither the Secretary of State nor a local planning authority shall be required to consider representations or objections with respect to a unitary development plan or any proposals for the alteration or replacement of such a plan if it appears to the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the authority that those representations or objections are in substance representations or objections with respect to things done or proposed to be done in pursuance of—

(a) an order or scheme under section 10, 14, 16, 18, 106(1) or (3) or 108(1) of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980;

(b) an order or scheme under any provision replaced by the provisions mentioned in paragraph (a), namely, an order or scheme under section 7, 9, 11, 13 or 20 of the [1959 c. 25.] Highways Act 1959, section 3 of the [1961 c. 63.] Highways (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1961 or section 1 or 10 of the [1971 c. 41.] Highways Act 1971; or

(c) an order under section 1 of the [1981 c. 64.] New Towns Act 1981.

25 Default powers

(1) Where, by virtue of any of the previous provisions of this Chapter, any unitary development plan or proposals for the alteration or replacement of such a plan are required to be prepared, or steps are required to be taken for the adoption of any such plan or proposals, then—

(a) if at any time the Secretary of State is satisfied, after holding a local inquiry or other hearing, that the local planning authority are not taking the steps necessary to enable them to prepare or adopt such a plan or proposals within a reasonable period; or

(b) in a case where a period is specified for the preparation or adoption of any such plan or proposals, if no such plan or proposals have been prepared or adopted by the local planning authority within that period,

the Secretary of State may prepare and make the plan or any part of it or, as the case may be, alter or replace it, as he thinks fit.

(2) The previous provisions of this Chapter shall, so far as practicable, apply with any necessary modifications in relation to the doing of anything under this section by the Secretary of State and the thing so done.

(3) The authority mentioned in subsection (1) shall on demand repay to the Secretary of State so much of any expenses incurred by him in connection with the doing of anything which should have been done by them as he certifies to have been incurred in the performance of their functions.

26 Regulations and directions

(1) Without prejudice to the previous provisions of this Chapter, the Secretary of State may make regulations with respect to the form and content of unitary development plans and the procedure to be followed in connection with their preparation, withdrawal, adoption, submission, approval, making, alteration or replacement.

(2) Such regulations may in particular—

(a) provide for publicity to be given to the results of any review or survey carried out under section 11;

(b) provide for the notice to be given of or the publicity to be given to—

(i) matters included or proposed to be included in any unitary development plan,

(ii) the approval, adoption or making of any such plan or any alteration or replacement of it, or

(iii) any other prescribed procedural step,

and for publicity to be given to the procedure to be followed as mentioned in subsection (1);

(c) make provision with respect to the making and consideration of representations with respect to matters to be included in, or objections to, any such plan or proposals for its alteration or replacement;

(d) without prejudice to paragraph (b), provide for notice to be given to particular persons of the approval, adoption, alteration or replacement of any plan if they have objected to the plan and have notified the local planning authority of their wish to receive notice, subject (if the regulations so provide) to the payment of a reasonable charge;

(e) require or authorise a local planning authority to consult with, or consider the views of, other persons before taking any prescribed procedural step;

(f) require a local planning authority, in such cases as may be prescribed or in such particular cases as the Secretary of State may direct, to provide persons making a request in that behalf with copies of any plan or document which has been made public for the purpose mentioned in section 13(1)(a) or 23(3)(a) or has been made available for inspection under section 13(3)(a) or 22(2)(b), subject (if the regulations so provide) to the payment of a reasonable charge;

(g) provide for the publication and inspection of any unitary development plan which has been adopted, approved or made or any document approved, adopted or made altering or replacing any such plan, and for copies of any such plan or document to be made available on sale.

(3) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases.

(4) Subject to the previous provisions of this Chapter and to any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State may give directions to any local planning authority or to local planning authorities generally—

(a) for formulating the procedure for the carrying out of their functions under this Chapter;

(b) for requiring them to give him such information as he may require for carrying out any of his functions under this Chapter.

27 Meaning of “development plan” in Greater London and metropolitan counties

For the purposes of this Act and any other enactment relating to town and country planning, the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 and the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980, the development plan for any district in Greater London or a metropolitan county (whether the whole or part of the area of a local planning authority) shall be taken as consisting of—

(a) the provisions of the unitary development plan for the time being in force for that area or the relevant part of it, together with a copy of the local planning authority’s resolution of adoption or the Secretary of State’s notice of approval or, where part of the plan has been adopted and the remainder approved, copies of the resolution and the notice; and

(b) any alteration to that plan, together with a copy of the authority’s resolution of adoption, or the Secretary of State’s notice of approval, of the alteration or, where part of the alteration has been adopted and the remainder approved, copies of the resolution and the notice.

28 Commencement of Chapter I: transitional provisions

(1) Subject to subsection (2), the provisions of this Chapter shall come into force in the area of any local planning authority in Greater London or a metropolitan county (other than any area in that county which is part of a National Park) on such day as may be appointed in relation to that area by an order made by the Secretary of State.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in any area in relation to which an order has been made before the commencement of this Act under section 4(1) of the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985 (commencement of Part I of Schedule 1 to that Act) and in any such area the provisions of this Chapter shall come into force at the commencement of this Act or, if later, on the day appointed by the order.

(3) Until a unitary development plan becomes operative under this Chapter for such an area as is mentioned in subsection (1) (or where parts of such a plan become operative on different dates until every part has become operative)—

(a) if it is the area of a local planning authority in a metropolitan county, Part I of Schedule 2 (which provides for existing plans to continue in force and applies some of the provisions of Chapter II) shall apply in relation to it;

(b) if it is the area of a local planning authority in Greater London, Part II of that Schedule (which makes similar provision) shall apply in relation to it; and

(c) Part III of that Schedule shall apply in relation to it for the purpose of making continuing provision for the transitional matters for which provision was made immediately before the commencement of this Act by Schedule 7 to the 1971 Act (old development plans etc.).

(4) The power to make orders under this section may be exercised so as to make different provision for different cases, including different provision for different areas.

Chapter II Structure and Local Plans: Non-Metropolitan Areas

Preliminary

29 Application of Chapter II to non-metropolitan areas

Subject to the transitional provisions in Schedule 2, this Chapter applies only to the area of any local planning authority outside Greater London and the metropolitan counties and to any part of a National Park in such a county.

Surveys, etc.

30 Survey of planning areas

(1) The local planning authority—

(a) shall keep under review the matters which may be expected to affect the development of their area or the planning of its development; and

(b) may, if they think fit, at any time institute a fresh survey of their area examining those matters.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the matters to be kept under review and examined under that subsection shall include—

(a) the principal physical and economic characteristics of the area of the authority (including the principal purposes for which land is used) and, so far as they may be expected to affect that area, of any neighbouring areas;

(b) the size, composition and distribution of the population of that area (whether resident or otherwise);

(c) without prejudice to paragraph (a), the communications, transport system and traffic of that area and, so far as they may be expected to affect that area, of any neighbouring areas;

(d) any considerations not mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) which may be expected to affect any matters so mentioned;

(e) such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Secretary of State may in any particular case direct;

(f) any changes already projected in any of the matters mentioned in any of the previous paragraphs and the effect which those changes are likely to have on the development of that area or the planning of such development.

(3) A survey under subsection (1)(b) may relate to only part of the area of an authority; and references in subsection (2) to the area of an authority or any neighbouring areas shall be construed accordingly.

(4) A local planning authority shall, for the purpose of discharging their functions under this section of examining and keeping under review any matters relating to the area of another such authority, consult with that other authority about those matters.

Structure plans

31 Structure plans: continuity, form and content

(1) Each structure plan approved by the Secretary of State under the 1971 Act with respect to the area of a local planning authority which is in operation immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue in force after its commencement (subject to any alterations then in operation and to the following provisions of this Part).

(2) The structure plan for any area shall be a written statement—

(a) formulating the local planning authority’s policy and general proposals in respect of the development and other use of land in that area (including measures for the improvement of the physical environment and the management of traffic); and

(b) containing such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Secretary of State may in any particular case direct.

(3) The written statement shall be illustrated by such diagram or diagrams as may be prescribed, which shall be treated as forming part of the plan.

(4) In formulating their policy and general proposals under subsection (2), the local planning authority shall secure that the policy and proposals are justified by the results of their survey under section 6 of the 1971 Act or any fresh survey instituted by them under section 30 and by any other information which they may obtain and shall have regard—

(a) to current policies with respect to the economic planning and development of the region as a whole;

(b) to the resources likely to be available for the carrying out of the proposals of the structure plan; and

(c) to such other matters as the Secretary of State may direct them to take into account.

(5) Where under section 7(7) of the 1971 Act the Secretary of State gave a consent or direction for the preparation of a structure plan for part of the area of a local planning authority, references in this Part of this Act to the area of the authority shall, in relation to a structure plan, be construed as including references to part of that area.

32 Alteration and replacement of structure plans

(1) A local planning authority may at any time submit to the Secretary of State and shall, if so directed by him, submit to him within a period specified in the direction, proposals for such alterations to the structure plan for their area as appear to them to be expedient or, as the case may be, as the Secretary of State may direct.

(2) Such proposals may relate to the whole or part of the area to which the plan relates.

(3) A local planning authority may at any time submit proposals for the repeal and replacement of the structure plan for their area to the Secretary of State.

(4) An authority submitting a proposal under subsection (3) for the repeal and replacement of a structure plan shall at the same time submit to the Secretary of State the structure plan with which they propose that it shall be replaced.

(5) Proposals under subsection (1) or (3) shall be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum summarising—

(a) in the case of proposals under subsection (1), the reasons which in the opinion of the local planning authority justify the alterations which they are proposing; and

(b) in the case of proposals under subsection (3), the reasons which in their opinion justify the repeal and replacement of the structure plan.

(6) The explanatory memorandum shall also state the relationship of the proposals to general proposals for the development and other use of land in neighbouring areas which may be expected to affect the area to which the proposals relate.

(7) The explanatory memorandum—

(a) shall also contain any information on which the proposals are based; and

(b) may contain such illustrative material as the local planning authority think appropriate.

33 Publicity in connection with proposals for alteration or replacement of structure plans

(1) When preparing proposals for the alteration or repeal and replacement of a structure plan for their area and before finally determining their content for submission to the Secretary of State, the local planning authority shall take such steps as will in their opinion secure—

(a) that adequate publicity is given in their area to the matters which they propose to include in the proposals and to the proposed content of the explanatory memorandum relating to each such matter;

(b) that persons who may be expected to desire an opportunity of making representations to the authority with respect to those matters are made aware that they are entitled to an opportunity of doing so; and

(c) that such persons are given an adequate opportunity of making such representations.

(2) The authority shall consider any representations made to them within the prescribed period.

(3) Not later than the submission of proposals to the Secretary of State, the local planning authority shall make copies of the proposals as submitted to the Secretary of State and of the explanatory memorandum available for inspection at their office and at such other places as may be prescribed.

(4) Each copy of the proposals and of the explanatory memorandum shall be accompanied by a statement of the time within which objections to the proposals may be made to the Secretary of State.

(5) Proposals submitted by the local planning authority to the Secretary of State for his approval shall be accompanied by a statement containing such particulars, if any, as may be prescribed—

(a) of the steps which the authority have taken to comply with subsections (1) and (2); and

(b) of the authority’s consultations with, and consideration of the views of, other persons with respect to those matters.

(6) If after considering the statement submitted with, and the matters included in, the proposals and any other information provided by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State is satisfied that the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) have been adequately achieved by the steps taken by the authority in compliance with that subsection, he shall proceed to consider whether to approve the proposals.

(7) If the Secretary of State is not satisfied as mentioned in subsection (6), he shall return the proposals to the authority and direct them—

(a) to take such further action as he may specify in order better to achieve those purposes; and

(b) after doing so, to resubmit the proposals with such modifications, if any, as they then consider appropriate and, if so required by the direction, to do so within a specified period.

(8) Where the Secretary of State returns the proposals to the local planning authority under subsection (7), he shall—

(a) inform the authority of his reasons for doing so, and

(b) if any person has made an objection to the proposals to him, also inform that person that he has returned the proposals.

(9) A local planning authority who are given directions under subsection (7) shall immediately withdraw the copies of the proposals made available for inspection as required by subsection (3).

(10) Subsections (3) to (9) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, in relation to proposals resubmitted to the Secretary of State in accordance with directions given under subsection (7) as they apply in relation to the proposals as originally submitted.

34 Withdrawal of proposals for alteration and replacement of structure plans

(1) Proposals for the alteration or repeal and replacement of a structure plan submitted to the Secretary of State for his approval may be withdrawn by the local planning authority submitting them by a notice given to the Secretary of State at any time before he has approved them.

(2) Proposals which are so withdrawn shall be treated as never having been submitted.

(3) On the withdrawal of such proposals, the authority preparing them shall also withdraw the copies of the proposals which they have made available for inspection in accordance with section 33(3), and shall give notice that the proposals have been withdrawn to every person who has made an objection to them.

(4) In determining the steps to be taken by them to secure the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 33(1), the local planning authority preparing such proposals may take into account any steps taken to secure those purposes in connection with any other such proposals which either were not submitted to the Secretary of State for his approval or were so submitted and then withdrawn.

(5) The authority submitting for approval by the Secretary of State proposals in the case of which they have taken any steps into account by virtue of subsection (4) shall give particulars of those steps in their statement to him under subsection (5) of section 33 and the Secretary of State may treat the steps as having been taken by them in connection with those proposals in determining under subsection (6) of that section whether he is satisfied as there mentioned.

35 Approval or rejection of proposals for alteration or replacement of structure plans

(1) The Secretary of State may, after considering proposals for the alteration or repeal and replacement of a structure plan submitted (or resubmitted) to him, either approve them (in whole or in part and with or without modifications or reservations) or reject them.

(2) In considering any such proposals the Secretary of State may take into account any matters which he thinks are relevant, whether or not they were taken into account in the proposals as submitted to him.

(3) Where on taking any such proposals into consideration the Secretary of State does not determine then to reject them, he shall before determining whether or not to approve them—

(a) consider any objections to the proposals, so far as they are made in accordance with regulations under this Chapter, and

(b) subject to subsection (4), cause a person or persons appointed by him for the purpose to hold an examination in public of such matters affecting his consideration of the proposals as he considers ought to be so examined.

(4) If it appears to the Secretary of State, on consideration of the proposals, that no matters which require an examination in public arise from them or from any structure plan submitted with them under section 32(4), no such examination need be held.

(5) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Lord Chancellor, make regulations with respect to the procedure to be followed at any examination under subsection (3)(b).

(6) The Secretary of State need not secure to any local planning authority or other person a right to be heard at any such examination and, subject to subsection (7), only such bodies and persons as he may before or during the course of the examination invite to do so may take part in it.

(7) The person or persons holding the examination may before or during the course of the examination invite additional bodies or persons to take part in it if it appears to him or them desirable to do so.

(8) An examination under subsection (3)(b) shall constitute a statutory inquiry for the purposes of section 1(1)(c) of the [1971 c. 62.] Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 but shall not constitute such an inquiry for any other purpose of that Act.

(9) On considering any proposals the Secretary of State may (but need not) consult with or consider the views of any local planning authority or other person.

(10) On exercising his powers under subsection (1) in relation to any proposals, the Secretary of State shall give such statement as he considers appropriate of the reasons governing his decision.

Local plans

36 Local plans

(1) A local plan shall consist of—

(a) a written statement formulating in such detail as the local planning authority think appropriate their proposals for the development and other use of land in their area, or for any description of development or other use of such land, including such measures as the authority think fit for the improvement of the physical environment and the management of traffic;

(b) a map showing those proposals; and

(c) such diagrams, illustrations or other descriptive matter as the authority think appropriate to explain or illustrate the proposals in the plan, or as may be prescribed.

(2) Different local plans may be prepared for different purposes for the same area.

(3) In formulating their proposals in a local plan the local planning authority shall have regard to any information and any other considerations which appear to them to be relevant or which may be prescribed or which the Secretary of State may in any particular case direct them to take into account.

(4) A local planning authority may prepare a local plan for a part of their area (an “action area”) which they have selected for the commencement during a prescribed period of comprehensive treatment, by development, redevelopment or improvement of the whole or part of the area selected, or partly by one method and partly by another.

(5) A local plan prepared for an action area shall indicate the nature of the treatment selected for the area.

(6) For the purpose of discharging their functions with respect to local plans a district planning authority may, in so far as it appears to them necessary to do so having regard to any survey made by the county planning authority under section 6 of the 1971 Act or section 30, examine the matters mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) of section 30 so far as relevant to their area.

(7) In preparing a local plan a local planning authority shall take into account the provisions of any scheme under paragraph 3 of Schedule 32 to the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 relating to land in their area which has been designated under that Schedule as an enterprise zone.

37 Local plan schemes

(1) A local plan scheme for each county shall be maintained in accordance with this section setting out a programme for the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of local plans for areas in the county, except any part of the county included in a National Park.

(2) The scheme shall, as regards each local plan for which it provides—

(a) specify the title and nature of the plan and the area to which it is to apply and give an indication of its scope,

(b) indicate where appropriate its relationship with the other local plans provided for by the scheme, and

(c) designate the local planning authority, whether county or district, responsible for the plan;

and may contain any appropriate incidental, consequential, transitional and supplementary provisions.

(3) The district planning authorities shall keep under review the need for, and adequacy of, local plans for their area and may make recommendations to the county planning authority for incorporation into the local plan scheme.

(4) The county planning authority shall, in the light of the recommendations of the district planning authorities and in consultation with those authorities, make and then keep under review and from time to time amend the local plan scheme.

(5) As soon as practicable after making or amending a local plan scheme the county planning authority shall send a copy of the scheme, or the scheme as amended, to the Secretary of State.

(6) If a district planning authority make representations to the Secretary of State that they are dissatisfied with a local plan scheme, the Secretary of State may amend the scheme.

(7) A local planning authority may prepare proposals for the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of a local plan—

(a) in any case, except in the case of proposals relating only to land in a National Park, only where authorised to do so by the local plan scheme, and

(b) in the case of proposals for the alteration, repeal or replacement of a local plan approved by the Secretary of State, only with the consent of the Secretary of State;

but subject to any direction of the Secretary of State under section 38.

38 Power of Secretary of State to direct making of local plan, etc

(1) The Secretary of State may, after consulting a local planning authority, direct them to make, alter, repeal or replace a local plan with respect to their area or part of it.

(2) A direction for the making, alteration or replacement of a local plan shall specify the nature of the plan or, as the case may be, the nature of the alteration required.

(3) The authority shall comply with the direction as soon as possible.

(4) The county planning authority shall make such amendments of the relevant local plan scheme as appear to them appropriate in consequence of the direction.

39 Publicity and consultation: general

(1) A local planning authority who propose to make, alter, repeal or replace a local plan shall proceed in accordance with this section, unless section 40 applies.

(2) They shall take such steps as will in their opinion secure—

(a) that adequate publicity is given to the proposals in the area to which the plan relates;

(b) that persons who may be expected to wish to make representations about the proposals are made aware that they are entitled to do so; and

(c) that such persons are given an adequate opportunity of making such representations.

(3) They shall consider any representations made to them within the prescribed period.

(4) They shall—

(a) consult the county planning authority or, as the case may be, the district planning authority with respect to their proposals;

(b) give that authority a reasonable opportunity to express their views; and

(c) take those views into consideration.

(5) They shall then, having prepared the relevant documents, that is, the proposed plan, alterations, instrument of repeal or replacement plan, as the case may be, and having obtained any certificate required by section 46—

(a) make copies of the documents available for inspection at their office,

(b) send a copy of them to the Secretary of State, and

(c) send a copy of them to the district or county planning authority, as the case may require.

(6) Each copy of the documents made available for inspection shall be accompanied by a statement of the time within which objections may be made.

40 Publicity and consultation: short procedure for certain alterations, etc

(1) Where a local planning authority propose to alter, repeal or replace a local plan and it appears to them that the issues involved are not of sufficient importance to warrant the full procedure set out in section 39, they may proceed instead in accordance with this section.

(2) They shall prepare the relevant documents, that is, the proposed alterations, instrument of repeal or replacement plan, as the case may be, and, having obtained any certificate required by section 46, shall—

(a) make copies of the documents available for inspection at their office,

(b) send a copy of them to the Secretary of State, and

(c) send a copy of them to the county or district planning authority, as the case may require.

(3) Each copy of the documents made available for inspection shall be accompanied by a statement of the time within which representations or objections may be made.

(4) They shall then take such steps as may be prescribed for the purpose of—

(a) advertising the fact that the documents are available for inspection and the places and times at which, and period during which, they may be inspected, and

(b) inviting the making of representations or objections in accordance with regulations.

(5) They shall consider any representations made to them within the prescribed period.

41 Powers of Secretary of State to secure adequate publicity and consultation

(1) The documents sent by the local planning authority to the Secretary of State under section 39 shall be accompanied by a statement—

(a) of the steps which the authority have taken to comply with subsections (2) and (3) of that section, and

(b) of the authority’s consultations with other persons and their consideration of the views of those persons.

(2) The documents sent by the local planning authority to the Secretary of State under section 40 shall be accompanied by a statement of the steps which the authority are taking to comply with subsections (4) and (5) of that section.

(3) If, on considering the statement and the proposals and any other information provided by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State is not satisfied with the steps taken by the authority, he may, within 21 days of the receipt of the statement, direct the authority not to take further steps for the adoption of the proposals without—

(a) if they have proceeded in accordance with section 40, proceeding instead in accordance with section 39, or

(b) in any case, taking such further steps as he may specify,

and satisfying him that they have done so.

(4) A local planning authority who are given directions by the Secretary of State shall—

(a) immediately withdraw the copies of the documents made available for inspection as required by section 39(5) or 40(2), and

(b) notify any person by whom objections to the proposals have been made to the authority that the Secretary of State has given such directions.

42 Objections: local inquiry or other hearing

(1) The local planning authority may cause a local inquiry or other hearing to be held for the purpose of considering objections to their proposals for the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of a local plan.

(2) They shall hold such a local inquiry or other hearing in the case of objections made in accordance with regulations unless all the persons who have made such objections have indicated in writing that they do not wish to appear.

(3) A local inquiry or other hearing shall be held by a person appointed by the Secretary of State or, in such cases as may be prescribed, by the authority themselves.

(4) Regulations may—

(a) make provision with respect to the appointment, and qualifications for appointment, of persons to hold a local inquiry or other hearing;

(b) include provision enabling the Secretary of State to direct a local planning authority to appoint a particular person, or one of a specified list or class of persons;

(c) make provision with respect to the remuneration and allowances of the person appointed.

(5) Subsections (2) and (3) of section 250 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (power to summon and examine witnesses) apply to an inquiry held under this section.

(6) The [1971 c. 62.] Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 shall apply to a local inquiry or other hearing held under this section as it applies to a statutory inquiry held by the Secretary of State, but as if in section 12(1) of that Act (statement of reasons for decisions) the reference to any decision taken by the Secretary of State were a reference to a decision taken by a local authority.

43 Adoption of proposals

(1) After the expiry of the period given for making objections to proposals for the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of a local plan or, if such objections were duly made within that period, after considering the objections so made, the local planning authority may, subject to this section and to section 44, by resolution adopt the proposals.

(2) They may adopt the proposals as originally prepared or as modified so as to take account of—

(a) any such objections as are mentioned in subsection (1) or any other objections to the proposals, or

(b) any other considerations which appear to the authority to be material.

(3) The authority shall not adopt any proposals which do not conform generally to the structure plan.

(4) After copies of the proposals have been sent to the Secretary of State and before they have been adopted by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State may, if it appears to him that the proposals are unsatisfactory, direct the authority to consider modifying the proposals in such respects as are indicated in the direction.

(5) An authority to whom a direction is given shall not adopt the proposals unless they satisfy the Secretary of State that they have made the modifications necessary to conform with the direction or the direction is withdrawn.

(6) Where an objection to the proposals has been made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the local planning authority do not propose to modify their proposals to take account of the objection—

(a) the authority shall send particulars of the objection to the Secretary of State, together with a statement of their reasons for not modifying their proposals to take account of it, and

(b) they shall not adopt the proposals unless the Secretary of State authorises them to do so.

44 Calling in of proposals for approval by Secretary of State

(1) After copies of proposals have been sent to the Secretary of State and before they have been adopted by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State may direct that the proposals shall be submitted to him for his approval.

(2) If he does give such a direction—

(a) the authority shall not take any further steps for the adoption of the proposals and in particular shall not hold or proceed with a local inquiry or other hearing in respect of the proposals under section 42; and

(b) the proposals shall not have effect unless approved by the Secretary of State and shall not require adoption by the authority.

(3) Where particulars of an objection made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have been sent to the Secretary of State under section 43(6), then, unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that that Minister no longer objects to the proposals, he shall give a direction in respect of the proposals under this section.

45 Approval of proposals by Secretary of State

(1) The Secretary of State may after considering proposals submitted to him under section 44 either approve them (in whole or in part and with or without modifications or reservations) or reject them.

(2) In considering the proposals he may take into account any matters he thinks are relevant, whether or not they were taken into account in the proposals as submitted.

(3) Where on taking the proposals into consideration the Secretary of State does not determine then to reject them, he shall before determining whether or not to approve them—

(a) consider any objections to them made in accordance with regulations,

(b) give any person who made such an objection which has not been withdrawn an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by him for the purpose, and

(c) if a local inquiry or other hearing is held, also give such an opportunity to the authority and such other persons as he thinks fit,

except so far as the objections have already been considered, or a local inquiry or other hearing into the objections has already been held, by the authority.

(4) In considering the proposals the Secretary of State may consult with or consider the views of any local planning authority or any other person; but he need not do so, or give an opportunity for the making of representations or objections, or cause a local inquiry or other hearing to be held, except as provided by subsection (3).

Conformity between plans

46 Certificate of conformity

(1) The proposals in a local plan shall be in general conformity with the structure plan.

(2) A district planning authority who have prepared proposals for the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of a local plan shall not take the steps mentioned in section 39(5) or 40(2) unless a certificate that the proposals conform generally to the structure plan has been issued in accordance with this section.

(3) The district planning authority shall request the county planning authority to certify that their proposals so conform and that authority shall, within a month of receiving the request, or such longer period as may be agreed between the authorities, consider the matter and, if satisfied that the proposals do so conform, issue a certificate to that effect.

(4) If it appears to the county planning authority that the proposals do not so conform in any respect, they shall, during or as soon as possible after the end of that period, refer the question whether they so conform in that respect to the Secretary of State to be determined by him.

(5) The Secretary of State may in any case by direction to a county planning authority reserve for his own determination the question whether proposals for the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of a local plan conform generally to the structure plan.

(6) On determining a question so referred to or reserved for him, the Secretary of State—

(a) if he is of the opinion that the proposals do so conform, may issue, or direct the county planning authority to issue, a certificate to that effect, and

(b) if he is of the contrary opinion, may direct the district planning authority to revise their proposals in such respects as he thinks appropriate so that they will so conform.

47 Alteration of structure plan

(1) Where proposals for the alteration or replacement of a structure plan have been prepared and submitted to the Secretary of State, a local planning authority proposing to make, alter, repeal or replace a local plan may apply to him for a direction under subsection (2).

(2) On such an application the Secretary of State may direct that it shall be assumed for the purpose of the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of the local plan that the structure plan proposals have been approved by him, subject to such modifications as may from time to time be proposed by him and notified to the county planning authority.

(3) Such a direction ceases to have effect if the Secretary of State rejects the proposals for the alteration or replacement of the structure plan.

(4) Before giving such a direction the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) in the case of an application by a county planning authority, any district planning authority whose area is affected by the relevant local plan proposals;

(b) in the case of an application by a district planning authority, the county planning authority.

(5) A county planning authority shall, on the approval of proposals for the alteration or replacement of a structure plan, consider whether the local plans for areas affected conform generally to the structure plan as altered or, as the case may be, to the new plan.

(6) Within the period of one month from the date on which the county planning authority receive notice of the Secretary of State’s approval of the proposals, they shall send—

(a) to the Secretary of State, and

(b) to every district planning authority responsible for such a local plan,

lists of the local plans so affected which, in their opinion, do and do not so conform.

48 Local plan to prevail in cases of conflict with structure plan

(1) Where there is a conflict between any of the provisions of a local plan in force for an area and the provisions of the relevant structure plan, the provisions of the local plan shall be taken to prevail for all purposes.

(2) Where the structure plan is altered or replaced and the local plan is specified in a list under section 47(6) as a plan which does not conform to the structure plan as altered or replaced, subsection (1) does not apply until a proposal for the alteration of the local plan, or for its repeal and replacement, has been adopted or approved by the Secretary of State and the alteration, or replacement plan, has come into force.

Supplementary

49 Disregarding of representations with respect to development authorised by or under other enactments

Notwithstanding anything in the previous provisions of this Chapter, neither the Secretary of State nor a local planning authority need consider representations or objections with respect to a local plan or any proposal to alter, repeal or replace a structure plan or a local plan if it appears to the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the authority that those representations or objections are in substance representations or objections with respect to things done or proposed to be done in pursuance of—

(a) an order or scheme under section 10, 14, 16, 18, 106(1) or (3) or 108(1) of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980;

(b) an order or scheme under any provision replaced by the provisions of the Highways Act 1980 mentioned in paragraph (a) (namely, an order or scheme under section 7, 9, 11, 13 or 20 of the [1959 c. 25.] Highways Act 1959, section 3 of the [1961 c. 63.] Highways (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1961 or section 1 or 10 of the [1971 c. 41.] Highways Act 1971);

(c) an order under section 1 of the [1981 c. 64.] New Towns Act 1981.

50 Joint structure and local plans

(1) Where a structure plan has been prepared by two or more local planning authorities jointly, the power of making proposals under section 32 for the alteration or for the repeal and replacement of the plan may be exercised as respects their respective areas by any of the authorities by whom it was prepared, and the Secretary of State may under that section direct any of them to submit such proposals as respects their respective areas.

(2) Subsection (3) shall apply instead of section 33(1)(b) and (c) in relation to joint proposals to alter or repeal and replace a joint structure plan and references in section 33 to subsection (1) of that section and the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of it shall include references to subsection (3) and the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection respectively.

(3) The local planning authorities shall take such steps as will in their opinion secure—

(a) that persons who may be expected to desire an opportunity of making representations to any of the authorities are made aware that they are entitled to an opportunity of doing so;

(b) that such persons are given an adequate opportunity of making such representations.

(4) Each of the authorities by whom proposals for the alteration or repeal and replacement of a joint structure plan have been prepared shall have the duty imposed by section 33(3) of making copies of the proposals and explanatory memorandum available for inspection.

(5) Where two or more local planning authorities jointly prepare proposals for the alteration or repeal and replacement of a structure plan under this section, all or any of them may withdraw them under section 34(1) and on their doing so all the authorities shall comply with subsection (3) of that section.

(6) Where two or more local planning authorities jointly prepare proposals for the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of a local plan—

(a) the local planning authorities are jointly responsible for taking the steps required by section 39 or 40, except that they each have the duty imposed by section 39(5)(a) or 40(2)(a) of making copies of the relevant documents available for inspection and objections to the proposals may be made to any of those authorities and the statement required by section 39(6) or 40(3) to accompany the relevant documents shall state that objections may be so made;

(b) it shall be for each of the local planning authorities to adopt the proposals under section 43(1) and they may do so as respects any part of their area to which the proposals relate, but any modifications subject to which the proposals are adopted must have the agreement of all those authorities.

(7) Where—

(a) a structure plan has been jointly prepared by two or more county planning authorities, or

(b) a local plan has been jointly prepared by two or more district planning authorities,

a request for a certificate under section 46 that the local plan conforms generally to the structure plan shall be made by each district planning authority to the county planning authority for the area comprising the district planning authority’s area and it shall be for that county planning authority to deal with the request.

(8) Where a local plan has been made jointly, the power of making proposals for its alteration, repeal or replacement may be exercised as respects their respective areas by any of the authorities by whom it was made, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant local plan scheme, and the Secretary of State may under section 38 direct any of them to make proposals as respects their respective areas.

(9) The date appointed under section 53(5) for the coming into operation of a local plan prepared jointly by two or more local planning authorities or for the alteration, repeal or replacement of a local plan in pursuance of proposals so prepared shall be one jointly agreed by those authorities and shall be specified in their respective resolutions adopting the plan or proposals.

51 Default powers

(1) Where, by virtue of any of the previous provisions of this Chapter, any survey is required to be carried out, or any local plan or proposals for the alteration, repeal or replacement of such a plan or of a structure plan are required to be prepared or submitted to the Secretary of State, or steps are required to be taken for the adoption of any local plan or any such proposals, then—

(a) if at any time the Secretary of State is satisfied, after holding a local inquiry or other hearing, that the relevant local planning authority are not carrying out the survey or are not taking the steps necessary to enable them to submit or adopt a local plan or such proposals within a reasonable period; or

(b) in a case where a period is specified for the submission or adoption of a local plan or any such proposals, if no such plan or proposals have been submitted or adopted within that period,

the Secretary of State may carry out the survey or prepare and make a local plan or, as the case may be, alter, repeal or replace such a plan or a structure plan, as he thinks fit.

(2) Where under subsection (1) the Secretary of State may do anything which should have been done by a local planning authority (“the defaulting authority”) he may, if he thinks fit, authorise any other local planning authority who appear to him to have an interest in the proper planning of the area of the defaulting authority to do it.

(3) The previous provisions of this Chapter shall, so far as applicable, apply with any necessary modifications in relation to the doing of anything under this section by the Secretary of State or an authority other than the defaulting authority and the thing so done.

(4) The defaulting authority—

(a) shall on demand repay to the Secretary of State so much of any expenses incurred by him in connection with the doing of anything which should have been done by them as he certifies to have been incurred in the performance of their functions; and

(b) shall repay to any other authority who do under this section anything which should have been done by the defaulting authority any expenses certified by the Secretary of State to have been reasonably incurred by that other authority in connection with the doing of that thing.

52 Reviews of plans in enterprise zones

(1) As soon as practicable after an order has been made under paragraph 5 of Schedule 32 to the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (adoption of enterprise zone scheme) or a notification has been given under paragraph 11 of that Schedule (modification of such a scheme)—

(a) any county planning authority for an area in which the enterprise zone is wholly or partly situated shall review any structure plan for their area or for part of it which relates to the whole or part of the zone in the light of the provisions of the scheme or modified scheme; and

(b) any local planning authority for an area in which the enterprise zone is wholly or partly situated shall review any local plan prepared by it which relates to any land in the zone.

(2) A county planning authority shall submit to the Secretary of State proposals for any alterations to a structure plan which they consider necessary to take account of the scheme or the modified scheme.

(3) A local planning authority shall make proposals for any alterations to such a local plan as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b) which they consider necessary to take account of the scheme or the modified scheme, or for the repeal or replacement of any such plan whose repeal or replacement they consider necessary for that purpose.

53 Supplementary provisions as to structure and local plans

(1) Without prejudice to the previous provisions of this Chapter, the Secretary of State may make regulations with respect to the form and content of structure and local plans and the procedure to be followed in connection with their preparation, withdrawal, adoption, submission, approval, making, alteration, repeal and replacement.

(2) In particular any such regulations may—

(a) provide for publicity to be given to the report of any survey carried out by a local planning authority under section 30;

(b) provide for the notice to be given of or the publicity to be given to—

(i) matters included or proposed to be included in any such plan,

(ii) the approval, adoption or making of any such plan or any alteration, repeal or replacement of it, or

(iii) any other prescribed procedural step,

and for publicity to be given to the procedure to be followed as mentioned in subsection (1);

(c) make provision with respect to the making and consideration of representations with respect to matters to be included in, or objections to, any such plan or proposals for its alteration, repeal or replacement;

(d) without prejudice to paragraph (b), provide for notice to be given to particular persons of the approval, adoption or alteration of any plan, if they have objected to the plan and have notified the relevant local planning authority of their wish to receive notice, subject (if the regulations so provide) to the payment of a reasonable charge for receiving it;

(e) require or authorise a local planning authority to consult with, or consider the views of, other persons before taking any prescribed procedural step;

(f) require a local planning authority, in such cases as may be prescribed or in such particular cases as the Secretary of State may direct, to provide persons making a request with copies of any plan or document which has been made public for the purpose mentioned in section 33(1)(a) or 39(2)(a) or has been made available for inspection under section 33(3) or 39(5)(a) or 40(2)(a), subject (if the regulations so provide) to the payment of a reasonable charge;

(g) provide for the publication and inspection of any structure plan or local plan which has been approved, adopted or made, or any document approved, adopted or made altering, repealing or replacing any such plan, and for copies of any such plan or document to be made available on sale.

(3) Regulations under this section may extend throughout England and Wales or to specified areas only and may make different provision for different cases.

(4) Subject to the previous provisions of this Chapter and to any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State may give directions to any local planning authority, or to local planning authorities generally—

(a) for formulating the procedure for the carrying out of their functions under this Chapter;

(b) for requiring them to give him such information as he may require for carrying out any of his functions under this Chapter.

(5) Subject to the provisions of section 287, a structure plan or local plan or any alteration, repeal or replacement of such a plan shall become operative on a date appointed for the purpose in the relevant notice of approval, resolution of adoption or notice of the making, alteration, repeal or replacement of the plan.

54 Meaning of “development plan” outside Greater London and the metropolitan counties

(1) Subject to subsection (4), for the purposes of this Act and any other enactment relating to town and country planning, the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 and the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980, the development plan for any district outside Greater London and the metropolitan counties (whether the whole or part of the area of a local planning authority) shall be taken as consisting of—

(a) the provisions of the structure plan for the time being in force for that area or the relevant part of that area, together with the Secretary of State’s notice of approval of the plan;

(b) any alterations to that plan, together with the Secretary of State’s notices of approval of them;

(c) any provisions of a local plan for the time being applicable to the district, together with a copy of the authority’s resolution of adoption or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State’s notice of approval of the local plan; and

(d) any alterations to that local plan, together with a copy of the authority’s resolutions of adoption or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State’s notices of approval of them.

(2) References in subsection (1) to the provisions of any plan, notices of approval, alterations and resolutions of adoption shall, in relation to a district forming part of the area to which they are applicable, be respectively construed as references to so much of those provisions, notices, alterations and resolutions as is applicable to the district.

(3) References in subsection (1) to notices of approval shall, in relation to any plan or alteration made by the Secretary of State under section 51, be construed as references to notices of the making of the plan or alteration.

(4) This section has effect subject to Part III of Schedule 2 (old development plans).

(5) Any reference in the Land Compensation Act 1961 to an area defined in the current development plan as an area of comprehensive development shall be construed as a reference to an action area for which a local plan is in force.

Part III Control over development

Meaning of development

55 Meaning of “development” and “new development”

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, “development,” means the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land.

(2) The following operations or uses of land shall not be taken for the purposes of this Act to involve development of the land—

(a) the carrying out for the maintenance, improvement or other alteration of any building of works which—

(i) affect only the interior of the building, or

(ii) do not materially affect the external appearance of the building,

and are not works for making good war damage or works begun after 5th December 1968 for the alteration of a building by providing additional space in it underground;

(b) the carrying out on land within the boundaries of a road by a local highway authority of any works required for the maintenance or improvement of the road;

(c) the carrying out by a local authority or statutory undertakers of any works for the purpose of inspecting, repairing or renewing any sewers, mains, pipes, cables or other apparatus, including the breaking open of any street or other land for that purpose;

(d) the use of any buildings or other land within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse as such;

(e) the use of any land for the purposes of agriculture or forestry (including afforestation) and the use for any of those purposes of any building occupied together with land so used;

(f) in the case of buildings or other land which are used for a purpose of any class specified in an order made by the Secretary of State under this section, the use of the buildings or other land or, subject to the provisions of the order, of any part of the buildings or the other land, for any other purpose of the same class.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this section—

(a) the use as two or more separate dwellinghouses of any building previously used as a single dwellinghouse involves a material change in the use of the building and of each part of it which is so used;

(b) the deposit of refuse or waste materials on land involves a material change in its use, notwithstanding that the land is comprised in a site already used for that purpose, if—

(i) the superficial area of the deposit is extended, or

(ii) the height of the deposit is extended and exceeds the level of the land adjoining the site.

(4) For the purposes of this Act mining operations include—

(a) the removal of material of any description—

(i) from a mineral-working deposit;

(ii) from a deposit of pulverised fuel ash or other furnace ash or clinker; or

(iii) from a deposit of iron, steel or other metallic slags; and

(b) the extraction of minerals from a disused railway embankment.

(5) Without prejudice to any regulations made under the provisions of this Act relating to the control of advertisements, the use for the display of advertisements of any external part of a building which is not normally used for that purpose shall be treated for the purposes of this section as involving a material change in the use of that part of the building.

(6) In this Act “new development” means any development other than development of a class specified in Part I or Part II of Schedule 3; and Part III of that Schedule has effect for the purposes of Parts I and II.

56 Time when development begun

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, for the purposes of this Act development of land shall be taken to be initiated—

(a) if the development consists of the carrying out of operations, at the time when those operations are begun;

(b) if the development consists of a change in use, at the time when the new use is instituted;

(c) if the development consists both of the carrying out of operations and of a change in use, at the earlier of the times mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(2) For the purposes of the provisions of this Part mentioned in subsection (3) development shall be taken to be begun on the earliest date on which any material operation comprised in the development begins to be carried out.

(3) The provisions referred to in subsection (2) are sections 85(2), 86(6), 87(4), 91, 92 and 94.

(4) In subsection (2) “material operation” means—

(a) any work of construction in the course of the erection of a building;

(b) the digging of a trench which is to contain the foundations, or part of the foundations, of a building;

(c) the laying of any underground main or pipe to the foundations, or part of the foundations, of a building or to any such trench as is mentioned in paragraph (b);

(d) any operation in the course of laying out or constructing a road or part of a road;

(e) any change in the use of any land which constitutes material development.

(5) In subsection (4)(e) “material development” means any development other than—

(a) development for which planning permission is granted by a general development order for the time being in force and which is carried out so as to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission is so granted;

(b) development falling within any of paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 5 to 8 of Schedule 3 (as read with Part III of that Schedule); and

(c) development of any class prescribed for the purposes of this subsection.

(6) In subsection (5) “general development order” means a development order (within the meaning of section 59) made as a general order applicable (subject to such exceptions as may be specified in it) to all land in England and Wales.

Requirement for planning permission

57 Planning permission required for development

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, planning permission is required for the carrying out of any development of land.

(2) Where planning permission to develop land has been granted for a limited period, planning permission is not required for the resumption, at the end of that period, of its use for the purpose for which it was normally used before the permission was granted.

(3) Where by a development order planning permission to develop land has been granted subject to limitations, planning permission is not required for the use of that land which (apart from its use in accordance with that permission) is its normal use.

(4) Where an enforcement notice has been issued in respect of any development of land, planning permission is not required for its use for the purpose for which (in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Act) it could lawfully have been used if that development had not been carried out.

(5) In determining for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3) what is or was the normal use of land, no account shall be taken of any use begun in contravention of this Part or of previous planning control.

(6) For the purposes of this section a use of land shall be taken to have been begun in contravention of previous planning control if it was begun in contravention of Part III of the 1947 Act, Part III of the 1962 Act or Part III of the 1971 Act.

(7) Subsection (1) has effect subject to Schedule 4 (which makes special provision about use of land on 1st July 1948).

58 Granting of planning permission: general

(1) Planning permission may be granted—

(a) by a development order;

(b) by the local planning authority (or, in the cases provided in this Part, by the Secretary of State) on application to the authority in accordance with a development order;

(c) on the adoption or approval of a simplified planning zone scheme or alterations to such a scheme in accordance with section 82 or, as the case may be, section 86; or

(d) on the designation of an enterprise zone or the approval of a modified scheme under Schedule 32 to the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 in accordance with section 88 of this Act.

(2) Planning permission may also be deemed to be granted under section 90 (development with government authorisation).

(3) This section is without prejudice to any other provisions of this Act providing for the granting of permission.

Development orders

59 Development orders: general

(1) The Secretary of State shall by order (in this Act referred to as a “development order”) provide for the granting of planning permission.

(2) A development order may either—

(a) itself grant planning permission for development specified in the order or for development of any class specified; or

(b) in respect of development for which planning permission is not granted by the order itself, provide for the granting of planning permission by the local planning authority (or, in the cases provided in the following provisions, by the Secretary of State) on application to the authority in accordance with the provisions of the order.

(3) A development order may be made either—

(a) as a general order applicable, except so far as the order otherwise provides, to all land, or

(b) as a special order applicable only to such land or descriptions of land as may be specified in the order.

60 Permission granted by development order

(1) Planning permission granted by a development order may be granted either unconditionally or subject to such conditions or limitations as may be specified in the order.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), where planning permission is granted by a development order for the erection, extension or alteration of any buildings, the order may require the approval of the local planning authority to be obtained with respect to the design or external appearance of the buildings.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), where planning permission is granted by a development order for development of a specified class, the order may enable the Secretary of State or the local planning authority to direct that the permission shall not apply either—

(a) in relation to development in a particular area, or

(b) in relation to any particular development.

(4) Any provision of a development order by which permission is granted for the use of land for any purpose on a limited number of days in a period specified in that provision shall (without prejudice to the generality of references in this Act to limitations) be taken to be a provision granting permission for the use of land for any purpose subject to the limitation that the land shall not be used for any one purpose in pursuance of that provision on more than that number of days in that period.

61 Development orders: supplementary provisions

(1) A general development order may make different provision with respect to different descriptions of land.

(2) For the purpose of enabling development to be carried out in accordance with planning permission, or otherwise for the purpose of promoting proper development in accordance with the development plan, a development order may direct that any pre 1947 Act enactment, or any regulations, orders or byelaws made at any time under any such enactment—

(a) shall not apply to any development specified in the order, or

(b) shall apply to it subject to such modifications as may be so specified.

(3) In subsection (2) “pre 1947 Act enactment” means—

(a) any enactment passed before 6th August 1947 (the date of the passing of the 1947 Act), and

(b) any enactment contained in the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980 which—

(i) is an enactment derived from the [1959 c. 25.] Highways Act 1959, and

(ii) re-enacts (with or without modifications) any such enactment as is mentioned in paragraph (a).

Applications for planning permission

62 Form and content of applications for planning permission

Any application to a local planning authority for planning permission—

(a) shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations under this Act; and

(b) shall include such particulars and be verified by such evidence as may be required by the regulations or by directions given by the local planning authority under them.

63 Applications in connection with existing buildings and uses

(1) An application for planning permission may relate to buildings or works constructed or carried out, or a use of land instituted, before the date of the application.

(2) Such an application may be—

(a) in respect of buildings or works constructed or carried out, or a use instituted, without planning permission or in accordance with planning permission granted for a limited period; or

(b) for permission to retain buildings or works, or continue the use of land, without complying with some condition subject to which a previous planning permission was granted.

(3) Any power to grant planning permission to develop land under this Act shall include power to grant planning permission for the retention on land of buildings or works constructed or carried out, or for the continuance of a use of land instituted, as mentioned in subsection (2); and references in the planning Acts to planning permission to develop land or to carry out any development of land, and to applications for such permission, shall be construed accordingly.

(4) Any planning permission granted in accordance with subsection (3) may be granted—

(a) so as to take effect from the date on which the buildings or works were constructed or carried out or the use was instituted, or

(b) in the case of buildings or works constructed or carried out or a use instituted in accordance with planning permission granted for a limited period, so as to take effect from the end of that period.

(5) Subsection (3) shall not affect the construction of section 65, 71(1) or 197 or Part V.

64 Applications to determine whether planning permission required

(1) If any person who proposes to carry out any operations on land, or to make any change in the use of land—

(a) wishes to have it determined whether the carrying out of those operations, or the making of that change, would constitute or involve development of the land, and

(b) if so, whether an application for planning permission in respect of it is required under this Part (having regard to the provisions of any development order, enterprise zone scheme or simplified planning zone scheme),

he may apply to the local planning authority to determine that question.

(2) An application under subsection (1) may be made either as part of an application for planning permission or without any such application.

(3) The provisions of sections 59, 69(1), (2) and (5), 70, 74, 77, 78 and 79 shall, subject to any necessary modifications, apply in relation to any application under this section, and to the determination of it, as they apply in relation to applications for planning permission and to the determination of such applications.

Publicity for applications

65 Publication of notices of applications for planning permission for designated development

(1) A development order may designate any class of development as development to which this section is to apply; and a class of development which is for the time being so designated is in this section referred to as “development of a designated class”.

(2) An application for planning permission for development of a designated class shall not be entertained by the local planning authority unless it is accompanied—

(a) by a copy of a notice of the application, in such form as may be prescribed by a development order, and by such evidence as may be so prescribed that the notice has been published in a local newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land to which the application relates is situated; and

(b) by a certificate signed by or on behalf of the applicant stating—

(i) that he has complied with subsection (3) and when he did so, or

(ii) that he has been unable to comply with it because he has not such rights of access or other rights in respect of the land as would enable him to do so, and that he has taken such reasonable steps as are open to him (specifying them) to acquire those rights but has been unable to acquire them.

(3) In order to comply with this subsection a person must—

(a) post on the land a notice, in such form as may be prescribed by a development order, stating that the application for planning permission is to be made; and

(b) leave the notice in position for not less than seven days in a period of not more than one month immediately preceding the making of the application to the local planning authority.

(4) The notice mentioned in subsection (3)—

(a) must be posted by affixing it firmly to some object on the land, and

(b) must be sited and displayed in such a way as to be easily visible and legible by members of the public without their going on the land.

(5) An applicant shall not be treated as unable to comply with subsection (3) if the notice is, without any fault or intention of his, removed, obscured or defaced before the seven days referred to in subsection (3)(b) have elapsed, if he has taken reasonable steps for its protection and, if need be, replacement.

(6) If an applicant has cause to rely on subsection (5) his certificate under subsection (2)(b) must state the relevant circumstances.

(7) The notice mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or required by subsection (3) shall (in addition to any other matters required to be contained in it) name a place within the locality where a copy of the application for planning permission, and of all plans and other documents submitted with it, will be open to inspection by the public at all reasonable hours during such period as may be specified in the notice.

(8) That period shall not be less than 21 days beginning with the date on which the notice is published or, as the case may be, first posted.

(9) An application for planning permission for development of a designated class shall not be determined by the local planning authority before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the application.

66 Notification of applications to owners and agricultural tenants

(1) Without prejudice to section 65, a local planning authority shall not entertain any application for planning permission unless it is accompanied by one of the following certificates signed by or on behalf of the applicant—

(a) a certificate stating that, at the beginning of the period of 21 days ending with the date of the application, no person (other than the applicant) was the owner of any of the land to which the application relates;

(b) a certificate stating that the applicant has given the requisite notice of the application to all the persons (other than himself) who at the beginning of that period were owners of any of the land to which the application relates, and setting out—

(i) the names of those persons,

(ii) the addresses at which notice of the application was given to them respectively, and

(iii) the date of service of each such notice;

(c) a certificate stating—

(i) that the applicant is unable to issue a certificate in accordance with paragraph (a) or (b),

(ii) that he has given the requisite notice of the application to such one or more of the persons mentioned in paragraph (b) as are specified in the certificate (setting out their names, the addresses at which notice of the application was given to them respectively, and the date of the service of each such notice), and

(iii) that he has taken such steps as are reasonably open to him (specifying them) to ascertain the names and addresses of the remainder of those persons but has been unable to do so;

(d) a certificate stating—

(i) that the applicant is unable to issue a certificate in accordance with paragraph (a), and

(ii) that he has taken such steps as are reasonably open to him (specifying them) to ascertain the names and addresses of the persons mentioned in paragraph (b) but has been unable to do so.

(2) Any such certificate as is mentioned in paragraph (c) or (d) of subsection (1) must also contain a statement that the requisite notice of the application, as set out in the certificate, has on a date specified in the certificate been published in a local newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land in question is situated.

(3) The date specified in a certificate under subsection (2) must not be earlier than the beginning of the period mentioned in subsection (1)(a).

(4) In addition to any other matters required to be contained in a certificate issued for the purposes of this section, every such certificate must contain a statement —

(a) that none of the land to which the application relates constitutes or forms part of an agricultural holding; or

(b) that the applicant has given the requisite notice of the application to every person (other than himself) who, at the beginning of the period mentioned in subsection (1)(a), was a tenant of any agricultural holding any part of which was comprised in the land to which the application relates.

(5) Such a statement as is mentioned in subsection (4)(b) must set out—

(a) the name of each person to whom the applicant has given notice of the application,

(b) the address at which notice was given to him, and

(c) the date of service of that notice.

(6) Where an application for planning permission is accompanied by such a certificate as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b),(c) or (d), or by a certificate containing a statement in accordance with subsections (4)(b) and (5), the local planning authority shall not determine the application before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date appearing from the certificate to be the latest of the dates of service of notices as mentioned in the certificate, or, if later, the date of publication of a notice as mentioned in the certificate.

(7) In this section—

• “owner”, in relation to any land, means a person who for the time being is—

  (a)

  the estate owner in respect of the fee simple in the land, or

  (b)

  entitled to a tenancy of the land granted or extended for a term of years certain of which not less than seven years remain unexpired; and

• “agricultural holding” has the same meaning as in the [1986 c. 5.] Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.

67 Notification of applications for planning permission for mineral working

(1) In the case of applications for planning permission for development consisting of the winning and working of minerals section 66 shall have effect with the following modifications.

(2) Subsection (1) of that section and the following provisions of this section shall have effect as if any person entitled to an interest in a relevant mineral in any of the land to which the application relates were an owner of the land.

(3) In the case of an application for planning permission for development consisting of the winning and working of minerals by underground mining operations, the local planning authority may entertain the application if, instead of being accompanied by any of the certificates mentioned in subsection (1) of that section, it is accompanied by a certificate signed by or on behalf of the applicant—

(a) stating that he has given the requisite notice of the application to such one or more of the persons specified in the certificate who, at the beginning of the period of 21 days ending with the date of the application, were owners (within the meaning of section 66) of any of the land to which the application relates or entitled to an interest in a relevant mineral in that land;

(b) setting out the names of those persons, the addresses at which notice of the application was given to them respectively and the date of service of each such notice;

(c) stating that there is no such person as is mentioned in paragraph (a) whom the applicant knows to be such a person and whose name and address is known to the applicant but to whom he has not given the requisite notice of the application; and

(d) stating that he has complied with subsection (7) and when he did so.

(4) In this section “relevant mineral” means any mineral other than oil, gas, coal, gold or silver.

(5) Any such certificate as is mentioned in subsection (3) must also contain a statement that the requisite notice of the application, as set out in the certificate, has on a date specified in it been published in a local newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land in question is situated.

(6) The date specified under subsection (5) must not be earlier than the beginning of the period mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (3).

(7) In order to comply with this subsection the applicant must—

(a) post the requisite notice of the application, sited and displayed in such a way as to be easily visible and legible by members of the public, in at least one place in every parish or community within which there is situated any part of the land to which the application relates; and

(b) leave the notice in position for not less than seven days in the period of 21 days immediately preceding the making of the application to the local planning authority.

(8) The applicant shall not be treated as unable to comply with subsection (7) if the notice is, without any fault or intention of his, removed, obscured or defaced before the seven days referred to in subsection (7)(b) have elapsed, if he has taken reasonable steps for its protection and, if need be, replacement.

(9) If the applicant has cause to rely on subsection (8), his certificate under subsection (3) shall state the relevant circumstances.

(10) The notice required by subsection (7) shall (in addition to any other matters required to be contained in it) name a place within the area of the local planning authority to whom the application is made where a copy of the application for planning permission, and of all plans and other documents submitted with it, will be open to inspection by the public at all reasonable hours during such period as may be specified in the notice (which must not be less than 21 days beginning with the date on which the notice is first posted).

(11) Subsections (4), (5) and (6) of section 66 shall apply in relation to certificates under subsection (3) as they apply to certificates under subsection (1)(b) of that section but as if at the end of subsection (6) there were added the words “or, if later, the latest of the dates on which a notice was posted as mentioned in subsection (7)(a) of section 67”.

68 Further provisions as to certificates under sections 65 to 67

(1) If any person—

(a) issues a certificate which purports to comply with the requirements of subsection (2)(b) of section 65 or of section 66 or 67 and contains a statement which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular, or

(b) recklessly issues a certificate which purports to comply with those requirements and contains a statement which is false or misleading in a material particular,

he shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) Any certificate issued for the purpose of section 65, 66 or 67 shall be in such form as may be prescribed by a development order for a certificate under that section.

(4) Any reference in any provision of section 66 or 67 to the requisite notice, where a form of notice is prescribed by a development order for the purposes of that provision, is a reference to a notice in that form.

69 Registers of applications, etc

(1) Every local planning authority shall keep, in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order, a register containing such information as may be so prescribed with respect to applications for planning permission made to that authority.

(2) The register shall contain—

(a) information as to the manner in which such applications have been dealt with, and

(b) such information as may be prescribed by a development order with respect to simplified planning zone schemes relating to zones in the authority’s area.

(3) A development order may make provision for the register to be kept in two or more parts, each part containing such information relating to applications for planning permission made to the authority as may be prescribed by the order.

(4) A development order may also make provision—

(a) for a specified part of the register to contain copies of applications and of any plans or drawings submitted with them; and

(b) for the entry relating to any application, and everything relating to it, to be removed from that part of the register when the application (including any appeal arising out of it) has been finally disposed of (without prejudice to the inclusion of any different entry relating to it in another part of the register).

(5) Every register kept under this section shall be available for inspection by the public at all reasonable hours.

Determination of applications

70 Determination of applications: general considerations

(1) Where an application is made to a local planning authority for planning permission—

(a) subject to sections 91 and 92, they may grant planning permission, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as they think fit; or

(b) they may refuse planning permission.

(2) In dealing with such an application the authority shall have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the application, and to any other material considerations.

(3) Subsection (1) has effect subject to sections 65, 66 and 67 and to the following provisions of this Act, to sections 66, 67, 72 and 73 of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and to section 15 of the [1976 c. 83.] Health Services Act 1976.

71 Consultations in connection with determinations under s. 70

(1) In determining any application for planning permission for development of a class designated under section 65, the local planning authority shall take into account any representations relating to that application which are received by them before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the application.

(2) Where an application for planning permission is accompanied by such a certificate as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b), (c) or (d) of section 66 or subsection (3) of section 67, or by a certificate containing a statement in accordance with subsection (4)(b) and (5) of section 66, the local planning authority—

(a) in determining the application, shall take into account any representations relating to it which are made to them, before the end of the period mentioned in subsection (6) of section 66, by any person who satisfies them that he is an owner of any land to which the application relates or that he is the tenant of an agricultural holding any part of which is comprised in that land; and

(b) shall give notice of their decision to every person who has made representations which they were required to take into account in accordance with paragraph (a);

and in the case of an application to which section 67 applies the reference in paragraph (a) to section 66(6) is a reference to that section as it applies by virtue of section 67(11).

(3) Before a local planning authority grant planning permission for the use of land as a caravan site, they shall, unless they are also the authority with power to issue a site licence for that land, consult the local authority with that power.

(4) In this section—

• “agricultural holding” has the same meaning as in section 66;

• “owner” has the same meaning as in section 66 or, as the case may be, section 67; and

• “site licence” means a licence under Part 1 of the [1960 c. 62.] Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 authorising the use of land as a caravan site.

72 Conditional grant of planning permission

(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 70(1), conditions may be imposed on the grant of planning permission under that section—

(a) for regulating the development or use of any land under the control of the applicant (whether or not it is land in respect of which the application was made) or requiring the carrying out of works on any such land, so far as appears to the local planning authority to be expedient for the purposes of or in connection with the development authorised by the permission;

(b) for requiring the removal of any buildings or works authorised by the permission, or the discontinuance of any use of land so authorised, at the end of a specified period, and the carrying out of any works required for the reinstatement of land at the end of that period.

(2) A planning permission granted subject to such a condition as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b) is in this Act referred to as “planning permission granted for a limited period”.

(3) Where—

(a) planning permission is granted for development consisting of or including the carrying out of building or other operations subject to a condition that the operations shall be commenced not later than a time specified in the condition; and

(b) any building or other operations are commenced after the time so specified,

the commencement and carrying out of those operations do not constitute development for which that permission was granted.

(4) Subsection (3)(a) does not apply to a condition attached to the planning permission by or under section 91 or 92.

(5) Part I of Schedule 5 shall have effect for the purpose of making special provision with respect to the conditions which may be imposed on the grant of planning permission for development consisting of the winning and working of minerals, and subsection (2) has effect subject to paragraph 1(6)(a) of that Schedule.

73 Determination of applications to develop land without compliance with conditions previously attached

(1) This section applies, subject to subsection (4), to applications for planning permission for the development of land without complying with conditions subject to which a previous planning permission was granted.

(2) On such an application the local planning authority shall consider only the question of the conditions subject to which planning permission should be granted, and—

(a) if they decide that planning permission should be granted subject to conditions differing from those subject to which the previous permission was granted, or that it should be granted unconditionally, they shall grant planning permission accordingly, and

(b) if they decide that planning permission should be granted subject to the same conditions as those subject to which the previous permission was granted, they shall refuse the application.

(3) Special provision may be made with respect to such applications—

(a) by regulations under section 62 as regards the form and content of the application, and

(b) by a development order as regards the procedure to be followed in connection with the application.

(4) This section does not apply if the previous planning permission was granted subject to a condition as to the time within which the development to which it related was to be begun and that time has expired without the development having been begun.

74 Directions etc. as to method of dealing with applications

(1) Provision may be made by a development order for regulating the manner in which applications for planning permission to develop land are to be dealt with by local planning authorities, and in particular—

(a) for enabling the Secretary of State to give directions restricting the grant of planning permission by the local planning authority, either indefinitely or during such period as may be specified in the directions, in respect of any such development, or in respect of development of any such class, as may be so specified;

(b) for authorising the local planning authority, in such cases and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the order or by directions given by the Secretary of State under it, to grant planning permission for development which does not accord with the provisions of the development plan;

(c) for requiring that, before planning permission for any development is granted or refused, local planning authorities prescribed by the order or by directions given by the Secretary of State under it shall consult with such authorities or persons as may be so prescribed;

(d) for requiring the local planning authority to give to any applicant for planning permission, within such time as may be prescribed by the order, such notice as may be so prescribed as to the manner in which his application has been dealt with;

(e) for requiring the local planning authority to give any applicant for any consent, agreement or approval required by a condition imposed on a grant of planning permission notice of their decision on his application, within such time as may be so prescribed;

(f) for requiring the local planning authority to give to the Secretary of State, and to such other persons as may be prescribed by or under the order, such information as may be so prescribed with respect to applications for planning permission made to the authority, including information as to the manner in which any such application has been dealt with.

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to the provisions of section 71 of this Act and sections 67(7) and 73(1) of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

75 Effect of planning permission

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of this Part as to the duration, revocation or modification of planning permission, any grant of planning permission to develop land shall (except in so far as the permission otherwise provides) enure for the benefit of the land and of all persons for the time being interested in it.

(2) Where planning permission is granted for the erection of a building, the grant of permission may specify the purposes for which the building may be used.

(3) If no purpose is so specified, the permission shall be construed as including permission to use the building for the purpose for which it is designed.

76 Duty to draw attention to certain provisions for benefit of disabled

(1) This section applies when planning permission is granted for any development which will result in the provision—

(a) of a building or premises to which section 4 of the [1970 c. 44.] Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 applies (buildings or premises to which the public are to be admitted whether on payment or otherwise);

(b) of any of the following (being in each case, premises in which persons are employed to work)—

(i) office premises, shop premises and railway premises to which the [1963 c. 41.] Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 applies;

(ii) premises which are deemed to be such premises for the purposes of that Act; or

(iii) factories as defined by section 175 of the [1961 c. 34.] Factories Act 1961;

(c) of a building intended for the purposes of a university, university college or college, or of a school or hall of a university;

(d) of a building intended for the purposes of an institution within the PCFC funding sector; or

(e) of a building intended for the purposes of a school or an institution which provides higher education or further education (or both) and is maintained or assisted by a local education authority.

(2) The local planning authority granting the planning permission shall draw the attention of the person to whom the permission is granted—

(a) in the case of such a building or premises as are mentioned in subsection (1)(a)—

(i) to sections 4 and 7 of the [1970 c. 44.] Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and

(ii) to the Code of Practice for Access of the Disabled to Buildings (British Standards Institution code of practice BS 5810: 1979) or any prescribed document replacing that code;

(b) in the case of such premises as are mentioned in subsection (1)(b), to sections 7 and 8A of that Act and to that code or any such prescribed document replacing it;

(c) in the case of such a building as is mentioned in subsection (1)(c), (d) or (e), to sections 7 and 8 of that Act and to Design Note 18 “Access for Disabled People to Educational Buildings” published in 1984 on behalf of the Secretary of State, or any prescribed document replacing that note.

(3) Expressions used in subsection (1)(d) and (e) and in the [1944 c. 31.] Education Act 1944 have the same meanings as in that Act.

Secretary of State’s powers as respects planning applications and decisions

77 Reference of applications to Secretary of State

(1) The Secretary of State may give directions requiring applications for planning permission, or for the approval of any local planning authority required under a development order, to be referred to him instead of being dealt with by local planning authorities.

(2) A direction under this section—

(a) may be given either to a particular local planning authority or to local planning authorities generally; and

(b) may relate either to a particular application or to applications of a class specified in the direction.

(3) Any application in respect of which a direction under this section has effect shall be referred to the Secretary of State accordingly.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), where an application for planning permission is referred to the Secretary of State under this section, sections 65(2) and (9), 66, 67, 70, 71(1) and (2), 72(1) and (5) and 73 shall apply, with any necessary modifications, as they apply to such an application which falls to be determined by the local planning authority.

(5) Before determining an application referred to him under this section, the Secretary of State shall, if either the applicant or the local planning authority wish, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(6) Subsection (5) does not apply to an application for planning permission referred to a Planning Inquiry Commission under section 101.

(7) The decision of the Secretary of State on any application referred to him under this section shall be final.

78 Right to appeal against planning decisions and failure to take such decisions

(1) Where a local planning authority—

(a) refuse an application for planning permission or grant it subject to conditions;

(b) refuse an application for any consent, agreement or approval of that authority required by a condition imposed on a grant of planning permission or grant it subject to conditions; or

(c) refuse an application for any approval of that authority required under a development order or grant it subject to conditions,

the applicant may by notice appeal to the Secretary of State.

(2) A person who has made such an application may also appeal to the Secretary of State if the local planning authority have neither—

(a) given notice to the applicant of their decision on the application; nor

(b) given notice to him that the application has been referred to the Secretary of State in accordance with directions given under section 77,

within such period as may be prescribed by the development order or within such extended period as may at any time be agreed upon in writing between the applicant and the authority.

(3) Any appeal under this section shall be made by notice served within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order.

(4) The time prescribed for the service of such a notice must not be less than—

(a) 28 days from the date of notification of the decision; or

(b) in the case of an appeal under subsection (2), 28 days from the end of the period prescribed as mentioned in subsection (2) or, as the case may be, the extended period mentioned in that subsection.

(5) For the purposes of the application of sections 79(1), 253(2)(c), 266(1)(b) and 288(10)(b) in relation to an appeal under subsection (2), it shall be assumed that the authority decided to refuse the application in question.

79 Determination of appeals

(1) On an appeal under section 78 the Secretary of State may—

(a) allow or dismiss the appeal, or

(b) reverse or vary any part of the decision of the local planning authority (whether the appeal relates to that part of it or not),

and may deal with the application as if it had been made to him in the first instance.

(2) Before determining an appeal under section 78 the Secretary of State shall, if either the appellant or the local planning authority so wish, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to an appeal referred to a Planning Inquiry Commission under section 101.

(4) Subject to subsection (2), the provisions of sections 66, 67, 70, 71(2), 72(1) and (5) and 73 and Part I of Schedule 5 shall apply, with any necessary modifications, in relation to an appeal to the Secretary of State under section 78 as they apply in relation to an application for planning permission which falls to be determined by the local planning authority.

(5) The decision of the Secretary of State on such an appeal shall be final.

(6) If, before or during the determination of such an appeal in respect of an application for planning permission to develop land, the Secretary of State forms the opinion that, having regard to the provisions of sections 70 and 72(1), the development order and any directions given under that order, planning permission for that development—

(a) could not have been granted by the local planning authority; or

(b) could not have been granted otherwise than subject to the conditions imposed,

he may decline to determine the appeal or to proceed with the determination.

(7) Schedule 6 applies to appeals under section 78, including appeals under that section as applied by or under any other provision of this Act.

80 Review of planning decisions where compensation claimed

(1) This section and section 81 apply where, in accordance with the provisions of Part V, one or more claims for compensation in respect of a planning decision have been transmitted to the Secretary of State and the claim, or (if there is more than one) one or more of the claims, has not been withdrawn.

(2) If, in the case of a planning decision of the local planning authority, it appears to the Secretary of State that, if the application for permission to develop the land in question had been referred to him for determination, he would have made a decision more favourable to the applicant, the Secretary of State may give a direction substituting that decision for the decision of the local planning authority.

(3) The reference in subsection (2) to a decision more favourable to the applicant shall be construed—

(a) in relation to a refusal of permission, as a reference to a decision granting the permission, either unconditionally or subject to conditions, and either in respect of the whole of the land to which the application for permission related or in respect of part of that land; and

(b) in relation to a grant of permission subject to conditions, as a reference to a decision granting the permission applied for unconditionally or subject to less stringent conditions.

(4) If in any case it appears to the Secretary of State that planning permission could properly be granted (either unconditionally or subject to certain conditions) for some development of the land in question other than the development to which the application for planning permission related, the Secretary of State may give a direction that this Act shall have effect in relation to that application and to the planning decision—

(a) as if the application had included an application for permission for that other development, and the decision had included the grant of planning permission (unconditionally or, as the case may be, subject to those conditions) for that development; or

(b) as if the decision had been made by him and had included an undertaking to grant planning permission (unconditionally or, as the case may be, subject to those conditions) for that development,

as may be specified in the direction.

81 Provisions supplementary to s. 80

(1) Before giving a direction under section 80 the Secretary of State shall give notice in writing of his proposed direction—

(a) to the local planning authority to whose decision that direction relates, and

(b) to any person who made, and has not since withdrawn, a claim for compensation in respect of that decision.

(2) If so required by the local planning authority or by any such person, the Secretary of State shall give each of them an opportunity to appear before, and be heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(3) In giving any direction under section 80, the Secretary of State shall have regard—

(a) to the provisions of the development plan for the area in which the land in question is situated (in so far as those provisions are material to the development of that land); and

(b) to the local circumstances affecting the proposed development, including the use which prevails generally in the case of contiguous or adjacent land; and

(c) to any other material considerations.

(4) Where the Secretary of State gives a direction under section 80, he shall give notice of the direction—

(a) to the local planning authority to whose decision the direction relates; and

(b) to any person who made, and has not since withdrawn, a claim for compensation in respect of that decision.

Simplified planning zones

82 Simplified planning zones

(1) A simplified planning zone is an area in respect of which a simplified planning zone scheme is in force.

(2) The adoption or approval of a simplified planning zone scheme has effect to grant in relation to the zone, or any part of it specified in the scheme, planning permission—

(a) for development specified in the scheme, or

(b) for development of any class so specified.

(3) Planning permission under a simplified planning zone scheme may be unconditional or subject to such conditions, limitations or exceptions as may be specified in the scheme.

83 Making of simplified planning zone schemes

(1) Every local planning authority shall consider, as soon as practicable after 2nd November 1987, the question for which part or parts of their area a simplified planning zone scheme is desirable, and then shall keep that question under review.

(2) If as a result of their original consideration or of any such review a local planning authority decide that it is desirable to prepare a scheme for any part of their area they shall do so; and a local planning authority may at any time decide—

(a) to make a simplified planning zone scheme, or

(b) to alter a scheme adopted by them, or

(c) with the consent of the Secretary of State, to alter a scheme approved by him.

(3) Schedule 7 has effect with respect to the making and alteration of simplified planning zone schemes and other related matters.

84 Simplified planning zone schemes: conditions and limitations on planning permission

(1) The conditions and limitations on planning permission which may be specified in a simplified planning zone scheme may include—

(a) conditions or limitations in respect of all development permitted by the scheme or in respect of particular descriptions of development so permitted, and

(b) conditions or limitations requiring the consent, agreement or approval of the local planning authority in relation to particular descriptions of permitted development.

(2) Different conditions or limitations may be specified in a simplified planning zone scheme for different cases or classes of case.

(3) Nothing in a simplified planning zone scheme shall affect the right of any person—

(a) to do anything not amounting to development, or

(b) to carry out development for which planning permission is not required or for which permission has been granted otherwise than by the scheme.

(4) No limitation or restriction subject to which permission has been granted otherwise than under the scheme shall affect the right of any person to carry out development for which permission has been granted under the scheme.

85 Duration of simplified planning zone scheme

(1) A simplified planning zone scheme shall take effect on the date of its adoption or approval and shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of 10 years beginning with that date.

(2) When the scheme ceases to have effect planning permission under it shall also cease to have effect except in a case where the development authorised by it has been begun.

86 Alteration of simplified planning zone scheme

(1) This section applies where alterations to a simplified planning zone scheme are adopted or approved.

(2) The adoption or approval of alterations providing for the inclusion of land in the simplified planning zone has effect to grant in relation to that land, or such part of it as is specified in the scheme, planning permission for development so specified or of any class so specified.

(3) The adoption or approval of alterations providing for the grant of planning permission has effect to grant such permission in relation to the simplified planning zone, or such part of it as is specified in the scheme, for development so specified or development of any class so specified.

(4) The adoption or approval of alterations providing for the withdrawal or relaxation of conditions, limitations or restrictions to which planning permission under the scheme is subject has effect to withdraw or relax the conditions, limitations or restrictions immediately.

(5) The adoption or approval of alterations providing for—

(a) the exclusion of land from the simplified planning zone,

(b) the withdrawal of planning permission, or

(c) the imposition of new or more stringent conditions, limitations or restrictions to which planning permission under the scheme is subject,

has effect to withdraw permission, or to impose the conditions, limitations or restrictions, with effect from the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the adoption or approval.

(6) The adoption or approval of alterations to a scheme does not affect planning permission under the scheme in any case where the development authorised by it has been begun.

87 Exclusion of certain descriptions of land or development

(1) The following descriptions of land may not be included in a simplified planning zone—

(a) land in a National Park;

(b) land in a conservation area;

(c) land within the Broads;

(d) land in an area designated under section 87 of the National Parks and Access to the [1949 c. 97.] Countryside Act 1949 as an area of outstanding natural beauty;

(e) land identified in the development plan for the district as part of a green belt;

(f) land in respect of which a notification or order is in force under section 28 or 29 of the [1981 c. 69.] Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (areas of special scientific interest).

(2) Where land included in a simplified planning zone becomes land of a description mentioned in subsection (1), that subsection does not operate to exclude it from the zone.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order provide that no simplified planning zone scheme shall have effect to grant planning permission—

(a) in relation to an area of land specified in the order or to areas of land of a description so specified, or

(b) for development of a description specified in the order.

(4) An order under subsection (3) has effect to withdraw such planning permission under a simplified planning zone scheme already in force with effect from the date on which the order comes into force, except in a case where the development authorised by the permission has been begun.

Enterprise zone schemes

88 Planning permission for development in enterprise zones

(1) An order designating an enterprise zone under Schedule 32 to the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 shall (without more) have effect on the date on which the order designating the zone takes effect to grant planning permission for development specified in the scheme or for development of any class so specified.

(2) The approval of a modified scheme under paragraph 11 of that Schedule shall (without more) have effect on the date on which the modifications take effect to grant planning permission for development specified in the modified scheme or for development of any class so specified.

(3) Planning permission so granted shall be subject to such conditions or limitations as may be specified in the scheme or modified scheme or, if none is specified, shall be unconditional.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), where planning permission is so granted for any development or class of development the enterprise zone authority may direct that the permission shall not apply in relation—

(a) to a specified development; or

(b) to a specified class of development; or

(c) to a specified class of development in a specified area within the enterprise zone.

(5) An enterprise zone authority shall not give a direction under subsection (4) unless—

(a) they have submitted it to the Secretary of State, and

(b) he has notified them that he approves of their giving it.

(6) If the scheme or the modified scheme specifies, in relation to any development it permits, matters which will require approval by the enterprise zone authority, the permission shall have effect accordingly.

(7) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to—

(a) the procedure for giving a direction under subsection (4); and

(b) the method and procedure relating to the approval of matters specified in a scheme or modified scheme as mentioned in subsection (6).

(8) Such regulations may modify any provision of the planning Acts or any instrument made under them or may apply any such provision or instrument (with or without modification) in making any such provision as is mentioned in subsection (7).

(9) Nothing in this section prevents planning permission being granted in relation to land in an enterprise zone otherwise than by virtue of this section (whether the permission is granted in pursuance of an application made under this Part or by a development order).

(10) Nothing in this section prejudices the right of any person to carry out development apart from this section.

89 Effect on planning permission of modification or termination of scheme

(1) Modifications to an enterprise zone scheme do not affect planning permission under the scheme in any case where the development authorised by it has been begun before the modifications take effect.

(2) When an area ceases to be an enterprise zone, planning permission under the scheme shall cease to have effect except in a case where the development authorised by it has been begun.

Deemed planning permission

90 Development with government authorisation

(1) Where the authorisation of a government department is required by virtue of an enactment in respect of development to be carried out by a local authority, or by statutory undertakers who are not a local authority, that department may, on granting that authorisation, direct that planning permission for that development shall be deemed to be granted, subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the direction.

(2) On granting a consent under section 36 or 37 of the [1989 c. 29.] Electricity Act 1989 in respect of any operation or change of use that constitutes development, the Secretary of State may direct that planning permission for that development and any ancillary development shall be deemed to be granted, subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the direction.

(3) The provisions of this Act (except Parts V and XII) shall apply in relation to any planning permission deemed to be granted by virtue of a direction under this section as if it had been granted by the Secretary of State on an application referred to him under section 77.

(4) For the purposes of this section development is authorised by a government department if—

(a) any consent, authority or approval to or for the development is granted by the department in pursuance of an enactment;

(b) a compulsory purchase order is confirmed by the department authorising the purchase of land for the purpose of the development;

(c) consent is granted by the department to the appropriation of land for the purpose of the development or the acquisition of land by agreement for that purpose;

(d) authority is given by the department—

(i) for the borrowing of money for the purpose of the development, or

(ii) for the application for that purpose of any money not otherwise so applicable; or

(e) any undertaking is given by the department to pay a grant in respect of the development in accordance with an enactment authorising the payment of such grants;

and references in this section to the authorisation of a government department shall be construed accordingly.

(5) In subsection (2) “ancillary development”, in relation to development consisting of the extension of a generating station, does not include any development which is not directly related to the generation of electricity by that station; and in this subsection “extension” and “generating station” have the same meanings as in Part I of the [1989 c. 29.] Electricity Act 1989.

Duration of planning permission

91 General condition limiting duration of planning permission

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, every planning permission granted or deemed to be granted shall be granted or, as the case may be, be deemed to be granted, subject to the condition that the development to which it relates must be begun not later than the expiration of—

(a) five years beginning with the date on which the permission is granted or, as the case may be, deemed to be granted; or

(b) such other period (whether longer or shorter) beginning with that date as the authority concerned with the terms of planning permission may direct.

(2) The period mentioned in subsection (1)(b) shall be a period which the authority consider appropriate having regard to the provisions of the development plan and to any other material considerations.

(3) If planning permission is granted without the condition required by subsection (1), it shall be deemed to have been granted subject to the condition that the development to which it relates must be begun not later than the expiration of five years beginning with the date of the grant.

(4) Nothing in this section applies—

(a) to any planning permission granted by a development order;

(b) to any planning permission granted under section 63 on an application relating to buildings or works completed, or a use of land instituted, before the date of the application;

(c) to any planning permission granted for a limited period;

(d) to any planning permission for development consisting of the winning and working of minerals which is granted (or deemed to be granted) subject to a condition that the development to which it relates must be begun before the expiration of a specified period after the completion of other development consisting of the winning and working of minerals which is already being carried out by the applicant for the planning permission;

(e) to any planning permission granted by an enterprise zone scheme;

(f) to any planning permission granted by a simplified planning zone scheme; or

(g) to any outline planning permission, as defined by section 92.

92 Outline planning permission

(1) In this section and section 91 “outline planning permission” means planning permission granted, in accordance with the provisions of a development order, with the reservation for subsequent approval by the local planning authority or the Secretary of State of matters not particularised in the application (“reserved matters”).

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, where outline planning permission is granted for development consisting in or including the carrying out of building or other operations, it shall be granted subject to conditions to the effect—

(a) that, in the case of any reserved matter, application for approval must be made not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of the grant of outline planning permission; and

(b) that the development to which the permission relates must be begun not later than—

(i) the expiration of five years from the date of the grant of outline planning permission; or

(ii) if later, the expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters or, in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matter to be approved.

(3) If outline planning permission is granted without the conditions required by subsection (2), it shall be deemed to have been granted subject to those conditions.

(4) The authority concerned with the terms of an outline planning permission may, in applying subsection (2), substitute, or direct that there be substituted, for the periods of three years, five years or two years referred to in that subsection such other periods respectively (whether longer or shorter) as they consider appropriate.

(5) They may also specify, or direct that there be specified, separate periods under paragraph (a) of subsection (2) in relation to separate parts of the development to which the planning permission relates; and, if they do so, the condition required by paragraph (b) of that subsection shall then be framed correspondingly by reference to those parts, instead of by reference to the development as a whole.

(6) In considering whether to exercise their powers under subsections (4) and (5), the authority shall have regard to the provisions of the development plan and to any other material considerations.

93 Provisions supplementary to ss. 91 and 92

(1) The authority referred to in section 91(1)(b) or 92(4) is—

(a) the local planning authority or the Secretary of State, in the case of planning permission granted by them,

(b) in the case of planning permission deemed to be granted under section 90(1), the department on whose direction planning permission is deemed to be granted, and

(c) in the case of planning permission deemed to be granted under section 90(2), the Secretary of State.

(2) For the purposes of section 92, a reserved matter shall be treated as finally approved—

(a) when an application for approval is granted, or

(b) in a case where the application is made to the local planning authority and on an appeal to the Secretary of State against the authority’s decision on the application the Secretary of State grants the approval, when the appeal is determined.

(3) Where a local planning authority grant planning permission, the fact that any of the conditions of the permission are required by the provisions of section 91 or 92 to be imposed, or are deemed by those provisions to be imposed, shall not prevent the conditions being the subject of an appeal under section 78 against the decision of the authority.

(4) In the case of planning permission (whether outline or other) which has conditions attached to it by or under section 91 or 92—

(a) development carried out after the date by which the conditions require it to be carried out shall be treated as not authorised by the permission; and

(b) an application for approval of a reserved matter, if it is made after the date by which the conditions require it to be made, shall be treated as not made in accordance with the terms of the permission.

94 Termination of planning permission by reference to time limit: completion notices

(1) This section applies where—

(a) by virtue of section 91 or 92, a planning permission is subject to a condition that the development to which the permission relates must be begun before the expiration of a particular period, that development has been begun within that period, but that period has elapsed without the development having been completed; or

(b) development has been begun in accordance with planning permission under a simplified planning zone scheme but has not been completed by the time the area ceases to be a simplified planning zone; or

(c) development has been begun in accordance with planning permission under an enterprise zone scheme but has not been completed by the time the area ceases to be an enterprise zone.

(2) If the local planning authority are of the opinion that the development will not be completed within a reasonable period, they may serve a notice (“a completion notice”) stating that the planning permission will cease to have effect at the expiration of a further period specified in the notice.

(3) The period so specified must not be less than 12 months after the notice takes effect.

(4) A completion notice shall be served—

(a) on the owner of the land,

(b) on the occupier of the land, and

(c) on any other person who in the opinion of the local planning authority will be affected by the notice.

(5) The local planning authority may withdraw a completion notice at any time before the expiration of the period specified in it as the period at the expiration of which the planning permission is to cease to have effect.

(6) If they do so they shall immediately give notice of the withdrawal to every person who was served with the completion notice.

95 Effect of completion notice

(1) A completion notice shall not take effect unless and until it is confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(2) In confirming a completion notice the Secretary of State may substitute some longer period for that specified in the notice as the period at the expiration of which the planning permission is to cease to have effect.

(3) If, within such period as may be specified in a completion notice (which must not be less than 28 days from its service) any person on whom the notice is served so requires, the Secretary of State, before confirming the notice, shall give him and the local planning authority an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(4) If a completion notice takes effect, the planning permission referred to in it shall become invalid at the expiration of the period specified in the notice (whether the original period specified under section 94(2) or a longer period substituted by the Secretary of State under subsection (2)).

(5) Subsection (4) shall not affect any permission so far as development carried out under it before the end of the period mentioned in that subsection is concerned.

96 Power of Secretary of State to serve completion notices

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient that a completion notice should be served in respect of any land, he may himself serve such a notice.

(2) A completion notice served by the Secretary of State shall have the same effect as if it had been served by the local planning authority.

(3) The Secretary of State shall not serve such a notice without consulting the local planning authority.

Revocation and modification of planning permission

97 Power to revoke or modify planning permission

(1) If it appears to the local planning authority that it is expedient to revoke or modify any permission to develop land granted on an application made under this Part, the authority may by order revoke or modify the permission to such extent as they consider expedient.

(2) In exercising their functions under subsection (1) the authority shall have regard to the development plan and to any other material considerations.

(3) The power conferred by this section may be exercised—

(a) where the permission relates to the carrying out of building or other operations, at any time before those operations have been completed;

(b) where the permission relates to a change of the use of any land, at any time before the change has taken place.

(4) The revocation or modification of permission for the carrying out of building or other operations shall not affect so much of those operations as has been previously carried out.

(5) References in this section to the local planning authority are to be construed in relation to development consisting of the winning and working of minerals as references to the mineral planning authority, and Part II of Schedule 5 shall have effect for the purpose of making special provision with respect to the conditions which may be imposed by an order under this section revoking or modifying permission for such development.

98 Procedure for s. 97 orders: opposed cases

(1) Except as provided in section 99, an order under section 97 shall not take effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(2) Where a local planning authority submit such an order to the Secretary of State for confirmation, they shall serve notice on—

(a) the owner of the land affected,

(b) the occupier of the land affected, and

(c) any other person who in their opinion will be affected by the order.

(3) The notice shall specify the period within which any person on whom it is served may require the Secretary of State to give him an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(4) If within that period such a person so requires, before the Secretary of State confirms the order he shall give such an opportunity both to him and to the local planning authority.

(5) The period referred to in subsection (3) must not be less than 28 days from the service of the notice.

(6) The Secretary of State may confirm an order submitted to him under this section either without modification or subject to such modifications as he considers expedient.

99 Procedure for s. 97 orders: unopposed cases

(1) This section applies where—

(a) the local planning authority have made an order under section 97; and

(b) the owner and the occupier of the land and all persons who in the authority’s opinion will be affected by the order have notified the authority in writing that they do not object to it.

(2) Where this section applies, instead of submitting the order to the Secretary of State for confirmation the authority shall advertise in the prescribed manner the fact that the order has been made, and the advertisement must specify—

(a) the period within which persons affected by the order may give notice to the Secretary of State that they wish for an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose; and

(b) the period at the expiration of which, if no such notice is given to the Secretary of State, the order may take effect by virtue of this section without being confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(3) The authority shall also serve notice to the same effect on the persons mentioned in subsection (1)(b).

(4) The period referred to in subsection (2)(a) must not be less than 28 days from the date the advertisement first appears.

(5) The period referred to in subsection (2)(b) must not be less than 14 days from the expiration of the period referred to in subsection (2)(a).

(6) The authority shall send a copy of any advertisement published under subsection (2) to the Secretary of State not more than three days after the publication.

(7) If—

(a) no person claiming to be affected by the order has given notice to the Secretary of State under subsection (2)(a) within the period referred to in that subsection, and

(b) the Secretary of State has not directed within that period that the order be submitted to him for confirmation,

the order shall take effect at the expiry of the period referred to in subsection (2)(b), without being confirmed by the Secretary of State as required by section 98(1).

(8) This section does not apply—

(a) to an order revoking or modifying a planning permission granted or deemed to have been granted by the Secretary of State under this Part or Part VII, or

(b) to an order modifying any conditions to which a planning permission is subject by virtue of section 91 or 92.

100 Revocation and modification of planning permission by the Secretary of State

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient that an order should be made under section 97, he may himself make such an order.

(2) Such an order which is made by the Secretary of State shall have the same effect as if it had been made by the local planning authority and confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(3) The Secretary of State shall not make such an order without consulting the local planning authority.

(4) Where the Secretary of State proposes to make such an order he shall serve notice on the local planning authority.

(5) The notice shall specify the period (which must not be less than 28 days from the date of its service) within which the authority may require an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(6) If within that period the authority so require, before the Secretary of State makes the order he shall give the authority such an opportunity.

(7) The provisions of this Part and of any regulations made under this Act with respect to the procedure to be followed in connection with the submission by the local planning authority of any order under section 97 and its confirmation by the Secretary of State shall have effect, subject to any necessary modifications, in relation to any proposal by the Secretary of State to make such an order and its making by him.

(8) Subsection (5) of section 97 applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.

References to Planning Inquiry Commission

101 Power to refer certain planning questions to Planning Inquiry Commission

(1) The Secretary of State may constitute a Planning Inquiry Commission to inquire into and report on any matter referred to them under subsection (2) in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (3).

(2) The matters that may be referred to a Planning Inquiry Commission are—

(a) an application for planning permission which the Secretary of State has under section 77 directed to be referred to him instead of being dealt with by a local planning authority;

(b) an appeal under section 78 (including that section as applied by or under any other provision of this Act);

(c) a proposal that a government department should give a direction under section 90(1) that planning permission shall be deemed to be granted for development by a local authority or by statutory undertakers which is required by any enactment to be authorised by that department;

(d) a proposal that development should be carried out by or on behalf of a government department.

(3) Any of those matters may be referred to any such commission under this section if it appears expedient to the responsible Minister or Ministers that the question whether the proposed development should be permitted to be carried out should be the subject of a special inquiry on either or both of the following grounds—

(a) that there are considerations of national or regional importance which are relevant to the determination of that question and require evaluation, but a proper evaluation of them cannot be made unless there is a special inquiry for the purpose;

(b) that the technical or scientific aspects of the proposed development are of so unfamiliar a character as to jeopardise a proper determination of that question unless there is a special inquiry for the purpose.

(4) Part I of Schedule 8 shall have effect as respects the constitution of any such commission and its functions and procedure on references to it under this section, and the references in subsection (3) and in that Schedule to “the responsible Minister or Ministers” shall be construed in accordance with Part II of that Schedule.

(5) In relation to any matter affecting both England and Wales, the functions of the Secretary of State under subsection (1) shall be exercised by the Secretaries of State for the time being having general responsibility in planning matters in relation to England and in relation to Wales acting jointly.

Other controls over development

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

(1) If, having regard to the development plan and to any other material considerations, 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)—

(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,

they may by order—

(i) require the discontinuance of that use, or

(ii) impose such conditions as may be specified in the order on the continuance of it, or

(iii) 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.

(3) Section 97 shall apply in relation to any planning permission granted by an order under this section as it applies in relation to planning permission granted by the local planning authority on an application made under this Part.

(4) The power conferred by subsection (2) includes 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 under section 103; or

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

(5) Any planning permission granted in accordance with subsection (4) may be granted—

(a) so as to take effect from the date on which the buildings or works were constructed or carried out, or the use was instituted, or

(b) in the case of buildings or works constructed or a use instituted in accordance with planning permission granted for a limited period, so as to take effect from the end of that period.

(6) 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.

(7) Subject to section 103(8), in the case of planning permission granted by an order under this section, the authority referred to in sections 91(1)(b) and 92(4) is the local planning authority making the order.

(8) The previous provisions of this section do not apply to the use of any land for development consisting in the winning or working of minerals except as provided in Schedule 9, and that Schedule shall have effect for the purpose of making provision as respects land which is or has been so used.

103 Confirmation by Secretary of State of s. 102 orders

(1) An order under section 102 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.

(2) The power of the Secretary of State under this section to confirm an order subject to modifications includes power—

(a) to modify any provision of the order granting planning permission, as mentioned in subsections (2) to (5) of section 102;

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

(3) Where a local planning authority submit an order to the Secretary of State for his confirmation under this section, they shall serve notice—

(a) on the owner of the land affected,

(b) on the occupier of that land, and

(c) on any other person who in their opinion will be affected by the order.

(4) The notice shall specify the period within which any person on whom it is served may require the Secretary of State to give him an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(5) If within that period such a person so requires, before the Secretary of State confirms the order, he shall give such an opportunity both to him and to the local planning authority.

(6) The period referred to in subsection (4) must not be less than 28 days from the service of the notice.

(7) Where an order under section 102 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 Secretary of State exercises his powers under subsection (2) in confirming an order granting planning permission, he is the authority referred to in sections 91(1)(b) and 92(4).

104 Power of the Secretary of State to make s. 102 orders

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient that an order should be made under section 102, he may himself make such an order.

(2) Such an order made by the Secretary of State shall have the same effect as if it had been made by the local planning authority and confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(3) The Secretary of State shall not make such an order without consulting the local planning authority.

(4) Where the Secretary of State proposes to make such an order he shall serve notice on the local planning authority.

(5) The notice shall specify the period within which the authority may require an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(6) If within that period the authority so require, before the Secretary of State makes the order he shall give the authority such an opportunity.

(7) The period referred to in subsection (5) must not be less than 28 days from the date of the service of the notice.

(8) The provisions of this Part and of any regulations made under this Act with respect to the procedure to be followed in connection with the submission by the local planning authority of any order under section 102, its confirmation by the Secretary of State and the service of copies of it as confirmed shall have effect, subject to any necessary modifications, in relation to any proposal by the Secretary of State to make such an order, its making by him and the service of copies of it.

105 Duty of mineral planning authorities to review mineral workings

(1) It shall be the duty of every mineral planning authority—

(a) to undertake at such intervals as they consider fit reviews of every site in their area in, on or under which operations for the winning and working of minerals—

(i) are being carried out; or

(ii) have been carried out at any time during the relevant period; or

(iii) are authorised by planning permission but have not been begun; and

(b) to make in respect of any such site any order under section 97 or under paragraph 1, 3, 5 or 6 of Schedule 9 that they consider appropriate.

(2) In subsection (1) “the relevant period”, in relation to a review, means the period of five years preceding the date of the beginning of the review or such other period as may be prescribed.

106 Agreements regulating development or use of land

(1) A local planning authority may enter into an agreement with any person interested in land in their area for the purpose of restricting or regulating the development or use of the land, either permanently or during such period as may be prescribed by the agreement.

(2) Any such agreement may contain such incidental and consequential provisions (including financial ones) as appear to the local planning authority to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the agreement.

(3) An agreement made under this section with any person interested in land may be enforced by the local planning authority against persons deriving title under that person in respect of that land as if the local planning authority were possessed of adjacent land and as if the agreement had been expressed to be made for the benefit of such land.

(4) Nothing in this section or in any agreement made under it shall be construed—

(a) as restricting the exercise, in relation to land which is the subject of any such agreement, of any powers exercisable by any Minister or authority under this Act so long as those powers are exercised in accordance with the provisions of the development plan, or in accordance with any directions which may have been given by the Secretary of State as to the provisions to be included in such a plan; or

(b) as requiring the exercise of any such powers otherwise than as mentioned in paragraph (a).

Part IV Compensation for Effects of Certain Orders, Notices, etc.

Compensation for revocation of planning permission, etc.

107 Compensation where planning permission revoked or modified

(1) Subject to section 116, where planning permission is revoked or modified by an order under section 97, then if, on a claim made to the local planning authority within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, it is shown that a person interested in the land or in minerals in, on or under it—

(a) has incurred expenditure in carrying out work which is rendered abortive by the revocation or modification; or

(b) has otherwise sustained loss or damage which is directly attributable to the revocation or modification,

the local planning authority shall pay that person compensation in respect of that expenditure, loss or damage.

(2) For the purposes of this section, any expenditure incurred in the preparation of plans for the purposes of any work, or upon other similar matters preparatory to it, shall be taken to be included in the expenditure incurred in carrying out that work.

(3) Subject to subsection (2), no compensation shall be paid under this section in respect—

(a) of any work carried out before the grant of the permission which is revoked or modified, or

(b) of any other loss or damage arising out of anything done or omitted to be done before the grant of that permission (other than loss or damage consisting of depreciation of the value of an interest in land).

(4) In calculating for the purposes of this section the amount of any loss or damage consisting of depreciation of the value of an interest in land, it shall be assumed that planning permission would be granted for development of the land of any class specified in Schedule 3.

(5) In this Part any reference to an order under section 97 includes a reference to an order under the provisions of that section as applied by section 102(3) (or, subject to section 116, by paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 9).

108 Compensation for refusal or conditional grant of planning permission formerly granted by development order

(1) Where—

(a) planning permission granted by a development order is withdrawn (whether by the revocation or amendment of the order or by the issue of directions under powers conferred by the order); and

(b) on an application made under Part III planning permission for development formerly permitted by that order is refused or is granted subject to conditions other than those imposed by that order,

section 107 shall apply as if the planning permission granted by the development order—

(i) had been granted by the local planning authority under Part III; and

(ii) had been revoked or modified by an order under section 97.

(2) Where planning permission granted by a development order is withdrawn by revocation or amendment of the order, this section applies only if the application referred to in subsection (1)(b) is made before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the revocation or amendment came into operation.

(3) This section shall not apply in relation to planning permission for the development of operational land of statutory undertakers.

109 Apportionment of compensation for depreciation

(1) Where compensation becomes payable under section 107 which includes compensation for depreciation of an amount exceeding £20, the local planning authority—

(a) if it appears to them to be practicable to do so, shall apportion the amount of the compensation for depreciation between different parts of the land to which the claim for that compensation relates; and

(b) shall give particulars of any such apportionment to the claimant and to any other person entitled to an interest in land which appears to the authority to be substantially affected by the apportionment.

(2) In carrying out an apportionment under subsection (1)(a), the local planning authority shall divide the land into parts and shall distribute the compensation for depreciation between those parts, according to the way in which different parts of the land appear to the authority to be differently affected by the order or, in a case falling within section 108, the relevant planning decision, in consequence of which the compensation is payable.

(3) Regulations under this section shall make provision, subject to subsection (4)—

(a) for enabling the claimant and any other person to whom particulars of an apportionment have been given under subsection (1), or who establishes that he is entitled to an interest in land which is substantially affected by such an apportionment, if he wishes to dispute the apportionment, to require it to be referred to the Lands Tribunal;

(b) for enabling the claimant and every other person to whom particulars of any such apportionment have been so given to be heard by the Tribunal on any reference under this section of that apportionment; and

(c) for requiring the Tribunal, on any such reference, either to confirm or to vary the apportionment and to notify the parties of the decision of the Tribunal.

(4) Where on a reference to the Lands Tribunal under this section it is shown that an apportionment—

(a) relates wholly or partly to the same matters as a previous apportionment, and

(b) is consistent with that previous apportionment in so far as it relates to those matters,

the Tribunal shall not vary the apportionment in such a way as to be inconsistent with the previous apportionment in so far as it relates to those matters.

(5) On a reference to the Lands Tribunal by virtue of subsection (3), subsections (1) and (2), so far as they relate to the making of an apportionment, shall apply with the substitution, for references to the local planning authority, of references to the Lands Tribunal.

(6) In this section and in sections 110 and 113—

• “compensation for depreciation” means so much of any compensation payable under section 107 as is payable in respect of loss or damage consisting of depreciation of the value of an interest in land,

• “interest” (where the reference is to an interest in land) means the fee simple or a tenancy of the land and does not include any other interest in it, and

• “relevant planning decision” means the planning decision by which planning permission is refused, or is granted subject to conditions other than those previously imposed by the development order.

110 Registration of compensation for depreciation

(1) Where compensation becomes payable under section 107 which includes compensation for depreciation of an amount exceeding £20, the local planning authority shall give notice to the Secretary of State that such compensation has become payable, specifying the amount of the compensation for depreciation and any apportionment of it under section 109.

(2) Where the Secretary of State is given such notice he shall cause notice of that fact to be deposited—

(a) with the council of the district or London borough in which the land is situated, and

(b) if that council is not the local planning authority, with the local planning authority.

(3) Notices deposited under this section must specify—

(a) the order, or in a case falling within section 108 the relevant planning decision, and the land to which the claim for compensation relates; and

(b) the amount of compensation and any apportionment of it under section 109.

(4) Notices deposited under this section shall be local land charges, and for the purposes of the [1975 c. 76.] Local Land Charges Act 1975 the council with whom any such notice is deposited shall be treated as the originating authority as respects the charge constituted by it.

(5) In relation to compensation specified in a notice registered under this section, references in this Part to so much of the compensation as is attributable to a part of the land to which the notice relates shall be construed as follows—

(a) if the notice does not include an apportionment under section 109, the amount of the compensation shall be treated as distributed rateably according to area over the land to which the notice relates;

(b) if the notice includes such an apportionment—

(i) the compensation shall be treated as distributed in accordance with that apportionment as between the different parts of the land by reference to which the apportionment is made; and

(ii) so much of the compensation as, in accordance with the apportionment, is attributed to a part of the land shall be treated as distributed rateably according to area over that part.

111 Recovery of compensation under s. 107 on subsequent development

(1) No person shall carry out any new development to which this section applies on land in respect of which a notice (“a compensation notice”) is registered under section 110 until any amount which is recoverable under this section in accordance with section 112 in respect of the compensation specified in the notice has been paid or secured to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), this section applies to any new development—

(a) which is development of a residential, commercial or industrial character and consists wholly or mainly of the construction of houses, flats, shop or office premises, or industrial buildings (including warehouses), or any combination of them; or

(b) which consists in the winning and working of minerals; or

(c) to which, having regard to the probable value of the development, it is in the opinion of the Secretary of State reasonable that this section should apply.

(3) This section shall not apply to any development by virtue of subsection (2)(c) if, on an application made to him for the purpose, the Secretary of State has certified that, having regard to the probable value of the development, it is not in his opinion reasonable that this section should apply to it.

(4) Where the compensation under section 107 specified in the notice registered under section 110 became payable in respect of an order modifying planning permission or, in a case falling within section 108, of a relevant planning decision (within the meaning of section 109) granting conditional planning permission, this section shall not apply to development in accordance with that permission as modified by the order or, as the case may be, in accordance with those conditions.

(5) For the purposes of this section and section 112 “new development” includes—

(a) any development of a class specified in paragraph 1 or 3 of Schedule 3 which is carried out otherwise than subject to the condition set out in Schedule 10; and

(b) any development excluded by paragraph 14 of Schedule 3 from that Schedule in its application to any determination to which section 326(1) applies.

112 Amount recoverable under s. 111 and provisions for payment or remission of it

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the amount recoverable under section 111 in respect of the compensation specified in a notice registered under section 110—

(a) if the land on which the development is to be carried out (“the development area”) is identical with, or includes (with other land) the whole of, the land comprised in the notice, shall be the amount of compensation specified in the notice;

(b) if the development area forms part of the land comprised in the notice, or includes part of that land together with other land not comprised in the notice, shall be so much of the amount of the compensation specified in the notice as is attributable to land comprised in the notice and falling within the development area.

(2) Where, in the case of any land in respect of which such a notice has been so registered, the Secretary of State is satisfied, having regard to the probable value of any proper development of that land, that no such development is likely to be carried out unless he exercises his powers under this subsection, he may, in the case of any particular development, remit the whole or part of any amount otherwise recoverable under section 111.

(3) Where part only of any such amount has been remitted in respect of any land, the Secretary of State shall cause the notice registered under section 110 to be amended by substituting in it, for the statement of the amount of the compensation, in so far as it is attributable to that land, a statement of the amount which has been remitted under subsection (2).

(4) Where, in connection with the development of any land, an amount becomes recoverable under section 111 in respect of the compensation specified in such a notice, then, except where, and to the extent that, payment of that amount has been remitted under subsection (2), no amount shall be recoverable under that section in respect of that compensation, in so far as it is attributable to that land, in connection with any subsequent development of it.

(5) No amount shall be recoverable under section 111 in respect of any compensation by reference to which a sum has become recoverable by the Secretary of State under section 308.

(6) An amount recoverable under section 111 in respect of any compensation shall be payable to the Secretary of State either—

(a) as a single capital payment, or

(b) as a series of instalments of capital and interest combined, or

(c) as a series of other annual or periodical payments, of such amounts, and payable at such times, as the Secretary of State may direct.

(7) Before giving a direction under subsection (6)(c) the Secretary of State shall take into account any representations made by the person by whom the development is to be carried out.

(8) Except where the amount payable under subsection (6) is payable as a single capital payment, it shall be secured by the person by whom the development is to be carried out in such manner (whether by mortgage, covenant or otherwise) as the Secretary of State may direct.

(9) If any person initiates any new development to which section 111 applies in contravention of subsection (1) of that section, the Secretary of State may serve a notice on him—

(a) specifying the amount appearing to the Secretary of State to be the amount recoverable under that section in respect of the compensation in question, and

(b) requiring him to pay that amount to the Secretary of State within such period as may be specified in the notice.

(10) The period specified under subsection (9)(b) must not be less than three months after the service of the notice.

(11) Subject to subsection (12), any sum recovered by the Secretary of State under section 111 shall be paid to the local planning authority who paid the compensation to which that sum relates.

(12) Subject to subsection (13), in paying any such sum to the local planning authority, the Secretary of State shall deduct from it—

(a) the amount of any contribution paid by him under section 113 in respect of the compensation to which the sum relates;

(b) the amount of any grant paid by him under Part XIV in respect of that compensation.

(13) If the sum recovered by the Secretary of State under section 111—

(a) is an instalment of the total sum recoverable, or

(b) is recovered by reference to development of part of the land in respect of which the compensation was payable,

any deduction to be made under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (12) shall be a deduction of such amount as the Secretary of State may determine to be the proper proportion of the amount referred to in that paragraph.

113 Contribution by Secretary of State towards compensation in certain cases

(1) Where—

(a) a notice under section 110 is given to the Secretary of State in consequence of the making of an order under section 97 revoking or modifying planning permission or, in a case falling within section 108, of a relevant planning decision refusing planning permission or granting it conditionally, and

(b) if that permission had been refused, or, as the case may be, had been granted as so modified or subject to those conditions, at the time when it was granted, compensation under Part V could have been claimed and would have been payable by the Secretary of State,

the Secretary of State may pay to the local planning authority a contribution of the amount appearing to him to be the amount of compensation which would have been so payable by him under Part V.

(2) The amount of any such contribution shall not exceed—

(a) the amount of the compensation for depreciation paid by the local planning authority; or

(b) the unexpended balance of established development value of the land in respect of which that compensation was paid at the date of the making of the order or, in a case falling within section 108, of the relevant planning decision.

(3) Regulations made under this section shall make provision, in relation to cases where the Secretary of State proposes to pay a contribution under this section—

(a) for requiring the Secretary of State to give notice of his proposal—

(i) to persons entitled to such interests in the land to which the proposal relates as may be prescribed, and

(ii) to such other persons (if any) as may be determined in accordance with the regulations to be affected by the proposal;

(b) for enabling persons to whom notice of the proposal is given to object to the proposal on the grounds—

(i) that compensation would not have been payable as mentioned in subsection (1), or

(ii) that the amount of the compensation so payable would have been less than the amount of the proposed contribution;

(c) for enabling any person making such an objection to require the matter in dispute to be referred to the Lands Tribunal for determination; and

(d) where a contribution under this section is paid, for applying (with any necessary modifications) the provisions of Part V as to the reduction or extinguishment of the unexpended balance of established development value of land as if the contribution had been a payment of compensation under that Part.

Compensation for other planning decisions

114 Compensation for planning decisions restricting development other than new development

(1) This section applies where, on an application for planning permission to carry out development of any class specified in Part II of Schedule 3, the Secretary of State, either on appeal or on the reference of the application to him for determination, refuses the permission or grants it subject to conditions.

(2) If, on a claim made to the local planning authority within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, it is shown that the value of the interest of any person in the land is less than it would have been if the permission had been granted or, as the case may be, had been granted unconditionally, the local planning authority shall pay that person compensation of an amount equal to the difference.

(3) In determining, for the purposes of subsection (2), whether or to what extent the value of an interest in land is less than it would have been if the permission had been granted, or had been granted unconditionally—

(a) it shall be assumed that any subsequent application for similar planning permission would be determined in the same way; but

(b) if, in the case of a refusal of planning permission, the Secretary of State, on refusing that permission, undertook to grant planning permission for some other development of the land if an application were made for it, regard must be had to that undertaking; and

(c) no account shall be taken of any prospective use which would contravene the condition set out in Schedule 10.

(4) Where, on such an application as is mentioned in subsection (1), planning permission is granted by the Secretary of State subject to conditions for regulating the design or external appearance or the size or height of buildings, the Secretary of State may direct that those conditions shall be disregarded, either altogether or to such extent as may be specified in the direction, in assessing the compensation (if any) payable under this section.

(5) The Secretary of State shall only give a direction under subsection (4) if it appears to him to be reasonable to do so having regard to the local circumstances.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 shall be construed as not extending to the enlargement of a building which was in existence on 1st July 1948 if—

(i) the building contains two or more separate dwellings divided horizontally from each other or from some other part of the building; and

(ii) the enlargement would result in either an increase in the number of such dwellings contained in the building or an increase of more than one-tenth in the cubic content of any such dwelling contained in the building;

(b) that paragraph shall be construed as not extending to works involving any increase in the cubic content of a building erected after that date (including any building resulting from the carrying out of such works as are described in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3); and

(c) paragraph 7 of that Schedule shall not apply to any such building as mentioned in paragraph (b).

(7) For the purposes of this section the conditions referred to in sections 91 and 92 shall be disregarded.

(8) No compensation shall be payable under this section in respect of an interest in land in respect of which a purchase notice is served.

115 Compensation in respect of orders under s. 102, etc

(1) This section shall have effect where an order is made under section 102—

(a) requiring a use of land to be discontinued,

(b) imposing conditions on the continuance of it, or

(c) requiring any buildings or works on land to be altered or removed.

(2) If, on a claim made to the local planning authority within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, it is shown that any person has suffered damage in consequence of the order—

(a) by depreciation of the value of an interest to which he is entitled in the land or in minerals in, on or under it, or

(b) by being disturbed in his enjoyment of the land or of such minerals,

that authority shall pay to that person compensation in respect of that damage.

(3) Without prejudice to subsection (2), any person who carries out any works in compliance with the order shall be entitled, on a claim made as mentioned in that subsection, to recover from the local planning authority compensation in respect of any expenses reasonably incurred by him in that behalf.

(4) Any compensation payable to a person under this section by virtue of such an order as is mentioned in subsection (1) shall be reduced by the value to him of any timber, apparatus or other materials removed for the purpose of complying with the order.

(5) Subject to section 116, this section applies where such an order as is mentioned in subsection (6) is made as it applies where an order is made under section 102.

(6) The orders referred to in subsection (5) are an order under paragraph 1 of Schedule 9—

(a) requiring a use of land to be discontinued, or

(b) imposing conditions on the continuance of it, or

(c) requiring any buildings or works or plant or machinery on land to be altered or removed,

or an order under paragraph 3, 5 or 6 of that Schedule.

116 Special basis for compensation in respect of certain orders affecting mineral working

Schedule 11 shall have effect for the purpose of making special provision as respects the payment of compensation in certain circumstances where an order under section 97 modifies planning permission for development consisting of the winning and working of minerals or an order is made under paragraph 1, 3, 5 or 6 of Schedule 9.

General and supplemental provisions

117 General provisions as to compensation for depreciation under Part IV

(1) For the purpose of assessing any compensation to which this section applies, the rules set out in section 5 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall, so far as applicable and subject to any necessary modifications, have effect as they have effect for the purpose of assessing compensation for the compulsory acquisition of an interest in land.

(2) Subject to regulations under paragraph 1 of Schedule 11, this section applies to any compensation which under the provisions of this Part is payable in respect of depreciation of the value of an interest in land.

(3) Where an interest in land is subject to a mortgage—

(a) any compensation to which this section applies, which is payable in respect of depreciation of the value of that interest, shall be assessed as if the interest were not subject to the mortgage;

(b) a claim for any such compensation may be made by any mortgagee of the interest, but without prejudice to the making of a claim by the person entitled to the interest;

(c) no compensation to which this section applies shall be payable in respect of the interest of the mortgagee (as distinct from the interest which is subject to the mortgage); and

(d) any compensation to which this section applies which is payable in respect of the interest which is subject to the mortgage shall be paid to the mortgagee, or, if there is more than one mortgagee, to the first mortgagee, and shall in either case be applied by him as if it were proceeds of sale.

118 Determination of claims for compensation

(1) Except in so far as may be otherwise provided by any regulations made under this Act, any question of disputed compensation under this Part shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

(2) In relation to the determination of any such question, the provisions of sections 2 and 4 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply subject to any necessary modifications and to the provisions of any regulations made under this Act.

Part V Compensation for Restrictions on New Development in Limited Cases

Preliminary

119 Scope of Part V

(1) This Part shall have effect for enabling compensation to be claimed in respect of planning decisions by which permission for the carrying out of new development of land is refused or is granted subject to conditions, in cases where at the time of the decision the land, or part of the land, has an unexpended balance of established development value.

(2) Schedule 12 shall have effect for the purpose of determining whether land has an unexpended balance of established development value for the purposes of this Part and, if so, what the amount of that balance is and for making further provision with respect to those questions.

(3) In accordance with subsection (5) of section 63, subsection (3) of that section does not apply for the purposes of this Part.

(4) In this Part—

(a) “interest” (where the reference is to an interest in land) means the fee simple or a tenancy of the land and does not include any other interest in it; and

(b) “local planning authority”, in relation to a planning decision, means the authority who made the decision.

Right to compensation

120 Right to compensation: general principles

Subject to the provisions of this Part, a person shall be entitled to compensation under this Part in respect of a planning decision by which planning permission for the carrying out of new development of land is refused, or is granted subject to conditions, if—

(a) at the time of the decision he is entitled to an interest in any land to which the decision relates which has an unexpended balance of established development value; and

(b) the value of that interest or, in the case of an interest extending to other land, the value of that interest in so far as it subsists in the land referred to in paragraph (a) is depreciated by the decision.

121 Planning decisions not ranking for compensation

(1) Compensation under this Part shall not be payable—

(a) in respect of the refusal of planning permission for any development which consists of or includes the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land; or

(b) in respect of any decision made on an application in pursuance of regulations under section 220 for consent to the display of advertisements.

(2) Compensation under this Part shall not be payable in respect of the imposition, on the granting of planning permission to develop land, of any condition relating to—

(a) the number or disposition of buildings on any land;

(b) the dimensions, design, structure or external appearance of any building, or the materials to be used in its construction;

(c) the manner in which any land is to be laid out for the purposes of the development, including the provision of facilities for the parking, loading, unloading or fuelling of vehicles on the land;

(d) the use of any buildings or other land; or

(e) the location or design of any means of access to a highway or the materials to be used in the construction of any such means of access,

or in respect of any condition subject to which permission is granted for the winning and working of minerals.

(3) In subsection (2) “means of access to a highway” does not include a service road.

(4) Compensation under this Part shall not be payable in respect of the application to any planning permission of any of the conditions referred to in sections 91 and 92.

(5) Subject to subsection (6), compensation under this Part shall not be payable in respect of the refusal of permission to develop land, if the reason or one of the reasons stated for the refusal is that development of the kind proposed would be premature by reference to either or both of the following matters, that is to say—

(a) the order of priority (if any) indicated in the development plan for the area in which the land is situated for development in that area;

(b) any existing deficiency in the provision of water supplies or sewerage services, and the period within which any such deficiency may reasonably be expected to be made good.

(6) Subsection (5) shall not apply if—

(a) the reason or one of the reasons stated as mentioned in that subsection is that the development would be premature by reference to the matters mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection, and

(b) the planning decision refusing the permission is made on an application made more than seven years after the date of a previous planning decision by which permission to develop the same land was refused for the same reason, or for reasons which included the same reason.

(7) Compensation under this Part shall not be payable in respect of the refusal of permission to develop land if the reason or one of the reasons stated for the refusal is that the land is unsuitable for the proposed development on account of its liability to flooding or to subsidence.

(8) For the purposes of this section, a planning decision by which permission to develop land is granted subject to a condition prohibiting development on a specified part of that land shall be treated as a decision refusing the permission with respect to that part.

122 No compensation if certain other development permitted

(1) Subject to subsection (2), compensation under this Part shall not be payable in respect of a planning decision by which permission is refused for the development of land if, notwithstanding that refusal, there is available with respect to that land planning permission for development to which this section applies.

(2) Where such permission is available with respect to part only of the land, this section shall have effect only in so far as the interest subsists in that part.

(3) Where a claim for compensation under this Part is made in respect of an interest in any land, planning permission for development to which this section applies shall be taken for the purposes of this section to be available with respect to that land or a part of it if, immediately before the Secretary of State gives notice of his findings in respect of that claim, there is in force with respect to that land, or that part of it, a grant of, or an undertaking by the Secretary of State to grant, planning permission for some such development, subject to no conditions other than such as are mentioned in section 121(2).

(4) This section applies to any development which—

(a) is of a residential, commercial or industrial character, and

(b) consists wholly or mainly of the construction of houses, flats, shop or office premises, or industrial buildings (including warehouses), or any combination of them.

123 Further exclusions from compensation

(1) Where an interest in any land has (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) been compulsorily acquired by, or sold to, an authority possessing compulsory purchase powers (other than statutory undertakers or the British Coal Corporation), that authority, and any person deriving title from that authority under a disposition made by that authority on or at any time after 1st July 1948, shall not be entitled to compensation under this Part in respect of a planning decision made after the service of the notice to treat or, as the case may be, after the making of the contract of sale by reason that the value of that interest, or of any interest created (whether immediately or derivatively) out of that interest, is depreciated by the decision.

(2) Subsection (1) shall apply to land which has at any time on or after 1st July 1948 (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) been appropriated by a local authority for a purpose for which the authority could have been authorised to acquire the land compulsorily as it applies to land in which an interest has been acquired as mentioned in that subsection, with the substitution for the reference to the service of the notice to treat of a reference to the appropriation.

(3) Where at the relevant date any land was or is operational land of statutory undertakers, or land of the British Coal Corporation of a class specified in regulations made under section 90 of the 1947 Act or under section 273 of the 1971 Act or under section 317 of this Act, the statutory undertakers or, as the case may be, the British Coal Corporation and any person deriving title from those undertakers or that Corporation shall not be entitled to compensation under this Part, in respect of a planning decision made after the relevant date, by reason that the value of any interest in that land is depreciated by that decision.

(4) In subsection (3) “the relevant date”—

(a) in relation to land which was such operational land or land of the British Coal Corporation as is mentioned in that subsection on 1st January 1955, means that day, and

(b) in relation to land which (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) became or becomes such operational land or land of the British Coal Corporation on a date subsequent to 1st January 1955, means that subsequent date.

(5) A person shall not be entitled to compensation under this Part in respect of depreciation of the value of an interest in land by a planning decision if he is entitled to compensation by virtue of section 108 in respect of depreciation of the value of that interest by that decision.

124 Grant of planning permission treated as subject to notional condition

(1) This section shall have effect where—

(a) on an application for planning permission for the carrying out of new development of land, a planning decision is made by which the permission is granted, whether unconditionally or subject to conditions; and

(b) the Secretary of State certifies that he is satisfied that particular buildings or works to which the application related were only included in it because the applicant had reason to believe that permission for the other development to which the application related (in this section referred to as “the principal development”) would not have been granted except subject to a condition requiring the erection or construction of those buildings or works.

(2) Where subsection (1) applies, then for the purposes of this Part—

(a) the application shall be deemed to have included, in the place of those buildings or works, such other development of the land on which the buildings or works were to be erected or constructed as might reasonably have been expected to have been included having regard to the principal development; and

(b) the permission shall be deemed to have been granted for the principal development subject to a condition requiring the erection or construction of those buildings or works.

Amount of compensation

125 General provisions as to amount of compensation

(1) Where a person is entitled to compensation under this Part in respect of depreciation by a planning decision of the value of an interest in land, the amount of the compensation, subject to the following provisions of this section, shall be—

(a) the amount by which the value of that interest, in so far as it subsists in land to which this section applies, is depreciated by the decision; or

(b) if less, the amount of the unexpended balance of established development value, immediately before the decision, of so much of the land in which the interest subsists as is land to which this section applies.

(2) Land to which this section applies, in relation to a planning decision, is land which—

(a) constitutes or forms part of the decision area; and

(b) at the time of the decision has an unexpended balance of established development value.

(3) If, in the case of any land to which this section applies—

(a) compensation is payable under this Part in respect of two or more interests in that land by reason of the same planning decision, and

(b) the aggregate amount of compensation payable apart from this subsection in respect of those interests would exceed the amount mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (1),

the amount mentioned in that paragraph shall be allocated between those interests in proportion to the depreciation of the value of each of them respectively, and the amount of the compensation payable in respect of any of those interests shall be the sum so allocated to that interest.

(4) Where the land constituting the decision area, taken as a whole, does not satisfy both of the following conditions, that is to say—

(a) that at the time of the decision it has an unexpended balance of established development value; and

(b) that every interest subsisting in it, the value of which is depreciated by the decision, subsists in the whole of that land,

subsection (5) has effect for the purpose of assessing the compensation payable under this Part in respect of any interest subsisting in that land or any part of it.

(5) Where this subsection applies in relation to an interest in land—

(a) the depreciation of the value of the interest by the planning decision shall first be ascertained with reference to the whole of the land which constitutes or forms part of the decision area and is land in which that interest subsists;

(b) the land referred to in paragraph (a) shall then be treated as divided into as many parts as may be requisite to ensure that each such part consists of land which either—

(i) satisfies both of the conditions mentioned in subsection (4); or

(ii) is not land which, at the time of the decision, has an unexpended balance of established development value; and

(c) the depreciation of the value of the interest, ascertained in accordance with paragraph (a), shall then be apportioned between those parts, according to the nature of those parts and the effect of the planning decision in relation to each of them; and

(d) the amount of the compensation shall be the aggregate of the amounts which would be payable by virtue of the previous provisions of this section if the planning decision had been made separately with respect to each of those parts.

(6) In this section “the decision area” in relation to a planning decision means the aggregate of the land to which the decision relates.

126 Assessment of depreciation

(1) For the purposes of this Part, the value of an interest in land, or of an interest in so far as it subsists in particular land, shall be taken to be depreciated by a planning decision (in this section referred to as “the relevant decision”) if, and to the extent to which, that value, calculated in accordance with this section, falls short of what that value so calculated would have been if the relevant decision had been a decision to the contrary effect.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, any such value shall for the purposes of this section be calculated—

(a) as at the time of the relevant decision; but

(b) as affected by that decision, by any grant of planning permission made after that decision and in force immediately before the Secretary of State gives notice of his findings on the claim for compensation in respect of that decision, and by any undertaking to grant planning permission so in force; and

(c) on the assumption that, after the relevant decision and apart from any such permission or undertaking as is mentioned in paragraph (b), planning permission would not be granted for any new development of the land in question, but would be granted for any development of it other than new development.

(3) If in consequence of another planning decision or of an order, being a decision or order made—

(a) before the relevant decision; and

(b) either in respect of the whole or part of the land to which the relevant decision relates or in respect of land which includes the whole or part of that land,

compensation to which this subsection applies has become or becomes payable in respect of that other planning decision or that order, the calculation to be made under this section shall be made as if that other planning decision had been a decision to the contrary effect or, as the case may be, that order had not been made.

(4) Subsection (3) applies—

(a) to any compensation payable under this Part or under Part II or Part V of the 1954 Act or Part VI of the 1962 Act or Part VII of the 1971 Act; and

(b) to so much of any compensation payable under section 107 of this Act, or section 164 of the 1971 Act, or section 118 of the 1962 Act, or under the provisions of those sections as applied by section 108 of this Act, or section 165 of the 1971 Act or section 119 of the 1962 Act respectively, and so much of any compensation to which Part IV of the 1954 Act applied, as is or was payable in respect of loss or damage consisting of depreciation of the value of an interest in land.

(5) In this section “a decision to the contrary effect”—

(a) in relation to a decision refusing permission, means a decision granting the permission subject to such condition (if any) of a description falling within section 121(2) as the authority making the decision might reasonably have been expected to impose if the permission had not been refused; and

(b) in relation to a decision granting the permission subject to conditions, means a decision granting the permission applied for subject only to such of those conditions (if any) as fall within that section.

Claims for and payment of compensation

127 General provisions as to claims for compensation

(1) Compensation under this Part shall not be payable unless a claim for it is duly made in accordance with this section.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a claim for compensation under this Part shall not have effect unless it is made before the end of the period of six months beginning with the date of the planning decision to which it relates.

(3) The Secretary of State may in any particular case (either before, on or after the date on which the time for claiming would otherwise have expired) allow an extended, or further extended, period for making such a claim.

(4) Regulations made under this section may—

(a) require claims for compensation under this Part to be made in a form prescribed by the regulations;

(b) require a claimant to provide such evidence in support of the claim, and such information as to the interest of the claimant in the land to which the claim relates and as to the interests of other persons in it which are known to the claimant, as may be so prescribed.

(5) Any claim for such compensation in respect of a planning decision shall be sent to the local planning authority.

(6) That authority shall transmit the claim to the Secretary of State as soon as possible after receiving it and furnish him with—

(a) any evidence or other information provided by the claimant in accordance with regulations made under this section; and

(b) such other information (if any) as may be required by or under regulations made under this section, being information appearing to the Secretary of State to be relevant to the exercise of his powers under the provisions of Part III relating to the review of planning decisions where compensation is claimed.

(7) Where a claim is transmitted to the Secretary of State under subsection (6) and it appears to the Secretary of State—

(a) that the development to which the planning decision related was not new development, or

(b) that at the time of the planning decision no part of the land to which the claim relates had an unexpended balance of established development value, or

(c) that compensation is excluded by section 121 or 122,

he shall notify the claimant accordingly, stating on which of those grounds it appears to him that compensation is not payable, and inviting the claimant to withdraw the claim.

(8) Unless a claim transmitted to the Secretary of State under subsection (6) is withdrawn, the Secretary of State shall give notice of the claim to every other person (if any) appearing to him to have an interest in the land to which the planning decision related.

128 Effect on claims of direction under s. 80

(1) Where, in accordance with section 81(4), the Secretary of State gives notice of a direction under section 80 to a person who has made a claim for compensation in respect of the planning decision to which that direction relates, that person, if he does not withdraw the claim, may, at any time within 30 days after the service on him of the Secretary of State’s notice, give notice to the Secretary of State modifying the claim.

(2) Subject to any such modification, where the Secretary of State gives a direction under section 80 in respect of a decision of a local planning authority, any claim made in respect of that decision shall have effect as if it had been made in respect of the decision which, by virtue of the direction, is substituted for the decision of the authority or, as the case may be, as if it had been made in respect of the decision of the authority as modified by the direction.

129 Determination of claims

(1) Regulations under this section shall make provision—

(a) for requiring claims for compensation under this Part to be determined by the Secretary of State in such manner as may be prescribed;

(b) for regulating the practice and procedure to be followed in connection with the determination of such claims;

(c) for requiring the Secretary of State on determining any such claim—

(i) to give notice of his findings to the claimant and to any other person who has made a claim for compensation under this Part in respect of the same planning decision, and

(ii) if his findings include an apportionment, to give particulars of the apportionment to any other person entitled to an interest in land appearing to the Secretary of State to be an interest substantially affected by the apportionment.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), provision shall be made by such regulations—

(a) for enabling the claimant or any other person to whom notice of the Secretary of State’s findings has been given in accordance with subsection (1), if he wishes to dispute the findings, to require them to be referred to the Lands Tribunal;

(b) for enabling the claimant and any other person to whom particulars of an apportionment included in those findings have been so given, or who establishes that he is entitled to an interest in land which is substantially affected by such an apportionment, if he wishes to dispute the apportionment, to require it to be referred to the Lands Tribunal;

(c) for enabling the claimant and every other person to whom notice of any findings or apportionment has been given as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) to be heard by the Tribunal on any reference under this section of those findings or, as the case may be, of that apportionment; and

(d) for requiring the Tribunal, on any such reference, either to confirm or to vary the Secretary of State’s findings or the apportionment, as the case may be, and to notify the parties of the decision of the Tribunal.

(3) Where on a reference to the Lands Tribunal under this section it is shown that an apportionment—

(a) relates wholly or partly to the same matters as a previous apportionment, and

(b) is consistent with that previous apportionment in so far as it relates to those matters,

the Tribunal shall not vary the apportionment in such a way as to be inconsistent with the previous apportionment in so far as it relates to those matters.

130 Payment of compensation

Where compensation is determined under section 129 to be payable, the Secretary of State shall pay the compensation to the person entitled to it in accordance with the previous provisions of this Part.

Recovery of compensation

131 Apportionment of compensation

(1) Where, on a claim for compensation under this Part in respect of a planning decision, the Secretary of State determines that compensation is payable and that the amount of the compensation exceeds £20, the Secretary of State shall—

(a) if it appears to him to be practicable to do so, apportion the amount of the compensation between different parts of the land to which the claim for compensation relates, and

(b) include particulars of the apportionment in the notice of his findings under section 129.

(2) In carrying out such an apportionment the Secretary of State shall divide the land into parts and distribute the compensation between them according to the way in which the different parts appear to him to be differently affected by the planning decision.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall apply on a reference to the Lands Tribunal under section 129 with the substitution for references to the Secretary of State of references to the Lands Tribunal (unless the decision of the Tribunal will not affect the amount of the compensation or any apportionment of it by the Secretary of State).

132 Registration of compensation

(1) Where, on a claim for compensation under this Part in respect of a planning decision, compensation of an amount exceeding £20 has become payable, the Secretary of State shall cause notice of that fact to be deposited—

(a) with the council of the district or London borough in which the land is situated, and

(b) if that council is not the local planning authority, with the local planning authority.

(2) Notices deposited under this section must specify—

(a) the planning decision and the land to which the claim for compensation relates,

(b) the amount of compensation, and

(c) any apportionment of it under section 131.

(3) Notices deposited under this section shall be local land charges, and for the purposes of the [1975 c. 76.] Local Land Charges Act 1975 the council with whom any such notice is deposited shall be treated as the originating authority as respects the charge constituted by it.

(4) In relation to compensation specified in a notice registered under this section, references in this Part to so much of the compensation as is attributable to a part of the land to which the notice relates shall be construed as follows—

(a) if the notice does not include an apportionment under section 131, the amount of the compensation shall be treated as distributed rateably according to area over the land to which the notice relates;

(b) if the notice includes such an apportionment—

(i) the compensation shall be treated as distributed in accordance with that apportionment as between the different parts of the land by reference to which the apportionment is made; and

(ii) so much of the compensation as, in accordance with the apportionment, is attributed to a part of the land shall be treated as distributed rateably according to area over that part.

133 Recovery of compensation on subsequent development

(1) No person shall carry out any new development to which this section applies, on land in respect of which a notice (“a compensation notice”) is registered under section 132, until any amount which is recoverable under this section in accordance with section 134 in respect of the compensation specified in the notice has been paid or secured to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), this section applies to any new development—

(a) which is development of a residential, commercial or industrial character and consists wholly or mainly of the construction of houses, flats, shop or office premises, or industrial buildings (including warehouses), or any combination of them; or

(b) which consists in the winning and working of minerals; or

(c) to which, having regard to the probable value of the development, it is in the opinion of the Secretary of State reasonable that this section should apply.

(3) This section shall not apply to any development by virtue of subsection (2)(c) if, on an application made to him for the purpose, the Secretary of State has certified that, having regard to the probable value of the development, it is not in his opinion reasonable that this section should apply to it.

(4) Where the compensation specified in the compensation notice became payable in respect of the imposition of conditions on the granting of permission to develop land, this section shall not apply to the development for which that permission was granted.

134 Amount recoverable and provisions for payment or remission of it

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the amount recoverable under section 133 in respect of the compensation specified in a compensation notice—

(a) if the land on which the development is to be carried out (“the development area”) is identical with, or includes (with other land) the whole of, the land comprised in the compensation notice, shall be the amount of compensation specified in that notice;

(b) if the development area forms part of the land comprised in the compensation notice, or includes part of that land together with other land not comprised in that notice, shall be so much of the amount of the compensation specified in that notice as is attributable to land comprised in that notice and falling within the development area.

(2) Where, in the case of any land in respect of which a compensation notice has been registered, the Secretary of State is satisfied, having regard to the probable value of any proper development of that land, that no such development is likely to be carried out unless he exercises his powers under this subsection, he may, in the case of any particular development, remit the whole or part of any amount otherwise recoverable under section 133.

(3) Where part only of any such amount has been remitted in respect of any land, the Secretary of State shall cause the compensation notice to be amended by substituting in it, for the statement of the amount of the compensation, in so far as it is attributable to that land, a statement of the amount which has been remitted under subsection (2).

(4) Where, in connection with the development of any land, an amount becomes recoverable under section 133 in respect of the compensation specified in a compensation notice, then, except where, and to the extent that, payment of that amount has been remitted under subsection (2), no amount shall be recoverable under section 133 in respect of that compensation, in so far as it is attributable to that land, in connection with any subsequent development of it.

(5) No amount shall be recoverable under section 133 in respect of any compensation by reference to which a sum has become recoverable by the Secretary of State under section 308.

(6) An amount recoverable under section 133 in respect of any compensation shall be payable to the Secretary of State either—

(a) as a single capital payment, or

(b) as a series of instalments of capital and interest combined, or

(c) as a series of other annual or periodical payments, of such amounts, and payable at such times, as the Secretary of State may direct.

(7) Before giving a direction under subsection (6)(c) the Secretary of State shall take into account any representations made by the person by whom the development is to be carried out.

(8) Except where the amount payable under subsection (6) is payable as a single capital payment, it shall be secured by the person by whom the development is to be carried out in such manner (whether by mortgage, covenant or otherwise) as the Secretary of State may direct.

(9) If any person initiates any new development to which section 133 applies in contravention of subsection (1) of that section, the Secretary of State may serve a notice on him—

(a) specifying the amount appearing to the Secretary of State to be the amount recoverable under that section in respect of the compensation in question, and

(b) requiring him to pay that amount to the Secretary of State within such period as may be specified in the notice.

(10) The period specified under subsection (9)(b) must not be less than three months after the service of the notice.

Supplementary provisions

135 Mortgages, rent-charges and settlements

(1) Regulations made under this section may make provision—

(a) as to the exercise of the right to claim compensation under this Part,

(b) as to the person to whom such compensation or any part of it is to be paid, and

(c) as to the application of any such compensation or any part of it,

in cases where, apart from this section, the right to claim the compensation is exercisable by reference to an interest in land which is subject to a mortgage, or to a rentcharge, or to the trusts of a settlement, or which was so subject at a time specified in the regulations.

(2) In relation to any case where by virtue of any such regulations compensation or a part of it is to be paid to the owner of a rentcharge, the regulations may—

(a) make similar provision to that made by section 25 of the [1943 c. 21.] War Damage Act 1943 (rights of owners of rentcharges as to payments for war damage) but with such adaptations and modifications as may be prescribed, and

(b) provide for disputes arising under the regulations, so far as they relate to rentcharges, to be referred to the Lands Tribunal for determination by it.

136 Calculation of value

(1) In calculating value for any of the purposes of this Part—

(a) subject to subsection (2), rules (2) to (4) of the rules set out in section 5 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply with the necessary modifications; and

(b) any mortgage to which the interest to be valued is subject shall be disregarded.

(2) Rule (3) of those rules shall not apply for the purposes of paragraph 15 of Schedule 12.

(3) Where for the purposes of any of the provisions of this Part—

(a) value falls to be calculated by reference to the duration of a tenancy, and

(b) by reason of any option or other contractual right with respect to the determination, renewal or continuance of the tenancy, the date of expiry of the tenancy is not ascertainable with certainty,

that date shall be taken to be such as appears reasonable and probable having regard to the interests of the party by whom the option is exercisable, or in whose favour the right operates, and to any other material considerations subsisting at the time when the calculation of value falls to be made.

Part VI Rights of owners etc. to require purchase of interests

Chapter I Interests affected by planning decisions or orders

Service of purchase notices

137 Circumstances in which purchase notices may be served

(1) This section applies where—

(a) on an application for planning permission to develop any land, permission is refused or is granted subject to conditions; or

(b) by an order under section 97 planning permission in respect of any land is revoked, or is modified by the imposition of conditions; or

(c) an order is made under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 in respect of any land.

(2) If—

(a) in the case mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b), any owner of the land claims that the conditions mentioned in subsection (3) are satisfied with respect to it, or

(b) in the case mentioned in subsection (1)(c), any person entitled to an interest in land in respect of which the order is made claims that the conditions mentioned in subsection (4) are satisfied with respect to it,

he may, within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, serve on the council of the district or London borough in which the land is situated a notice (in this Act referred to as “a purchase notice”) requiring that council to purchase his interest in the land in accordance with this Chapter.

(3) The conditions mentioned in subsection (2)(a) are—

(a) that the land has become incapable of reasonably beneficial use in its existing state; and

(b) in a case where planning permission was granted subject to conditions or was modified by the imposition of conditions, that the land cannot be rendered capable of reasonably beneficial use by the carrying out of the permitted development in accordance with those conditions; and

(c) in any case, that the land cannot be rendered capable of reasonably beneficial use by the carrying out of any other development for which planning permission has been granted or for which the local planning authority or the Secretary of State has undertaken to grant planning permission.

(4) The conditions mentioned in subsection (2)(b) are—

(a) that by reason of the order the land is incapable of reasonably beneficial use in its existing state; and

(b) that it cannot be rendered capable of reasonably beneficial use by the carrying out of any development for which planning permission has been granted, whether by that order or otherwise.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) and any claim arising in the circumstances mentioned in that subsection, the conditions referred to in sections 91 and 92 shall be disregarded.

(6) A person on whom a [1990 c. 9] repairs notice has been served under section 48 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 shall not be entitled to serve a notice under this section in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1)(a) in respect of the building in question—

(a) until the expiration of three months beginning with the date of the service of the repairs notice; and

(b) if during that period the compulsory acquisition of the building is begun in the exercise of powers under section 47 of that Act, unless and until the compulsory acquisition is discontinued.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6) a compulsory acquisition—

(a) is started when the the notice required by section 12 of the [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981 or, as the case may be, paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to that Act is served; and

(b) is discontinued—

(i) in the case of acquisition by the Secretary of State, when he decides not to make the compulsory purchase order; and

(ii) in any other case, when the order is withdrawn or the Secretary of State decides not to confirm it.

(8) No purchase notice shall be served in respect of an interest in land while the land is incapable of reasonably beneficial use by reason only of such an order as is mentioned in subsection (1)(c), except by virtue of a claim under subsection (2)(b).

138 Circumstances in which land incapable of reasonably beneficial use

(1) Where, for the purpose of determining whether the conditions specified in section 137(3) or (4) are satisfied in relation to any land, any question arises as to what is or would in any particular circumstances be a reasonably beneficial use of that land, then, in determining that question for that purpose, no account shall be taken of any unauthorised prospective use of that land.

(2) A prospective use of land shall be regarded as unauthorised for the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) if it would involve the carrying out of new development, or

(b) in the case of a purchase notice served in consequence of a refusal or conditional grant of planning permission, if it would contravene the condition set out in Schedule 10.

Duties of authorities on service of purchase notice

139 Action by council on whom purchase notice is served

(1) The council on whom a purchase notice is served shall serve on the owner by whom the purchase notice was served a notice (a “response notice”) stating either—

(a) that the council are willing to comply with the purchase notice; or

(b) that another local authority or statutory undertakers specified in the response notice have agreed to comply with it in their place; or

(c) that for reasons so specified the council are not willing to comply with the purchase notice and have not found any other local authority or statutory undertakers who will agree to comply with it in their place, and that they have sent the Secretary of State a copy of the purchase notice and of the response notice.

(2) A response notice must be served before the end of the period of three months beginning with the date of service of the purchase notice.

(3) Where the council on whom a purchase notice is served by an owner have served a response notice on him in accordance with subsection (1)(a) or (b), the council or, as the case may be, the other local authority or statutory undertakers specified in the response notice shall be deemed—

(a) to be authorised to acquire the interest of the owner compulsorily in accordance with the relevant provisions, and

(b) to have served a notice to treat in respect of it on the date of service of the response notice.

(4) Where the council propose to serve such a response notice as is mentioned in subsection (1)(c), they must first send the Secretary of State a copy—

(a) of the proposed response notice, and

(b) of the purchase notice.

(5) A notice to treat which is deemed to have been served by virtue of subsection (3)(b) may not be withdrawn under section 31 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961.

140 Procedure on reference of purchase notice to Secretary of State

(1) Where a copy of a purchase notice is sent to the Secretary of State under section 139(4), he shall consider whether to confirm the notice or to take other action under section 141 in respect of it.

(2) Before confirming a purchase notice or taking such other action, the Secretary of State must give notice of his proposed action—

(a) to the person who served the purchase notice;

(b) to the council on whom it was served;

(c) outside Greater London—

(i) to the county planning authority and also, where that authority is a joint planning board, to the county council; and

(ii) if the district council on whom the purchase notice in question was served is a constituent member of a joint planning board, to that board; and

(d) if the Secretary of State proposes to substitute any other local authority or statutory undertakers for the council on whom the notice was served, to them.

(3) A notice under subsection (2) shall specify the period (which must not be less than 28 days from its service) within which any of the persons on whom it is served may require the Secretary of State to give those persons an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(4) If within that period any of those persons so require, before the Secretary of State confirms the purchase notice or takes any other action under section 141 in respect of it he must give those persons such an opportunity.

(5) If, after any of those persons have appeared before and been heard by the appointed person, it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient to take action under section 141 otherwise than in accordance with the notice given by him, the Secretary of State may take that action accordingly.

141 Action by Secretary of State in relation to purchase notice

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section and to section 142(3), if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the conditions specified in subsection (3) or, as the case may be, subsection (4) of section 137 are satisfied in relation to a purchase notice, he shall confirm the notice.

(2) If it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient to do so, he may, instead of confirming the purchase notice—

(a) in the case of a notice served on account of the refusal of planning permission, grant planning permission for the development in question;

(b) in the case of a notice served on account of planning permission for development being granted subject to conditions, revoke or amend those conditions so far as appears to him to be required in order to enable the land to be rendered capable of reasonably beneficial use by the carrying out of that development;

(c) in the case of a notice served on account of the revocation of planning permission by an order under section 97, cancel the order;

(d) in the case of a notice served on account of the modification of planning permission by such an order by the imposition of conditions, revoke or amend those conditions so far as appears to him to be required in order to enable the land to be rendered capable of reasonably beneficial use by the carrying out of the development in respect of which the permission was granted; or

(e) in the case of a notice served on account of the making of an order under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, revoke the order or, as the case may be, amend the order so far as appears to him to be required in order to prevent the land from being rendered incapable of reasonably beneficial use by the order.

(3) If it appears to the Secretary of State that the land, or any part of the land, could be rendered capable of reasonably beneficial use within a reasonable time by the carrying out of any other development for which planning permission ought to be granted, he may, instead of confirming the purchase notice, or, as the case may be, of confirming it so far as it relates to that part of the land, direct that, if an application for planning permission for that development is made, it must be granted.

(4) If it appears to the Secretary of State, having regard to the probable ultimate use of the land, that it is expedient to do so, he may, if he confirms the notice, modify it, either in relation to the whole or any part of the land, by substituting another local authority or statutory undertakers for the council on whom the notice was served.

(5) Any reference in section 140 to the taking of action by the Secretary of State under this section includes a reference to the taking by him of a decision not to confirm the purchase notice either on the grounds that any of the conditions referred to in subsection (1) are not satisfied or by virtue of section 142.

142 Power to refuse to confirm purchase notice where land has restricted use by virtue of previous planning permission

(1) This section applies where a purchase notice is served in respect of land which consists in whole or in part of land which has a restricted use by virtue of an existing planning permission.

(2) For the purposes of this section, land is to be treated as having a restricted use by virtue of an existing planning permission if it is part of a larger area in respect of which planning permission has previously been granted (and has not been revoked) and either—

(a) it remains a condition of the planning permission (however expressed) that that part shall remain undeveloped or be preserved or laid out in a particular way as amenity land in relation to the remainder; or

(b) the planning permission was granted on an application which contemplated (expressly or by necessary implication) that the part should not be comprised in the development for which planning permission was sought, or should be preserved or laid out as mentioned in paragraph (a).

(3) Where a copy of the purchase notice is sent to the Secretary of State under section 139(4), he need not confirm the notice under section 141(1) if it appears to him that the land having a restricted use by virtue of an existing planning permission ought, in accordance with that permission, to remain undeveloped or, as the case may be, remain or be preserved or laid out as amenity land in relation to the remainder of the large area for which that planning permission was granted.

143 Effect of Secretary of State’s action in relation to purchase notice

(1) Where the Secretary of State confirms a purchase notice—

(a) the council on whom the purchase notice was served, or

(b) if under section 141(4) the Secretary of State modified the purchase notice by substituting another local authority or statutory undertakers for that council, that other authority or those undertakers,

shall be deemed to be authorised to acquire the interest of the owner compulsorily in accordance with the relevant provisions, and to have served a notice to treat in respect of it on such date as the Secretary of State may direct.

(2) If, before the end of the relevant period, the Secretary of State has neither—

(a) confirmed the purchase notice, nor

(b) taken any such action in respect of it as is mentioned in section 141(2) or (3), nor

(c) notified the owner by whom the notice was served that he does not propose to confirm the notice,

the notice shall be deemed to be confirmed at the end of that period, and the council on whom the notice was served shall be deemed to be authorised as mentioned in subsection (1) and to have served a notice to treat in respect of the owner’s interest at the end of that period.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), for the purposes of subsection (2) the relevant period is—

(a) the period of nine months beginning with the date of service of the purchase notice; or

(b) if it ends earlier, the period of six months beginning with the date on which a copy of the purchase notice was sent to the Secretary of State.

(4) The relevant period does not run if the Secretary of State has before him at the same time both—

(a) a copy of the purchase notice sent to him under section 139(4); and

(b) a notice of appeal under section 78, 174 or 195 of this Act or under section 20 or 39 of the Planning [1990 c. 9.] (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (appeals against refusal of listed building consent, etc. and appeals against listed building enforcement notices) or under section 21 [1990 c. 10.] of the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (appeals against decisions and failure to take decisions relating to hazardous substances) relating to any of the land to which the purchase notice relates.

(5) Where—

(a) the Secretary of State has notified the owner by whom a purchase notice has been served of a decision on his part to confirm, or not to confirm, the notice; and

(b) that decision is quashed under Part XII,

the purchase notice shall be treated as cancelled, but the owner may serve a further purchase notice in its place.

(6) The reference in subsection (5) to a decision to confirm, or not to confirm, the purchase notice includes—

(a) any decision not to confirm the notice in respect of any part of the land to which it relates, and

(b) any decision to grant any permission, or give any direction, instead of confirming the notice, either wholly or in part.

(7) For the purposes of determining whether a further purchase notice under subsection (5) was served within the period prescribed for the service of purchase notices, the planning decision in consequence of which the notice was served shall be treated as having been made on the date on which the decision of the Secretary of State was quashed.

(8) A notice to treat which is deemed to have been served by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) may not be withdrawn under section 31 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961.

Compensation

144 Special provisions as to compensation where purchase notice served

(1) Where compensation is payable by virtue of section 107 in respect of expenditure incurred in carrying out any works on land, any compensation payable in respect of the acquisition of an interest in the land in pursuance of a purchase notice shall be reduced by an amount equal to the value of those works.

(2) Where—

(a) the Secretary of State directs under section 141(3) that, if an application for it is made, planning permission must be granted for the development of any land, and

(b) on a claim made to the local planning authority within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, it is shown that the permitted development value of the interest in that land in respect of which the purchase notice was served is less than its existing use value,

that authority shall pay the person entitled to that interest compensation of an amount equal to the difference.

(3) If the planning permission mentioned in subsection (2)(a) would be granted subject to conditions for regulating the design or external appearance, or the size or height of buildings, or for regulating the number of buildings to be erected on the land, the Secretary of State may direct that in assessing any compensation payable under subsection (2) those conditions must be disregarded, either altogether or to such extent as may be specified in the direction.

(4) The Secretary of State may only give a direction under subsection (3) if it appears to him to be reasonable to do so having regard to the local circumstances.

(5) Sections 117 and 118 shall have effect in relation to compensation under subsection (2) as they have effect in relation to compensation to which those sections apply.

(6) In this section—

• “permitted development value”, in relation to an interest in land in respect of which a direction is given under section 141(3), means the value of that interest calculated with regard to that direction, but on the assumption that no planning permission would be granted otherwise than in accordance with that direction, and

• “existing use value”, in relation to such an interest, means the value of that interest as (for the purpose of ascertaining the compensation payable on an acquisition of the interest in pursuance of the purchase notice) that value would have been assessed in accordance with the provisions of the [1919 c. 57.] Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act 1919, as modified by the provisions of sections 51 to 54 of the 1947 Act, if no enactment repealing, modifying or superseding any of those provisions had been passed after the passing of the 1947 Act.

(7) Where a purchase notice in respect of an interest in land is served in consequence of an order under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, then if—

(a) that interest is acquired in accordance with this Chapter; or

(b) compensation is payable in respect of that interest under subsection (2),

no compensation shall be payable in respect of that order under section 115.

Special provisions for requiring purchase of whole of partially affected agricultural unit

145 Counter-notice requiring purchase of remainder of agricultural unit

(1) This section applies where—

(a) an acquiring authority is deemed under this Chapter to have served notice to treat in respect of any agricultural land on a person (“the claimant”) who has a greater interest in the land than as tenant for a year or from year to year (whether or not he is in occupation of the land), and

(b) the claimant has such an interest in other agricultural land (“the unaffected area”) comprised in the same agricultural unit as that to which the notice relates.

(2) Where this section applies the claimant may serve on the acquiring authority a counter-notice—

(a) claiming that the unaffected area is not reasonably capable of being farmed, either by itself or in conjunction with other relevant land, as a separate agricultural unit; and

(b) requiring the acquiring authority to purchase his interest in the whole of the unaffected area.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), “other relevant land” in subsection (2) means—

(a) land which is comprised in the same agricultural unit as the land to which the notice to treat relates and in which the claimant does not have such an interest as is mentioned in subsection (1); and

(b) land which is comprised in any other agricultural unit occupied by the claimant on the date on which the notice to treat is deemed to have been served and in respect of which he is then entitled to a greater interest than as tenant for a year or from year to year.

(4) Where a notice to treat has been served or is deemed under this Chapter or under Part III of the [1981 c. 66.] Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 to have been served in respect of any of the unaffected area or in respect of other relevant land as defined in subsection (3), then, unless and until the notice to treat is withdrawn, this section and section 146 shall have effect as if that land did not form part of the unaffected land or, as the case may be, did not constitute other relevant land.

(5) Where a counter-notice is served under subsection (2) the claimant shall also serve a copy of it on any other person who has an interest in the unaffected area (but failure to comply with this subsection shall not invalidate the counter-notice).

(6) A counter-notice under subsection (2) and any copy of that notice required to be served under subsection (5) must be served within the period of two months beginning with the date on which the notice to treat is deemed to have been served.

(7) This section is without prejudice to the rights conferred by sections 93 and 94 of the [1845 c. 18.] Lands Clauses (Consolidation) Act 1845 or section 8(2) and (3) of the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (provisions as to divided land).

146 Effect of counter-notice under s. 145

(1) If the acquiring authority do not within the period of two months beginning with the date of service of a counter-notice under section 145 agree in writing to accept the counter-notice as valid, the claimant or the authority may, within two months after the end of that period, refer it to the Lands Tribunal.

(2) On such a reference the Tribunal shall determine whether the claim in the counter-notice is justified and declare the counter-notice valid or invalid accordingly.

(3) Where a counter-notice is accepted as valid under subsection (1) or declared to be valid under subsection (2), the acquiring authority shall be deemed—

(a) to be authorised to acquire compulsorily the interest of the claimant in the land to which the requirement in the counter-notice relates under the same provision of this Chapter as they are authorised to acquire the other land in the agricultural unit in question; and

(b) to have served a notice to treat in respect of it on the date on which notice to treat is deemed to have been served under that provision.

(4) A claimant may withdraw a counter-notice at any time before the compensation payable in respect of a compulsory acquisition in pursuance of the counter-notice has been determined by the Lands Tribunal or at any time before the end of six weeks beginning with the date on which it is determined.

(5) Where a counter-notice is withdrawn by virtue of subsection (4) any notice to treat deemed to have been served in consequence of it shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

(6) Without prejudice to subsection (5), a notice to treat deemed to have been served by virtue of this section may not be withdrawn under section 31 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961.

(7) The compensation payable in respect of the acquisition of an interest in land in pursuance of a notice to treat deemed to have been served by virtue of this section shall be assessed on the assumptions mentioned in section 5(2), (3) and (4) of the [1973 c. 26.] Land Compensation Act 1973.

(8) Where by virtue of this section the acquiring authority become or will become entitled to a lease of any land but not to the interest of the lessor—

(a) the authority shall offer to surrender the lease to the lessor on such terms as the authority consider reasonable;

(b) the question of what is reasonable may be referred to the Lands Tribunal by the authority or the lessor and, if at the expiration of the period of three months after the date of the offer mentioned in paragraph (a) the authority and the lessor have not agreed on that question and that question has not been referred to the Tribunal by the lessor, it shall be so referred by the authority;

(c) if that question is referred to the Tribunal, the lessor shall be deemed—

(i) to have accepted the surrender of the lease at the expiry of one month after the date of the determination of the Tribunal or on such other date as the Tribunal may direct, and

(ii) to have agreed with the authority on the terms of surrender which the Tribunal has held to be reasonable.

(9) For the purposes of subsection (8) any terms as to surrender contained in the lease shall be disregarded.

(10) Where the lessor—

(a) refuses to accept any sum payable to him by virtue of subsection (8), or

(b) refuses or fails to make out his title to the satisfaction of the acquiring authority,

they may pay into court any such sum payable to the lessor and section 9(2) and (5) of the [1965 c. 56] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (deposit of compensation in cases of refusal to convey etc.) shall apply to that sum with the necessary modifications.

(11) Where an acquiring authority who become entitled to the lease of any land as mentioned in subsection (8) are a body incorporated by or under any enactment, the corporate powers of the authority shall, if they would not otherwise do so, include the power to farm that land.

147 Provisions supplemental to ss. 145 and 146

(1) Sections 145 and 146 apply in relation to the acquisition of interests in land by government departments which possess compulsory purchase powers as they apply in relation to the acquisition of interests in land by authorities who are not government departments.

(2) In sections 145, 146 and this section—

• “agricultural” and “agricultural land” have the meaning given in section 109 of the [1947 c. 48.] Agriculture Act 1947 and references to the farming of land include references to the carrying on in relation to the land of any agricultural activities;

• “agricultural unit” has the meaning given in section 171(1);

• “acquiring authority” has the same meaning as in the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 ; and

• “government departments which possess compulsory purchase powers” means government departments being authorities possessing compulsory purchase powers within the meaning of that Act.

Supplemental

148 Interpretation of Chapter I

(1) In this Chapter—

• “the relevant provisions” means—

  (a)

  the provisions of Part IX, or

  (b)

  in the case of statutory undertakers, any statutory provision (however expressed) under which they have power, or may be authorised, to purchase land compulsorily for the purposes of their undertaking; and

• “statutory undertakers” includes public telecommunications operators.

(2) In the case of a purchase notice served by such a person as is mentioned in subsection (2)(b) of section 137, references in this Chapter to the owner of the land include references to that person unless the context otherwise requires.

Chapter II Interests Affected by Planning Proposals: Blight

Preliminary

149 Scope of Chapter II

(1) This Chapter shall have effect in relation to land falling within any paragraph of Schedule 13 (land affected by planning proposals of public authorities etc.); and in this Chapter such land is referred to as “blighted land”.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sections 161 and 162, an interest qualifies for protection under this Chapter if—

(a) it is an interest in a hereditament or part of a hereditament and on the relevant date it satisfies one of the conditions mentioned in subsection (3); or

(b) it is an interest in an agricultural unit or part of an agricultural unit and on the relevant date it is the interest of an owner-occupier of the unit;

and in this Chapter such an interest is referred to as “a qualifying interest”.

(3) The conditions mentioned in subsection (2)(a) are—

(a) that the annual value of the hereditament does not exceed such amount as may be prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph by an order made by the Secretary of State, and the interest is the interest of an owner-occupier of the hereditament; or

(b) that the interest is the interest of a resident owner-occupier of the hereditament.

(4) In this section “the relevant date”, in relation to an interest, means the date of service of a notice under section 150 in respect of it.

(5) In this Chapter “blight notice” means a notice served under section 150, 161 or 162.

Blight notices

150 Notices requiring purchase of blighted land

(1) Where the whole or part of a hereditament or agricultural unit is comprised in blighted land and a person claims that—

(a) he is entitled to a qualifying interest in that hereditament or unit;

(b) he has made reasonable endeavours to sell that interest; and

(c) in consequence of the fact that the hereditament or unit or a part of it was, or was likely to be, comprised in blighted land, he has been unable to sell that interest except at a price substantially lower than that for which it might reasonably have been expected to sell if no part of the hereditament or unit were, or were likely to be, comprised in such land,

he may serve on the appropriate authority a notice in the prescribed form requiring that authority to purchase that interest to the extent specified in, and otherwise in accordance with, this Chapter.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), subsection (1) shall apply in relation to an interest in part of a hereditament or unit as it applies in relation to an interest in the whole of a hereditament or unit.

(3) Subsection (2) shall not enable any person—

(a) if he is entitled to an interest in the whole of a hereditament or agricultural unit, to make any claim or serve any notice under this section in respect of his interest in part of a hereditament or unit; or

(b) if he is entitled to an interest only in part of a hereditament or agricultural unit, to make or serve any such claim or notice in respect of his interest in less than the whole of that part.

(4) In this Chapter—

(a) subject to section 161(1), “the claimant”, in relation to a blight notice, means the person who served that notice, and

(b) any reference to the interest of the claimant, in relation to a blight notice, is a reference to the interest which the notice requires the appropriate authority to purchase as mentioned in subsection (1).

151 Counter-notices objecting to blight notices

(1) Where a blight notice has been served in respect of a hereditament or an agricultural unit, the appropriate authority may serve on the claimant a counter-notice in the prescribed form objecting to the notice.

(2) A counter-notice under subsection (1) may be served at any time before the end of the period of two months beginning with the date of service of the blight notice.

(3) Such a counter-notice shall specify the grounds on which the appropriate authority object to the blight notice (being one or more of the grounds specified in subsection (4) or, as relevant, in section 159(1), 161(5) or 162(5)).

(4) Subject to the following provisions of this Act, the grounds on which objection may be made in a counter-notice to a notice served under section 150 are—

(a) that no part of the hereditament or agricultural unit to which the notice relates is comprised in blighted land;

(b) that the appropriate authority (unless compelled to do so by virtue of this Chapter) do not propose to acquire any part of the hereditament, or in the case of an agricultural unit any part of the affected area, in the exercise of any relevant powers;

(c) that the appropriate authority propose in the exercise of relevant powers to acquire a part of the hereditament or, in the case of an agricultural unit, a part of the affected area specified in the counter-notice, but (unless compelled to do so by virtue of this Chapter) do not propose to acquire any other part of that hereditament or area in the exercise of any such powers;

(d) in the case of land falling within paragraph 1, 3 or 13 but not 14, 15 or 16 of Schedule 13, that the appropriate authority (unless compelled to do so by virtue of this Chapter) do not propose to acquire in the exercise of any relevant powers any part of the hereditament or, in the case of an agricultural unit, any part of the affected area during the period of 15 years from the date of the counter-notice or such longer period from that date as may be specified in the counter-notice;

(e) that, on the date of service of the notice under section 150, the claimant was not entitled to an interest in any part of the hereditament or agricultural unit to which the notice relates;

(f) that (for reasons specified in the counter-notice) the interest of the claimant is not a qualifying interest;

(g) that the conditions specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of section 150(1) are not fulfilled.

(5) Where the appropriate enactment confers power to acquire rights over land, subsection (4) shall have effect as if—

(a) in paragraph (b) after the word “acquire” there were inserted the words “or to acquire any rights over”;

(b) in paragraph (c) for the words “do not propose to acquire” there were substituted the words “propose neither to acquire, nor to acquire any right over”;

(c) in paragraph (d) after the words “affected area” there were inserted “or to acquire any right over any part of it”.

(6) An objection may not be made on the grounds mentioned in paragraph (d) of subsection (4) if it may be made on the grounds mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection.

(7) The grounds on which objection may be made in a counter-notice to a blight notice served by virtue of paragraph 19 of Schedule 13 shall not include those mentioned in subsection (4)(b) or (c).

(8) In this section “relevant powers”, in relation to blighted land falling within any paragraph of Schedule 13, means any powers under which the appropriate authority are or could be authorised—

(a) to acquire that land or to acquire any rights over it compulsorily as being land falling within that paragraph; or

(b) to acquire that land or any rights over it compulsorily for any of the relevant purposes;

and “the relevant purposes”, in relation to any such land, means the purposes for which, in accordance with the circumstances by virtue of which that land falls within the paragraph in question, it is liable to be acquired or is indicated as being proposed to be acquired.

152 Further counter-notices where certain proposals have come into force

(1) Where—

(a) an appropriate authority have served a counter-notice objecting to a blight notice in respect of any land falling within paragraph 1, 2, 3, 4 or 14 of Schedule 13 by virtue of Note (1) to that paragraph, and

(b) the relevant plan or alterations or, as the case may be, the relevant order or scheme comes into force (whether in its original form or with modifications),

the appropriate authority may serve on the claimant, in substitution for the counter-notice already served, a further counter-notice specifying different grounds of objection.

(2) Such a further counter-notice shall not be served—

(a) at any time after the end of the period of two months beginning with the date on which the relevant plan or alterations come into force; or

(b) if the objection in the counter-notice already served has been withdrawn or the Lands Tribunal has already determined whether or not to uphold that objection.

153 Reference of objection to Lands Tribunal: general

(1) Where a counter-notice has been served under section 151 objecting to a blight notice, the claimant may require the objection to be referred to the Lands Tribunal.

(2) Such a reference may be required under subsection (1) at any time before the end of the period of two months beginning with the date of service of the counter-notice.

(3) On any such reference, if the objection is not withdrawn, the Lands Tribunal shall consider—

(a) the matters set out in the notice served by the claimant, and

(b) the grounds of the objection specified in the counter-notice;

and, subject to subsection (4), unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Tribunal that the objection is not well-founded, the Tribunal shall uphold the objection.

(4) An objection on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(b), (c) or (d) shall not be upheld by the Tribunal unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Tribunal that the objection is well-founded.

(5) If the Tribunal determines not to uphold the objection, the Tribunal shall declare that the notice to which the counter-notice relates is a valid notice.

(6) If the Tribunal upholds the objection, but only on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(c), the Tribunal shall declare that the notice is a valid notice in relation to the part of the hereditament, or in the case of an agricultural unit the part of the affected area, specified in the counter-notice as being the part which the appropriate authority propose to acquire as mentioned in that notice, but not in relation to any other part of the hereditament or affected area.

(7) In a case falling within subsection (5) or (6), the Tribunal shall give directions specifying the date on which notice to treat (as mentioned in section 154) is to be deemed to have been served.

(8) This section shall have effect in relation to a further counter-notice served by virtue of section 152(1) as it has effect in relation to the counter-notice for which it is substituted.

154 Effect of valid blight notice

(1) Subsection (2) applies where a blight notice has been served and either—

(a) no counter-notice objecting to that notice is served in accordance with this Chapter; or

(b) where such a counter-notice has been served, the objection is withdrawn or, on a reference to the Lands Tribunal, is not upheld by the Tribunal.

(2) Where this subsection applies, the appropriate authority shall be deemed—

(a) to be authorised to acquire compulsorily under the appropriate enactment the interest of the claimant in the hereditament, or in the case of an agricultural unit the interest of the claimant in so far as it subsists in the affected area, and

(b) to have served a notice to treat in respect of it on the date mentioned in subsection (3).

(3) The date referred to in subsection (2)—

(a) in a case where, on a reference to the Lands Tribunal, the Tribunal determines not to uphold the objection, is the date specified in directions given by the Tribunal in accordance with section 153(7);

(b) in any other case, is the date on which the period of two months beginning with the date of service of the blight notice comes to an end.

(4) Subsection (5) applies where the appropriate authority have served a counter-notice objecting to a blight notice on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(c) and either—

(a) the claimant, without referring that objection to the Lands Tribunal, and before the time for so referring it has expired—

(i) gives notice to the appropriate authority that he accepts the proposal of the authority to acquire the part of the hereditament or affected area specified in the counter-notice, and

(ii) withdraws his claim as to the remainder of that hereditament or area; or

(b) on a reference to the Lands Tribunal, the Tribunal makes a declaration in accordance with section 153(6) in respect of that part of the hereditament or affected area.

(5) Where this subsection applies, the appropriate authority shall be deemed—

(a) to be authorised to acquire compulsorily under the appropriate enactment the interest of the claimant in so far as it subsists in the part of the hereditament or affected area specified in the counter-notice (but not in so far as it subsists in any other part of that hereditament or area), and

(b) to have served a notice to treat in respect of it on the date mentioned in subsection (6).

(6) The date referred to in subsection (5)—

(a) in a case falling within paragraph (a) of subsection (4), is the date on which notice is given in accordance with that paragraph; and

(b) in a case falling within paragraph (b) of that subsection, is the date specified in directions given by the Lands Tribunal in accordance with section 153(7).

155 Effect on powers of compulsory acquisition of counter-notice disclaiming intention to acquire

(1) Subsection (2) shall have effect where the grounds of objection specified in a counter-notice served under section 151 consist of or include the grounds mentioned in paragraph (b) or (d) of subsection (4) of that section and either—

(a) the objection on the grounds mentioned in that paragraph is referred to and upheld by the Lands Tribunal; or

(b) the time for referring that objection to the Lands Tribunal expires without its having been so referred.

(2) If—

(a) a compulsory purchase order has been made under the appropriate enactment in respect of land which consists of or includes the whole or part of the hereditament or agricultural unit to which the counter-notice relates, or

(b) the land in question falls within paragraph 21 of Schedule 13,

any power conferred by that order or, as the case may be, by special enactment for the compulsory acquisition of the interest of the claimant in the hereditament or agricultural unit or any part of it shall cease to have effect.

(3) Subsection (4) shall have effect where the grounds of objection specified in a counter-notice under section 151 consist of or include the grounds mentioned in paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of that section and either—

(a) the objection on the grounds mentioned in that paragraph is referred to and upheld by the Lands Tribunal; or

(b) the time for referring that objection to the Lands Tribunal expires without its having been so referred;

and in subsection (4) any reference to “the part of the hereditament or affected area not required” is a reference to the whole of that hereditament or area except the part specified in the counter-notice as being the part which the appropriate authority propose to acquire as mentioned in the counter-notice.

(4) If—

(a) a compulsory purchase order has been made under the appropriate enactment in respect of land which consists of or includes any of the part of the hereditament or affected area not required, or

(b) the land in question falls within paragraph 21 of Schedule 13,

any power conferred by that order or, as the case may be, by the special enactment for the compulsory acquisition of the interest of the claimant in any land comprised in the part of the hereditament or affected area not required shall cease to have effect.

156 Withdrawal of blight notice

(1) Subject to subsection (3), the person by whom a blight notice has been served may withdraw the notice at any time before the compensation payable in respect of a compulsory acquisition in pursuance of the notice has been determined by the Lands Tribunal or, if there has been such a determination, at any time before the end of the period of six weeks beginning with the date of the determination.

(2) Where a blight notice is withdrawn by virtue of subsection (1) any notice to treat deemed to have been served in consequence of it shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

(3) A person shall not be entitled by virtue of subsection (1) to withdraw a notice after the appropriate authority have exercised a right of entering and taking possession of land in pursuance of a notice to treat deemed to have been served in consequence of that notice.

(4) No compensation shall be payable in respect of the withdrawal of a notice to treat which is deemed to have been withdrawn by virtue of subsection (2).

Compensation

157 Special provisions as to compensation for acquisitions in pursuance of blight notices

(1) Where—

(a) an interest in land is acquired in pursuance of a blight notice, and

(b) the interest is one in respect of which a compulsory purchase order is in force under section 1 of the [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981, as applied by section 47 of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, containing a direction for minimum compensation under section 50 of that Act of 1990,

the compensation payable for the acquisition shall be assessed in accordance with that direction and as if the notice to treat deemed to have been served in respect of the interest under section 154 had been served in pursuance of the compulsory purchase order.

(2) Where—

(a) an interest in land is acquired in pursuance of a blight notice, and

(b) the interest is one in respect of which a compulsory purchase order is in force under section 290 of the [1985 c. 68.] Housing Act 1985 (acquisition of land for clearance);

the compensation payable for the acquisition shall be assessed in accordance with that Act and as if the notice to treat deemed to have been served in respect of the interest under section 154 had been served in pursuance of the compulsory purchase order.

(3) The compensation payable in respect of the acquisition by virtue of section 160 of an interest in land comprised in—

(a) the unaffected area of an agricultural unit; or

(b) if the appropriate authority have served a counter-notice objecting to the blight notice on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(c), so much of the affected area of the unit as is not specified in the counter-notice,

shall be assessed on the assumptions mentioned in section 5(2), (3) and (4) of the [1973 c. 26.] Land Compensation Act 1973.

(4) In subsection (3) the reference to “the appropriate authority” shall be construed as if the unaffected area of an agricultural unit were part of the affected area.

Special provisions for requiring purchase of whole of partially affected agricultural unit

158 Inclusion in blight notices of requirement to purchase parts of agricultural units unaffected by blight

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a blight notice is served in respect of an interest in the whole or part of an agricultural unit, and

(b) on the date of service that unit or part contains land (“the unaffected area”) which is not blighted land as well as land (“the affected area”) which is such land.

(2) Where this section applies the claimant may include in the blight notice—

(a) a claim that the unaffected area is not reasonably capable of being farmed, either by itself or in conjunction with other relevant land, as a separate agricultural unit; and

(b) a requirement that the appropriate authority shall purchase his interest in the whole of the unit or, as the case may be, in the whole of the part of it to which the notice relates.

(3) Subject to section 159(4), “other relevant land” in subsection (2) means—

(a) if the blight notice is served only in respect of part of land comprised in the agricultural unit, the remainder of it; and

(b) land which is comprised in any other agricultural unit occupied by the claimant on the date of service and in respect of which he is then entitled to an owner’s interest as defined in section 168(4).

159 Objections to s. 158 notices

(1) The grounds on which objection may be made in a counter-notice to a blight notice served by virtue of section 158 shall include the ground that the claim made in the notice is not justified.

(2) Objection shall not be made to a blight notice served by virtue of section 158 on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(c) unless it is also made on the grounds mentioned in subsection (1).

(3) The Lands Tribunal shall not uphold an objection to a notice served by virtue of section 158 on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(c) unless it also upholds the objection on the grounds mentioned in subsection (1).

(4) Where objection is made to a blight notice served by virtue of section 158 on the ground mentioned in subsection (1) and also on those mentioned in section 151(4)(c), the Lands Tribunal, in determining whether or not to uphold the objection, shall treat that part of the affected area which is not specified in the counter-notice as included in “other relevant land” as defined in section 158(3).

(5) If the Lands Tribunal upholds an objection but only on the ground mentioned in subsection (1), the Tribunal shall declare that the blight notice is a valid notice in relation to the affected area but not in relation to the unaffected area.

(6) If the Tribunal upholds an objection both on the ground mentioned in subsection (1) and on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(c) (but not on any other grounds) the Tribunal shall declare that the blight notice is a valid notice in relation to the part of the affected area specified in the counter-notice as being the part which the appropriate authority propose to acquire as mentioned in that notice but not in relation to any other part of the affected area or in relation to the unaffected area.

(7) In a case falling within subsection (5) or (6), the Tribunal shall give directions specifying a date on which notice to treat (as mentioned in sections 154 and section 160) is to be deemed to have been served.

(8) Section 153(6) shall not apply to any blight notice served by virtue of section 158.

160 Effect of notices served by virtue of s. 158

(1) In relation to a blight notice served by virtue of section 158—

(a) subsection (2) of section 154 shall have effect as if for the words “or in the case of an agricultural unit the interest of the claimant in so far as it subsists in the affected area” there were substituted the words “or agricultural unit”; and

(b) subsections (4) and (5) of that section shall not apply to any such blight notice.

(2) Where the appropriate authority have served a counter-notice objecting to a blight notice on the grounds mentioned in section 159(1), then if either—

(a) the claimant, without referring that objection to the Lands Tribunal and before the time for so referring it has expired, gives notice to the appropriate authority that he withdraws his claim as to the unaffected area; or

(b) on a reference to the Tribunal, the Tribunal makes a declaration in accordance with section 159(5),

the appropriate authority shall be deemed—

(i) to be authorised to acquire compulsorily under the appropriate enactment the interest of the claimant in so far as it subsists in the affected area (but not in so far as it subsists in the unaffected area), and

(ii) to have served a notice to treat in respect of it on the date mentioned in subsection (3).

(3) The date referred to in subsection (2)—

(a) in a case falling within paragraph (a) of subsection (2), is the date on which notice is given in accordance with that paragraph; and

(b) in a case falling within paragraph (b) of that subsection, is the date specified in directions given by the Tribunal in accordance with section 159(7).

(4) Where the appropriate authority have served a counter-notice objecting to a blight notice on the grounds mentioned in section 159(1) and also on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(c), then if either—

(a) the claimant, without referring that objection to the Lands Tribunal and before the time for so referring it has expired—

(i) gives notice to the appropriate authority that he accepts the proposal of the authority to acquire the part of the affected area specified in the counter-notice, and

(ii) withdraws his claim as to the remainder of that area and as to the unaffected area; or

(b) on a reference to the Tribunal, the Tribunal makes a declaration in accordance with section 159(6) in respect of that part of the affected area,

the appropriate authority shall be deemed to be authorised to acquire compulsorily under the appropriate enactment the interest of the claimant in so far as it subsists in the part of the affected area specified in the counter-notice (but not in so far as it subsists in any other part of that area or in the unaffected area) and to have served a notice to treat in respect of it on the date mentioned in subsection (5).

(5) The date referred to in subsection (4)—

(a) in a case falling within paragraph (a) of that subsection, is the date on which notice is given in accordance with that paragraph; and

(b) in a case falling within paragraph (b) of that subsection, is the date specified in directions given by the Tribunal in accordance with section 159(7).

(6) In relation to a blight notice served by virtue of section 158 references to “the appropriate authority” and “the appropriate enactment” shall be construed as if the unaffected area of an agricultural unit were part of the affected area.

Personal representatives, mortgagees and partnerships

161 Powers of personal representatives in respect of blight notice

(1) In relation to any time after the death of a person who has served a blight notice, sections 151(1), 152(1), 153(1), 154(4) and (5), 156(1) and 160(2) and (4) shall apply as if any reference in them to the claimant were a reference to the claimant’s personal representatives.

(2) Where the whole or part of a hereditament or agricultural unit is comprised in blighted land and a person claims that—

(a) he is the personal representative of a person (“the deceased”) who at the date of his death was entitled to an interest in that hereditament or unit;

(b) the interest was one which would have been a qualifying interest if a notice under section 150 had been served in respect of it on that date;

(c) he has made reasonable endeavours to sell that interest;

(d) in consequence of the fact that the hereditament or unit or a part of it was, or was likely to be, comprised in blighted land, he has been unable to sell that interest except at a price substantially lower than that for which it might reasonably have been expected to sell if no part of the hereditament or unit were, or were likely to be, comprised in such land; and

(e) one or more individuals are (to the exclusion of any body corporate) beneficially entitled to that interest,

he may serve on the appropriate authority a notice in the prescribed form requiring that authority to purchase that interest to the extent specified in, and otherwise in accordance with, this Chapter.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), subsection (2) shall apply in relation to an interest in part of a hereditament or agricultural unit as it applies in relation to an interest in the whole of a hereditament or agricultural unit.

(4) Subsection (3) shall not enable any person—

(a) if the deceased was entitled to an interest in the whole of a hereditament or agricultural unit, to make any claim or serve any notice under this section in respect of the deceased’s interest in part of the hereditament or unit; or

(b) if the deceased was entitled to an interest only in part of the hereditament or agricultural unit, to make or serve any such claim or notice in respect of the deceased’s interest in less than the whole of that part.

(5) Subject to sections 151(7) and 159(2) and (3), the grounds on which objection may be made in a counter-notice under section 151 to a notice under this section are those specified in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (4) of that section and, in a case to which it applies, the grounds specified in paragraph (d) of that subsection and also the following grounds—

(a) that the claimant is not the personal representative of the deceased or that, on the date of the deceased’s death, the deceased was not entitled to an interest in any part of the hereditament or agricultural unit to which the notice relates;

(b) that (for reasons specified in the counter-notice) the interest of the deceased is not such as is specified in subsection (2)(b);

(c) that the conditions specified in subsection (2)(c), (d) or (e) are not satisfied.

162 Power of mortgagees to serve blight notice

(1) Where the whole or part of a hereditament or agricultural unit is comprised in blighted land and a person claims that—

(a) he is entitled as mortgagee (by virtue of a power which has become exercisable) to sell an interest in the hereditament or unit, giving immediate vacant possession of the land;

(b) he has made reasonable endeavours to sell that interest; and

(c) in consequence of the fact that the hereditament or unit or a part of it was, or was likely to be, comprised in blighted land, he has been unable to sell that interest except at a price substantially lower than that for which it might reasonably have been expected to sell if no part of the hereditament or unit were, or were likely to be, comprised in such land,

then, subject to the provisions of this section, he may serve on the appropriate authority a notice in the prescribed form requiring that authority to purchase that interest to the extent specified in, and otherwise in accordance with, this Chapter.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), subsection (1) shall apply in relation to an interest in part of a hereditament or unit as it applies in relation to an interest in the whole of a hereditament or unit.

(3) Subsection (2) shall not enable a person—

(a) if his interest as mortgagee is in the whole of a hereditament or agricultural unit, to make any claim or serve any notice under this section in respect of any interest in part of the hereditament or unit; or

(b) if his interest as mortgagee is only in part of a hereditament or agricultural unit, to make or serve any such notice or claim in respect of any interest in less than the whole of that part.

(4) Notice under this section shall not be served unless the interest which the mortgagee claims he has the power to sell—

(a) could be the subject of a notice under section 150 served by the person entitled to it on the date of service of the notice under this section; or

(b) could have been the subject of such a notice served by that person on a date not more than six months before the date of service of the notice under this section.

(5) Subject to sections 151(7) and 159(2) and (3), the grounds on which objection may be made in a counter-notice under section 151 to a notice under this section are those specified in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (4) of that section and, in a case to which it applies, the grounds specified in paragraph (d) of that subsection and also the following grounds—

(a) that, on the date of service of the notice under this section, the claimant had no interest as mortgagee in any part of the hereditament or agricultural unit to which the notice relates;

(b) that (for reasons specified in the counter-notice) the claimant had not on that date the power referred to in subsection (1)(a);

(c) that the conditions specified in subsection (1)(b) and (c) are not fulfilled;

(d) that (for reasons specified in the counter-notice) neither of the conditions specified in subsection (4) was, on the date of service of the notice under this section, satisfied with regard to the interest referred to in that subsection.

163 Prohibition on service of simultaneous notices under ss. 150, 161 and 162

(1) No notice shall be served under section 150 or 161 in respect of a hereditament or agricultural unit, or any part of it, at a time when a notice already served under section 162 is outstanding with respect to it, and no notice shall be served under section 162 at a time when a notice already served under section 150 or 161 is outstanding with respect to the relevant hereditament, unit or part.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a notice shall be treated as outstanding with respect to a hereditament, unit or part—

(a) until it is withdrawn in relation to the hereditament, unit or part; or

(b) in a case where an objection to the notice has been made by a counter-notice under section 151, until either—

(i) the period of two months specified in section 153 elapses without the claimant having required the objection to be referred to the Lands Tribunal under that section; or

(ii) the objection, having been so referred, is upheld by the Tribunal with respect to the hereditament, unit or part.

164 Special provisions as to partnerships

(1) This section shall have effect for the purposes of the application of this Chapter to a hereditament or agricultural unit occupied for the purposes of a partnership firm.

(2) Occupation for the purposes of the firm shall be treated as occupation by the firm, and not as occupation by any one or more of the partners individually, and the definitions of “owner-occupier” in section 168(1) and (2) shall apply in relation to the firm accordingly.

(3) If, after the service by the firm of a blight notice, any change occurs (whether by death or otherwise) in the constitution of the firm, any proceedings, rights or obligations consequential upon that notice may be carried on or exercised by or against, or, as the case may be, shall be incumbent upon, the partners for the time being constituting the firm.

(4) Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed as indicating an intention to exclude the operation of the definition of “person” in Schedule 1 to the [1978 c. 30.] Interpretation Act 1978 (by which, unless the contrary intention appears, “person” includes any body of persons corporate or unincorporate) in relation to any provision of this Chapter.

(5) Subsection (2) shall not affect the definition of “resident owner-occupier” in section 168(3).

Miscellaneous and supplementary provisions

165 Power of Secretary of State to acquire land affected by orders relating to new towns etc. where blight notice served

(1) Where a blight notice has been served in respect of land falling within paragraph 7, 8 or 9 of Schedule 13, then until such time as a development corporation is established for the new town or, as the case may be, an urban development corporation is established for the urban development area the Secretary of State shall have power to acquire compulsorily any interest in the land in pursuance of the blight notice served by virtue of that paragraph.

(2) Where the Secretary of State acquires an interest under subsection (1), then—

(a) if the land is or becomes land within paragraph 8 or, as the case may be, paragraph 9(b) of Schedule 13, the interest shall be transferred by him to the development corporation established for the new town or, as the case may be, the urban development corporation established for the urban development area; and

(b) in any other case, the interest may be disposed of by him in such manner as he thinks fit.

(3) The [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall have effect in relation to the compensation payable in respect of the acquisition of an interest by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) as if—

(a) the acquisition were by a development corporation under the [1981 c. 64.] New Towns Act 1981 or, as the case may be, by an urban development corporation under Part XVI of the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;

(b) in the case of land within paragraph 7 of Schedule 13, the land formed part of an area designated as the site of a new town by an order which has come into operation under section 1 of the New Towns Act 1981; and

(c) in the case of land within paragraph 9(a) of Schedule 13, the land formed part of an area designated as an urban development area by an order under section 134 of the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 which has come into operation.

166 Saving for claimant’s right to sell whole hereditament, etc

(1) The provisions of sections 151(4)(c), 153(6), 154(4) and (5) and 155(3) and (4) relating to hereditaments shall not affect—

(a) the right of a claimant under section 92 of the [1845 c. 18.] Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 to sell the whole of the hereditament or, in the case of an agricultural unit, the whole of the affected area, which he has required the authority to purchase; or

(b) the right of a claimant under section 8 of the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 to sell (unless the Lands Tribunal otherwise determines) the whole of the hereditament or, as the case may be, affected area which he has required that authority to purchase.

(2) In accordance with subsection (1)(b), in determining whether or not to uphold an objection relating to a hereditament on the grounds mentioned in section 151(4)(c), the Lands Tribunal shall consider (in addition to the other matters which they are required to consider) whether—

(a) in the case of a house, building or factory, the part proposed to be acquired can be taken without material detriment to the house, building or factory; or

(b) in the case of a park or garden belonging to a house, the part proposed to be acquired can be taken without seriously affecting the amenity or convenience of the house.

167 No withdrawal of constructive notice to treat

Without prejudice to the provisions of section 156(1) and (2), a notice to treat which is deemed to have been served by virtue of this Chapter may not be withdrawn under section 31 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961.

168 Meaning of “owner-occupier” and “resident owner-occupier”

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Chapter “owner-occupier”, in relation to a hereditament, means—

(a) a person who occupies the whole or a substantial part of the hereditament in right of an owner’s interest in it, and has so occupied the hereditament or that part of it during the whole of the period of six months ending with the date of service; or

(b) if the whole or a substantial part of the hereditament was unoccupied for a period of not more than 12 months ending with that date, a person who so occupied the hereditament or, as the case may be, that part of it during the whole of a period of six months ending immediately before the period when it was not occupied.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Chapter “owner-occupier”, in relation to an agricultural unit, means a person who—

(a) occupies the whole of that unit and has occupied it during the whole of the period of six months ending with the date of service; or

(b) occupied the whole of that unit during the whole of a period of six months ending not more than 12 months before the date of service,

and, at all times material for the purposes of paragraph (a) or, as the case may be, paragraph (b) has been entitled to an owner’s interest in the whole or part of that unit.

(3) In this Chapter “resident owner-occupier”, in relation to a hereditament, means—

(a) an individual who occupies the whole or a substantial part of the hereditament as a private dwelling in right of an owner’s interest in it, and has so occupied the hereditament or, as the case may be, that part during the whole of the period of six months ending with the date of service; or

(b) if the whole or a substantial part of the hereditament was unoccupied for a period of not more than 12 months ending with that date, an individual who so occupied the hereditament or, as the case may be, that part during the whole of a period of six months ending immediately before the period when it was not occupied.

(4) In this section—

• “owner’s interest”, in relation to a hereditament or agricultural unit, means a freehold interest in it or a tenancy of it granted or extended for a term of years certain not less than three years of which remain unexpired on the date of service; and

• “date of service”, in relation to a hereditament or agricultural unit, means the date of service of a notice in respect of it under section 150.

169 “Appropriate authority” for purposes of Chapter II

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Chapter “the appropriate authority”, in relation to any land, means the government department, local authority or other body or person by whom, in accordance with the circumstances by virtue of which the land falls within any paragraph of Schedule 13, the land is liable to be acquired or is indicated as being proposed to be acquired or, as the case may be, any right over the land is proposed to be acquired.

(2) If any question arises—

(a) whether the appropriate authority in relation to any land for the purposes of this Chapter is the Secretary of State or a local highway authority; or

(b) which of two or more local highway authorities is the appropriate authority in relation to any land for those purposes; or

(c) which of two or more local authorities is the appropriate authority in relation to any land for those purposes,

that question shall be referred to the Secretary of State, whose decision shall be final.

(3) If any question arises which authority is the appropriate authority for the purposes of this Chapter—

(a) section 151(2) shall have effect as if the reference to the date of service of the blight notice were a reference to that date or, if it is later, the date on which that question is determined;

(b) section 162(4)(b) shall apply with the substitution for the period of six months of a reference to that period extended by so long as it takes to obtain a determination of the question; and

(c) section 168(1)(b), (2)(b) and (3)(b) shall apply with the substitution for the reference to 12 months before the date of service of a reference to that period extended by so long as it takes to obtain a determination of the question.

(4) In relation to land falling within paragraph 7, 8 or 9 of Schedule 13, until such time as a development corporation is established for the new town or, as the case may be, an urban development corporation is established for the urban development area, this Chapter shall have effect as if “the appropriate authority” were the Secretary of State.

(5) In relation to land falling within paragraph 19 of Schedule 13, “the appropriate authority” shall be the highway authority for the highway in relation to which the order mentioned in that paragraph was made.

170 “Appropriate enactment” for purposes of Chapter II

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Chapter “the appropriate enactment”, in relation to land falling within any paragraph of Schedule 13, means the enactment which provides for the compulsory acquisition of land as being land falling within that paragraph or, as respects paragraph 22(b), the enactment under which the compulsory purchase order referred to in that paragraph was made.

(2) In relation to land falling within paragraph 2, 3 or 4 of that Schedule, an enactment shall for the purposes of subsection (1) be taken to be an enactment which provides for the compulsory acquisition of land as being land falling within that paragraph if—

(a) the enactment provides for the compulsory acquisition of land for the purposes of the functions which are indicated in the development plan as being the functions for the purposes of which the land is allocated or is proposed to be developed; or

(b) where no particular functions are so indicated in the development plan, the enactment provides for the compulsory acquisition of land for the purposes of any of the functions of the government department, local authority or other body for the purposes of whose functions the land is allocated or is defined as the site of proposed development.

(3) In relation to land falling within paragraph 2, 3 or 4 of that Schedule by virtue of Note (1) to that paragraph, “the appropriate enactment” shall be determined in accordance with subsection (2) as if references in that subsection to the development plan were references to any such plan, proposal or modifications as are mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of that Note.

(4) In relation to land falling within paragraph 5 or 6 of that Schedule, “the appropriate enactment” shall be determined in accordance with subsection (2) as if references in that subsection to the development plan were references to the resolution or direction in question.

(5) In relation to land falling within paragraph 7, 8 or 9 of that Schedule, until such time as a development corporation is established for the new town or, as the case may be, an urban development corporation is established for the urban development area, this Chapter shall have effect as if “the appropriate enactment” were section 165(1).

(6) In relation to land falling within paragraph 10 or 11 of that Schedule, “the appropriate enactment” shall be section 290 of the [1985 c. 68.] Housing Act 1985.

(7) In relation to land falling within paragraph 19 of that Schedule, “the appropriate enactment” shall be section 239(6) of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980.

(8) In relation to land falling within paragraph 22 of that Schedule by virtue of Note (1) to that paragraph, “the appropriate enactment” shall be the enactment which would provide for the compulsory acquisition of the land or of the rights over the land if the relevant compulsory purchase order were confirmed or made.

(9) Where, in accordance with the circumstances by virtue of which any land falls within any paragraph of that Schedule, it is indicated that the land is proposed to be acquired for highway purposes, any enactment under which a highway authority are or (subject to the fulfilment of the relevant conditions) could be authorised to acquire that land compulsorily for highway purposes shall, for the purposes of subsection (1), be taken to be an enactment providing for the compulsory acquisition of that land as being land falling within that paragraph.

(10) In subsection (9) the reference to the fulfilment of the relevant conditions is a reference to such one or more of the following as are applicable to the circumstances in question—

(a) the coming into operation of any requisite order or scheme made, or having effect as if made, under the provisions of Part II of the Highways Act 1980;

(b) the coming into operation of any requisite scheme made, or having effect as if made, under section 106(3) of that Act;

(c) the making or approval of any requisite plans.

(11) If, apart from this subsection, two or more enactments would be the appropriate enactment in relation to any land for the purposes of this Chapter, the appropriate enactment for those purposes shall be taken to be that one of those enactments under which, in the circumstances in question, it is most likely that (apart from this Chapter) the land would have been acquired by the appropriate authority.

(12) If any question arises as to which enactment is the appropriate enactment in relation to any land for the purposes of this Chapter, that question shall be referred—

(a) where the appropriate authority are a government department, to the Minister in charge of that department;

(b) where the appropriate authority are statutory undertakers, to the appropriate Minister; and

(c) in any other case, to the Secretary of State,

and the decision of the Minister or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State shall be final.

171 General interpretation of Chapter II

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Chapter—

• “the affected area”, in relation to an agricultural unit, means so much of that unit as, on the date of service, consists of land falling within any paragraph of Schedule 13;

• “agricultural” has the same meaning as in section 109 of the [1947 c. 48.] Agriculture Act 1947 and references to the farming of land include references to the carrying on in relation to the land of agricultural activities;

• “agricultural unit” means land which is occupied as a unit for agricultural purposes, including any dwellinghouse or other building occupied by the same person for the purpose of farming the land;

• “annual value” means—

  (a)

  in the case of a hereditament which is shown in a local non-domestic rating list and none of which consists of domestic property or property exempt from local non-domestic rating, the value shown in that list as the rateable value of that hereditament on the date of service;

  (b)

  in the case of a hereditament which is shown in a local non-domestic rating list and which includes domestic property or property exempt from local non-domestic rating, the sum of—

  (i)

  the value shown in that list as the rateable value of that hereditament on the date of service; and

  (ii)

  the value attributable to the non-rateable part of that hereditament in accordance with subsections (2) and (3);

  (c)

  in the case of any other hereditament, the value attributable to that hereditament in accordance with subsections (2) and (3);

• “blight notice” has the meaning given in section 149(5);

• “the claimant” has the meaning given in section 150(4);

• “hereditament” means a relevant hereditament within the meaning of section 64(4)(a) to (c) of the [1988 c. 41.] Local Government Finance Act 1988;

• “special enactment” means a local enactment, or a provision contained in an Act other than a local or private Act, which is a local enactment or provision authorising the compulsory acquisition of land specifically identified in it; and in this definition “local enactment” means a local or private Act, or an order confirmed by Parliament or brought into operation in accordance with special parliamentary procedure.

(2) The value attributable to a hereditament, or the non-rateable part of it, in respect of domestic property shall be the value certified by the relevant valuation officer as being 5 per cent. of the compensation which would be payable in respect of the value of that property if it were purchased compulsorily under statute with vacant possession and the compensation payable were calculated in accordance with Part II of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 by reference to the relevant date.

(3) The value attributable to a hereditament, or the non-rateable part of it, in respect of property exempt from local non-domestic rating shall be the value certified by the relevant valuation officer as being the value which would have been shown as the rateable value of that property on the date of service if it were a relevant non-domestic hereditament consisting entirely of non-domestic property, none of which was exempt from local non-domestic rating.

(4) Land which (apart from this subsection) would comprise separate hereditaments solely by reason of being divided by a boundary between rating areas shall be treated for the purposes of the definition of “hereditament” in subsection (1) as if it were not so divided.

(5) In this section—

• “date of service” has the same meaning as in section 168;

• “relevant valuation officer” means the valuation officer who would have determined the rateable value in respect of the hereditament for the purposes of Part III of the [1988 c. 41.] Local Government Finance Act 1988 if the hereditament had fulfilled the conditions set out in section 42(1)(b) to (d) of that Act;

• “relevant date” is the date by reference to which that determination would have been made;

and expressions used in the definition of “annual value” in subsection (1) or in subsection (2) or (3) which are also used in Part III of that Act have the same meaning as in that Part.

Part VII Enforcement

Enforcement notices

172 Power to issue enforcement notice

(1) Where—

(a) it appears to the local planning authority that there has been a breach of planning control after the end of 1963; and

(b) the authority consider it expedient to do so having regard to the provisions of the development plan and to any other material considerations,

they may issue a notice requiring the breach to be remedied.

(2) A notice under this section is referred to in this Act as an “enforcement notice”.

(3) There is a breach of planning control—

(a) if development has been carried out, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, without the grant of the planning permission required for that development in accordance with Part III (or, as the case may be, Part III of the 1962 Act or Part III of the 1971 Act); or

(b) if any conditions or limitations subject to which planning permission was granted have not been complied with.

(4) An enforcement notice which relates to a breach of planning control consisting in—

(a) the carrying out without planning permission of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land; or

(b) the failure to comply with any condition or limitation which relates to the carrying out of such operations and subject to which planning permission was granted for the development of that land; or

(c) the making without planning permission of a change of use of any building to use as a single dwellinghouse; or

(d) the failure to comply with a condition which prohibits or has the effect of preventing a change of use of a building to use as a single dwellinghouse,

may be issued only within the period of four years from the date of the breach.

(5) Subject to section 175(4), an enforcement notice shall take effect on a date specified in it (in this Part referred to as the “specified date”).

(6) A copy of an enforcement notice shall be served not later than 28 days after the date of its issue and not later than 28 days before the specified date—

(a) on the owner and on the occupier of the land to which it relates; and

(b) on any other person having an interest in that land, which in the opinion of the authority is an interest materially affected by the notice.

(7) The local planning authority may withdraw an enforcement notice (without prejudice to their powers to issue another) at any time before it takes effect.

(8) If they do so, they shall immediately give notice of the withdrawal to every person who was served with a copy of the notice.

173 Contents of enforcement notice

(1) An enforcement notice shall specify the matters alleged to constitute a breach of planning control.

(2) An enforcement notice shall also specify—

(a) any steps the local planning authority require to be taken in order to remedy the breach; and

(b) any such steps as are mentioned in subsection (4) which the authority require to be taken.

(3) In this section “steps to be taken in order to remedy the breach” means (according to the particular circumstances of the breach) steps for the purpose—

(a) of restoring the land to its condition before the development took place; or

(b) of securing compliance with the conditions or limitations subject to which planning permission was granted,

including—

(i) the demolition or alteration of any building or works;

(ii) the discontinuance of any use of land; and

(iii) the carrying out on land of any building or other operations.

(4) The steps referred to in subsection (2)(b) are steps for the purpose—

(a) of making the development comply with the terms of any planning permission which has been granted in respect of the land; or

(b) of removing or alleviating any injury to amenity which has been caused by the development.

(5) An enforcement notice shall specify the period within which any such step as is mentioned in subsection (2) is to be taken and may specify different periods for the taking of different steps.

(6) Where the matters which an enforcement notice alleges to constitute a breach of planning control include development which has involved the making of a deposit of refuse or waste materials on land, the notice may require that the contour of the deposit shall be modified by altering the gradient or gradients of its sides in such manner as may be specified in the notice.

(7) The Secretary of State may by regulations direct—

(a) that enforcement notices shall specify matters additional to those which they are required to specify by this section; and

(b) that every copy of an enforcement notice served under section 172 shall be accompanied by an explanatory note giving such information as may be specified in the regulations with regard to the right of appeal conferred by section 174.

(8) Where—

(a) an enforcement notice has been issued in respect of development consisting of the erection of a building or the carrying out of works without the grant of planning permission; and

(b) the notice has required the taking of steps for a purpose mentioned in subsection (4)(b); and

(c) the steps have been taken,

for the purposes of the planning Acts planning permission for the retention of the building or works as they are as a result of compliance with the notice shall be deemed to have been granted on an application for such permission made to the local planning authority.

174 Appeal against enforcement notice

(1) A person having an interest in the land to which an enforcement notice relates or a relevant occupier may appeal to the Secretary of State against the notice, whether or not a copy of it has been served on him.

(2) An appeal may be brought on any of the following grounds—

(a) that planning permission ought to be granted for the development to which the notice relates or, as the case may be, that a condition or limitation alleged in the enforcement notice not to have been complied with ought to be discharged;

(b) that the matters alleged in the notice do not constitute a breach of planning control;

(c) that the breach of planning control alleged in the notice has not taken place;

(d) in the case of a notice to which section 172(4) applies, that the period of four years from the date of the breach of planning control to which the notice relates had elapsed at the date when the notice was issued;

(e) in the case of a notice not falling within paragraph (d), that the breach of planning control alleged by the notice occurred before the beginning of 1964;

(f) that copies of the enforcement notice were not served as required by section 172(6);

(g) that the steps required by the notice to be taken exceed what is necessary to remedy any breach of planning control or to achieve a purpose specified in section 173(4);

(h) that the period specified in the notice as the period within which any step is to be taken falls short of what should reasonably be allowed.

(3) An appeal under this section shall be made by notice in writing to the Secretary of State before the specified date.

(4) A person who gives notice under subsection (3) shall submit to the Secretary of State, either when giving the notice or within the prescribed time, a statement in writing—

(a) specifying the grounds on which he is appealing against the enforcement notice; and

(b) giving such further information as may be prescribed.

(5) If, where more than one ground is specified in that statement, the appellant does not give information required under subsection (4)(b) in relation to each of those grounds within the prescribed time, the Secretary of State may determine the appeal without considering any ground as to which the appellant has failed to give such information within that time.

(6) In this section “relevant occupier” means a person who—

(a) on the date on which the enforcement notice is issued occupies the land to which the notice relates by virtue of a licence in writing; and

(b) continues so to occupy the land when the appeal is brought.

175 Appeals: supplementary provisions

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the procedure which is to be followed on appeals under section 174 and, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of this subsection, may—

(a) require the local planning authority to submit, within such time as may be prescribed, a statement indicating the submissions which they propose to put forward on the appeal;

(b) specify the matters to be included in such a statement;

(c) require the authority or the appellant to give such notice of such an appeal as may be prescribed;

(d) require the authority to send to the Secretary of State, within such period from the date of the bringing of the appeal as may be prescribed, a copy of the enforcement notice and a list of the persons served with copies of it.

(2) The notice to be prescribed under subsection (1)(c) shall be such notice as in the opinion of the Secretary of State is likely to bring the appeal to the attention of persons in the locality in which the land to which the enforcement notice relates is situated.

(3) Subject to section 176(4), the Secretary of State shall, if either the appellant or the local planning authority so desire, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(4) Where an appeal is brought under section 174 the enforcement notice shall be of no effect pending the final determination or the withdrawal of the appeal.

(5) Where any person has appealed to the Secretary of State against an enforcement notice, no person shall be entitled, in any other proceedings instituted after the making of the appeal, to claim that the notice was not duly served on the person who appealed.

(6) Schedule 6 applies to appeals under section 174, including appeals under that section as applied by regulations under any other provisions of this Act.

176 General provisions relating to determination of appeals

(1) On the determination of an appeal under section 174, the Secretary of State shall give directions for giving effect to the determination, including, where appropriate, directions for quashing the enforcement notice or for varying its terms.

(2) On such an appeal if the Secretary of State is satisfied that to do so will not cause the appellant or the local planning authority injustice, he may—

(a) correct any informality, defect or error in the enforcement notice; or

(b) give directions for varying its terms.

(3) The Secretary of State—

(a) may dismiss an appeal if the appellant fails to comply with section 174(4) within the prescribed time; and

(b) may allow an appeal and quash the enforcement notice if the local planning authority fail to comply with any requirement of regulations made by virtue of paragraph (a), (b), or (d) of section 175(1) within the prescribed period.

(4) If the Secretary of State proposes to dismiss an appeal under paragraph (a) of subsection (3) or to allow an appeal and quash the enforcement notice under paragraph (b) of that subsection, he need not comply with section 175(3).

(5) Where it would otherwise be a ground for determining an appeal under section 174 in favour of the appellant that a person required to be served with a copy of the enforcement notice was not served, the Secretary of State may disregard that fact if neither the appellant nor that person has been substantially prejudiced by the failure to serve him.

177 Grant or modification of planning permission on appeals against enforcement notices

(1) On the determination of an appeal under section 174, the Secretary of State may—

(a) grant planning permission for the development to which the enforcement notice relates or for part of that development or for the development of part of the land to which the enforcement notice relates;

(b) discharge any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission was granted;

(c) determine any purpose for which the land may, in the circumstances obtaining at the time of the determination, be lawfully used having regard to any past use of it and to any planning permission relating to it.

(2) In considering whether to grant planning permission under subsection (1), the Secretary of State shall have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the subject matter of the enforcement notice, and to any other material considerations.

(3) Any planning permission granted by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) may—

(a) include permission to retain or complete any buildings or works on the land, or to do so without complying with some condition attached to a previous planning permission;

(b) be granted subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit;

and section 72(1) and (5) shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to the grant of permission under subsection (1) as it applies to a grant of permission under section 70(1).

(4) Where under subsection (1) the Secretary of State discharges a condition or limitation, he may substitute another condition or limitation for it, whether more or less onerous.

(5) Where an appeal against an enforcement notice is brought under section 174, the appellant shall be deemed to have made an application for planning permission for the development to which the notice relates.

(6) Any planning permission granted under subsection (1) on an appeal shall be treated as granted on the application deemed to have been made by the appellant.

(7) In relation to a grant of planning permission or a determination under subsection (1) the Secretary of State’s decision shall be final.

(8) For the purposes of section 69 the Secretary of State’s decision shall be treated as having been given by him in dealing with an application for planning permission made to the local planning authority.

178 Execution and cost of works required by enforcement notice

(1) If any steps which by virtue of section 173(2)(a) are required by an enforcement notice to be taken (other than the discontinuance of a use of land) have not been taken within the compliance period, the local planning authority may—

(a) enter the land and take those steps, and

(b) recover from the person who is then the owner of the land any expenses reasonably incurred by them in doing so.

(2) Where a copy of an enforcement notice has been served in respect of any breach of planning control (as defined in section 172(3))—

(a) any expenses incurred by the owner or occupier of any land for the purpose of complying with the notice, and

(b) any sums paid by the owner of any land under subsection (1) in respect of expenses incurred by the local planning authority in taking steps required by such a notice to be taken,

shall be deemed to be incurred or paid for the use and at the request of the person by whom the breach of planning control was committed.

(3) Regulations made under this Act may provide that—

(a) section 276 of the [1936 c. 49.] Public Health Act 1936, (power of local authorities to sell materials removed in executing works under that Act subject to accounting for the proceeds of sale);

(b) section 289 of that Act (power to require the occupier of any premises to permit works to be executed by the owner of the premises); and

(c) section 294 of that Act (limit on liability of persons holding premises as agents or trustees in respect of the expenses recoverable under that Act),

shall apply, subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the regulations, in relation to any steps required to be taken by an enforcement notice.

(4) Regulations under subsection (3) applying section 289 of the Public Health Act 1936 may include adaptations and modifications for the purpose of giving the owner of land to which an enforcement notice relates the right, as against all other persons interested in the land, to comply with the requirements of the enforcement notice.

(5) Regulations under subsection (3) may also provide for the charging on the land of any expenses recoverable by a local planning authority under subsection (1).

(6) Where by virtue of this section any expenses are recoverable by a local planning authority, those expenses shall be recoverable as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(7) In this section and in sections 179, 183 and 184 any reference to the compliance period, in relation to an enforcement notice, is a reference to the period specified in the notice for compliance with it or such extended period as the local planning authority may allow for compliance with it.

179 Penalties for non-compliance with enforcement notice

(1) Where—

(a) a copy of an enforcement notice has been served on the person who at the time when the copy was served was the owner of the land to which the notice relates, and

(b) any steps required by the notice to be taken (other than the discontinuance of a use of land) have not been taken within the compliance period,

then, subject to the provisions of this section, that person shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(3) Where proceedings have been brought under subsection (1) against a person (“the original owner”) who has, at some time before the end of the compliance period, ceased to be the owner of the land, if he—

(a) duly lays information to that effect, and

(b) gives the prosecution not less than three clear days' notice of his intention,

he shall be entitled to have the person who then became the owner of the land (“the subsequent owner”) brought before the court in the proceedings.

(4) Where in such proceedings—

(a) it has been proved that any steps required by the enforcement notice have not been taken within the compliance period, and

(b) the original owner proves that the failure to take those steps was attributable, in whole or in part, to the default of the subsequent owner

then—

(i) the subsequent owner may be convicted of the offence; and

(ii) if the original owner also proves that he took all reasonable steps to secure compliance with the enforcement notice, he shall be acquitted of the offence.

(5) If, after a person has been convicted under the previous provisions of this section, he does not as soon as practicable do everything in his power to secure compliance with the enforcement notice, he shall be guilty of a further offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200 for each day following his first conviction on which any of the requirements of the notice (other than the discontinuance of the use of land) remain unfulfilled; or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(6) Where, by virtue of an enforcement notice—

(a) a use of land is required to be discontinued, or

(b) any conditions or limitations are required to be complied with in respect of a use of land or in respect of the carrying out of operations on it,

then, if any person uses the land or causes or permits it to be used, or carries out those operations or causes or permits them to be carried out, in contravention of the notice, he shall be guilty of an offence.

(7) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (6) shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(8) Where a person is convicted under subsection (6) in respect of any use of land and the use is continued after the conviction he shall be guilty of a further offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £200 for each day on which the use is so continued, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

180 Effect of planning permission on enforcement notice

(1) If, after the service of a copy of an enforcement notice, planning permission is granted—

(a) for the retention on land of buildings or works, or

(b) for the continuance of a use of land, to which the enforcement notice relates,

the enforcement notice shall cease to have effect in so far as it requires steps to be taken for the demolition or alteration of those buildings or works or, as the case may be, the discontinuance of that use.

(2) If the planning permission granted as mentioned in subsection (1) is granted so as to permit the retention of buildings or works, or the continuance of a use of land, without complying with some condition subject to which a previous planning permission was granted, the enforcement notice shall cease to have effect in so far as it requires steps to be taken for complying with that condition.

(3) The fact that an enforcement notice has wholly or partly ceased to have effect under subsection (1) or (2) shall not affect the liability of any person for an offence in respect of a previous failure to comply with the notice.

181 Enforcement notice to have effect against subsequent development

(1) Compliance with an enforcement notice, whether in respect of—

(a) the completion, demolition or alteration of any buildings or works;

(b) the discontinuance of any use of land; or

(c) any other requirements contained in the notice,

shall not discharge the notice.

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), any provision of an enforcement notice requiring a use of land to be discontinued shall operate as a requirement that it shall be discontinued permanently, to the extent that it is in contravention of Part III; and accordingly the resumption of that use at any time after it has been discontinued in compliance with the enforcement notice shall to that extent be in contravention of the enforcement notice.

(3) Without prejudice to subsection (1), if any development is carried out on land by way of reinstating or restoring buildings or works which have been demolished or altered in compliance with an enforcement notice, the notice shall, notwithstanding that its terms are not apt for the purpose, be deemed to apply in relation to the buildings or works as reinstated or restored as it applied in relation to the buildings or works before they were demolished or altered; and, subject to subsection (4), the provisions of section 178(1) and (2) shall apply accordingly.

(4) Where, at any time after an enforcement notice takes effect—

(a) any development is carried out on land by way of reinstating or restoring buildings or works which have been demolished or altered in compliance with the notice; and

(b) the local planning authority propose, under section 178(1), to take any steps required by the enforcement notice for the demolition or alteration of the buildings or works in consequence of the reinstatement or restoration,

the local planning authority shall, not less than 28 days before taking any such steps, serve on the owner and occupier of the land a notice of their intention to do so.

(5) Where without planning permission a person carries out any development on land by way of reinstating or restoring buildings or works which have been demolished or altered in compliance with an enforcement notice—

(a) he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, and

(b) no person shall be liable under any of the provisions of section 179(1) to (5) for failure to take any steps required to be taken by an enforcement notice by way of demolition or alteration of what has been so reinstated or restored.

182 Enforcement by the Secretary of State

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient that an enforcement notice should be issued in respect of any land, he may issue such a notice.

(2) The Secretary of State shall not issue such a notice without consulting the local planning authority.

(3) An enforcement notice issued by the Secretary of State shall have the same effect as a notice issued by the local planning authority.

(4) In relation to an enforcement notice issued by the Secretary of State, sections 178 and 181 shall apply as if for any reference in those sections to the local planning authority there were substituted a reference to the Secretary of State.

Stop notices

183 Stop notices

(1) Where in respect of any land the local planning authority—

(a) have served a copy of an enforcement notice requiring a breach of planning control to be remedied; but

(b) consider it expedient to prevent, before the expiry of the compliance period, the carrying out of any activity which is, or is included in, a matter alleged by the notice to constitute the breach,

they may at any time before the notice takes effect serve a notice prohibiting the carrying out of that activity on the land, or any part of it specified in the notice.

(2) A notice under subsection (1) is in this Act referred to as a “stop notice”.

(3) A stop notice shall not prohibit—

(a) the use of any building as a dwellinghouse, or

(b) the use of land as the site for a caravan occupied by any person as his only or main residence, or

(c) the taking of any steps specified in the enforcement notice as required to be taken in order to remedy the breach of planning control.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) “caravan” has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of Part I of the [1960 c. 62.] Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

(5) Where the period during which an activity has been carried out on land (whether continuously or otherwise) began more than 12 months earlier, a stop notice shall not prohibit the carrying out of that activity on that land unless it is, or is incidental to, building, engineering, mining or other operations or the deposit of refuse or waste materials.

(6) A stop notice may be served by the local planning authority on any person who appears to them to have an interest in the land or to be engaged in any activity prohibited by the notice.

(7) The local planning authority may at any time withdraw a stop notice (without prejudice to their power to serve another) by serving notice to that effect on persons served with the stop notice.

184 Stop notices: supplementary provisions

(1) A stop notice must refer to the enforcement notice to which it relates and have a copy of that notice annexed to it.

(2) A stop notice must specify the date on which it will take effect (and it cannot be contravened until that date).

(3) That date must not be earlier than three nor later than 28 days from the day on which the notice is first served on any person.

(4) A stop notice shall cease to have effect when—

(a) the enforcement notice to which it relates is withdrawn or quashed; or

(b) the compliance period expires; or

(c) notice of the withdrawal of the stop notice is first served under section 183(7).

(5) A stop notice shall also cease to have effect if or to the extent that the activities prohibited by it cease, on a variation of the enforcement notice, to be included in the matters alleged by the enforcement notice to constitute a breach of planning control.

(6) Where a stop notice has been served in respect of any land, the local planning authority may display there a notice (in this section and section 187 referred to as a “site notice”)—

(a) stating that a stop notice has been served and that any person contravening it may be prosecuted for an offence under section 187,

(b) giving the date when the stop notice takes effect, and

(c) indicating its requirements.

(7) If under section 183(7) the local planning authority withdraw a stop notice in respect of which a site notice was displayed, they must display a notice of the withdrawal in place of the site notice.

(8) A stop notice shall not be invalid by reason that a copy of the enforcement notice to which it relates was not served as required by section 172(6) if it is shown that the local planning authority took all such steps as were reasonably practicable to effect proper service.

185 Service of stop notices by Secretary of State

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient that a stop notice should be served in respect of any land, he may himself serve such a notice.

(2) A notice served by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) shall have the same effect as if it had been served by the local planning authority.

(3) The Secretary of State shall not serve such a notice without consulting the local planning authority.

186 Compensation for loss due to stop notice

(1) Where a stop notice is served under section 183 compensation may be payable under this section in respect of a prohibition contained in the notice only if—

(a) the enforcement notice is quashed on grounds other than those mentioned in paragraph (a) of section 174(2);

(b) the enforcement notice is varied (otherwise than on the grounds mentioned in that paragraph) so that matters alleged to constitute a breach of planning control cease to include one or more of the activities prohibited by the stop notice;

(c) the enforcement notice is withdrawn by the local planning authority otherwise than in consequence of the grant by them of planning permission for the development to which the notice relates or for its retention or continuance without compliance with a condition or limitation subject to which a previous planning permission was granted; or

(d) the stop notice is withdrawn.

(2) A person who, when the stop notice is first served, has an interest in or occupies the land to which the notice relates shall be entitled to be compensated by the local planning authority in respect of any loss or damage directly attributable to the prohibition contained in the notice or, in a case within subsection (1)(b), so much of that prohibition as ceases to have effect.

(3) A claim for compensation under this section shall be made to the local planning authority within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner.

(4) The loss or damage in respect of which compensation is payable under this section in respect of a prohibition shall include any sum payable in respect of a breach of contract caused by the taking of action necessary to comply with the prohibition.

(5) In the assessment of compensation under this section, account shall be taken of the extent (if any) to which the claimant’s entitlement is attributable—

(a) to his failure to comply with a notice under section 330, or

(b) to any mis-statement made by him in response to such a notice.

(6) Except in so far as may be otherwise provided by any regulations made under this Act, any question of disputed compensation under this Part shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

(7) In relation to the determination of any such question, the provisions of sections 2 and 4 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply subject to any necessary modifications and to the provisions of any regulations made under this Act.

187 Penalties for contravention of stop notice

(1) If any person contravenes or causes or permits the contravention of a stop notice—

(a) after a site notice has been displayed, or

(b) if a site notice has not been displayed, more than two days after the stop notice has been served on him,

then, subject to subsection (3), he shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or

(b) on conviction on indictment to a fine;

and if the offence is continued after conviction he shall be guilty of a further offence and liable—

(i) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200 for each day on which the offence is continued, or

(ii) on conviction on indictment to a fine.

(3) In proceedings for an offence under this section it shall be a defence for the accused to prove—

(a) that the stop notice was not served on him, and

(b) that he did not know, and could not reasonably have been expected to know, of its existence.

Registers

188 Register of enforcement and stop notices

(1) Every district planning authority and the council of every metropolitan district or London borough shall keep, in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order, a register containing such information as may be so prescribed with respect—

(a) to enforcement notices; and

(b) to stop notices,

which relate to land in their area.

(2) A development order may make provision—

(a) for the entry relating to any enforcement notice or stop notice, and everything relating to any such notice, to be removed from the register in such circumstances as may be specified in the order; and

(b) for requiring a county planning authority to supply to a district planning authority such information as may be so specified with regard to enforcement notices issued and stop notices served by the county planning authority.

(3) Every register kept under this section shall be available for inspection by the public at all reasonable hours.

Enforcement of orders for discontinuance of use, etc.

189 Penalties for contravention of orders under s. 102 and Schedule 9

(1) Any person who without planning permission—

(a) uses land, or causes or permits land to be used—

(i) for any purpose for which an order under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 has required that its use shall be discontinued; or

(ii) in contravention of any condition imposed by such an order by virtue of subsection (1) of that section or, as the case may be, sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph; or

(b) resumes, or causes or permits to be resumed, development consisting of the winning and working of minerals the resumption of which an order under paragraph 3 of that Schedule has prohibited; or

(c) contravenes, or causes or permits to be contravened, any such requirement as is specified in sub-paragraph (3) or (4) of that paragraph,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who contravenes any requirement of an order under paragraph 5 or 6 of that Schedule or who causes or permits any requirement of such an order to be contravened shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Any person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(4) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he took all reasonable measures and exercised all due diligence to avoid commission of the offence by himself or by any person under his control.

(5) If in any case the defence provided by subsection (4) involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person or due to reliance on information supplied by another person, the person charged shall not, without the leave of the court, be entitled to rely on the defence unless, within a period ending seven clear days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor a notice in writing giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of the other person as was then in his possession.

190 Enforcement of orders under s. 102 and Schedule 9

(1) This section applies where—

(a) any step required by an order under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 to be taken for the alteration or removal of any buildings or works or any plant or machinery;

(b) any step required by an order under paragraph 3 of that Schedule to be taken—

(i) for the alteration or removal of plant or machinery; or

(ii) for the removal or alleviation of any injury to amenity; or

(c) any step for the protection of the environment required to be taken by an order under paragraph 5 or 6 of that Schedule,

has not been taken within the period specified in the order or within such extended period as the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the mineral planning authority may allow.

(2) Where this section applies the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the mineral planning authority may enter the land and take the required step.

(3) Where the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the mineral planning authority have exercised their power under subsection (2) they may recover from the person who is then the owner of the land any expenses reasonably incurred by them in doing so.

(4) Any expenses recoverable by a local planning authority or a mineral planning authority under subsection (3) shall be recoverable as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(5) Section 276 of the [1936 c. 49.] Public Health Act 1936 shall apply in relation to any works executed by an authority under subsection (2) as it applies in relation to works executed by a local authority under that Act.

Established use certificates

191 Meaning of “established use”

For the purposes of this Part a use of land is established if—

(a) it was begun before the beginning of 1964 without planning permission and has continued since the end of 1963;

(b) it was begun before the beginning of 1964 under a planning permission granted subject to conditions or limitations, which either have never been complied with or have not been complied with since the end of 1963; or

(c) it was begun after the end of 1963 as the result of a change of use not requiring planning permission and there has been, since the end of 1963, no change of use requiring planning permission.

192 Applications for established use certificates

(1) Subject to subsection (3), where a person having an interest in land claims that a particular use of it has become established, he may apply to the local planning authority for a certificate to that effect.

(2) Such a certificate is in this Act referred to as an “established use certificate”.

(3) No application may be made under subsection (1)—

(a) in respect of the use of land as a single dwellinghouse, or

(b) in respect of any use not subsisting at the time of the application.

(4) An established use certificate shall, as respects any matters stated in it, be conclusive for the purposes of an appeal to the Secretary of State against an enforcement notice a copy of which has been served in respect of any land to which the certificate relates, if the copy of the notice is served after the date of the application on which the certificate was granted.

(5) The Secretary of State may give directions requiring applications for established use certificates to be referred to him instead of being dealt with by local planning authorities.

(6) In section 69 references to applications for planning permission shall include references to applications for established use certificates.

193 Supplementary provisions as to applications

(1) An application for an established use certificate shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order and shall include such particulars, and be verified by such evidence, as may be required by such an order or by any directions given under such an order, or by the local planning authority or, in the case of an application referred to the Secretary of State, by him.

(2) A development order may provide that an application for an established use certificate shall not be entertained unless it is accompanied by a certificate in such form as may be prescribed by the order and corresponding to one of those described in section 66(1) or section 67(3).

(3) Any such order may also—

(a) include requirements corresponding to section 66(2) to (6) (or, as the case may be, section 67(5), (6) and (11)) and section 71(2); and

(b) make provision as to who, in the case of any land, is to be treated as the owner for the purposes of any provision of the order made by virtue of subsection (2) or this subsection.

(4) If any person—

(a) issues a certificate which purports to comply with any provision of a development order made by virtue of subsection (2) or (3) and contains a statement which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular, or

(b) recklessly issues a certificate which purports to comply with any such provision and contains a statement which is false or misleading in a material particular,

he shall be guilty of an offence.

(5) A person guilty of such an offence shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(6) If any person, for the purpose of procuring a particular decision on an application (whether by himself or another) for an established use certificate—

(a) knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular; or

(b) with intent to deceive, produces, furnishes, sends or otherwise makes use of any document which is false in a material particular; or

(c) with intent to deceive, withholds any material information,

he shall be guilty of an offence.

(7) A person guilty of such an offence shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.

194 Determination of applications

(1) On an application to the local planning authority under section 192, or on a reference to the Secretary of State under subsection (5) of that section, the authority or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State shall—

(a) if and so far as they are or he is satisfied that the applicant’s claim is made out, grant him an established use certificate accordingly; and

(b) if and so far as they are or he is not so satisfied, refuse the application.

(2) An established use certificate may be granted—

(a) either for the whole of the land specified in the application, or for a part of it;

(b) in the case of an application specifying two or more uses, either for all those uses or for some one or more of them.

(3) An established use certificate shall be in such form as may be prescribed by a development order and shall specify—

(a) the land to which the certificate relates and any use of it which is certified by the certificate as established;

(b) by reference to the paragraphs of section 191, the grounds on which that use is so certified; and

(c) the date on which the application for the certificate was made.

(4) The date mentioned in subsection (3)(c) shall be the date at which the use is certified as established.

(5) Provision may be made by a development order for regulating the manner in which applications for established use certificates are to be dealt with by local planning authorities.

(6) Such an order may in particular provide for requiring the authority—

(a) to give to any applicant within such time as may be prescribed by the order such notice as may be so prescribed as to the manner in which his application has been dealt with;

(b) to give to the Secretary of State and to such other persons as may be prescribed by or under the order, such information as may be so prescribed with respect to such applications made to the authority, including information as to the manner in which any application has been dealt with.

195 Appeals against refusal or failure to give decision on application

(1) Where an application is made to a local planning authority for an established use certificate and—

(a) the application is refused or is refused in part, or

(b) the authority do not give notice to the applicant of their decision on the application within such period as may be prescribed by a development order or within such extended period as may at any time be agreed upon in writing between the applicant and the authority,

the applicant may by notice appeal to the Secretary of State.

(2) On any such appeal, if and so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied—

(a) in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(a), that the authority’s refusal is not well-founded, or

(b) in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(b), that if the authority had refused the application their refusal would not have been well-founded,

he shall grant the appellant an established use certificate accordingly or, in the case of a refusal in part, modify the certificate granted by the authority on the application.

(3) If and so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied that the authority’s refusal is or, as the case may be, would have been well-founded, he shall dismiss the appeal.

(4) In section 193(2) and (6) references to applications for established use certificates include references to appeals arising out of such applications.

(5) For the purposes of the application of section 288(10)(b) in relation to an appeal in a case within subsection (1)(b) it shall be assumed that the authority decided to refuse the application in question.

(6) Schedule 6 applies to appeals under this section.

196 Further provisions as to references and appeals to the Secretary of State

(1) Before determining an application referred to him under section 192(5) or an appeal to him under section 195(1), the Secretary of State shall, if either the applicant or appellant (as the case may be) or the local planning authority so wish, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(2) Where the Secretary of State grants an established use certificate on such a reference or such an appeal, he shall give notice to the local planning authority of that fact.

(3) The decision of the Secretary of State on such an application or appeal shall be final.

(4) The information which may be prescribed as being required to be contained in a register kept under section 69 shall include information with respect to established use certificates granted by the Secretary of State.

(5) On such an application or appeal the Secretary of State may, in respect of any use of land for which an established use certificate is not granted (either by him or by the local planning authority), grant planning permission for that use or, as the case may be, for the continuance of that use without complying with some condition subject to which a previous planning permission was granted.

(6) In the case of any use of land for which the Secretary of State has power to grant planning permission under this section, the applicant or appellant shall be deemed to have made an application for such planning permission.

(7) Any planning permission so granted shall be treated as granted on that application.

Part VIII Special Controls

Chapter I Trees

General duty of planning authorities as respects trees

197 Planning permission to include appropriate provision for preservation and planting of trees

It shall be the duty of the local planning authority—

(a) to ensure, whenever it is appropriate, that in granting planning permission for any development adequate provision is made, by the imposition of conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees; and

(b) to make such orders under section 198 as appear to the authority to be necessary in connection with the grant of such permission, whether for giving effect to such conditions or otherwise.

Tree preservation orders

198 Power to make tree preservation orders

(1) If it appears to a local planning authority that it is expedient in the interests of amenity to make provision for the preservation of trees or woodlands in their area, they may for that purpose make an order with respect to such trees, groups of trees or woodlands as may be specified in the order.

(2) An order under subsection (1) is in this Act referred to as a “tree preservation order”.

(3) A tree preservation order may, in particular, make provision—

(a) for prohibiting (subject to any exemptions for which provision may be made by the order) the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees except with the consent of the local planning authority, and for enabling that authority to give their consent subject to conditions;

(b) for securing the replanting, in such manner as may be prescribed by or under the order, of any part of a woodland area which is felled in the course of forestry operations permitted by or under the order;

(c) for applying, in relation to any consent under the order, and to applications for such consent, any of the provisions of this Act mentioned in subsection (4), subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the order.

(4) The provisions referred to in subsection (3)(c) are—

(a) the provisions of Part III relating to planning permission and to applications for planning permission, except sections 56, 62, 65 to 68, 69(3) and (4), 71, 80, 81, 91 to 96, 100 and 101 and Schedule 8; and

(b) sections 137 to 141, 143 and 144 (except so far as they relate to purchase notices served in consequence of such orders as are mentioned in section 137(1)(b) or (c));

(c) section 316.

(5) A tree preservation order may be made so as to apply, in relation to trees to be planted pursuant to any such conditions as are mentioned in section 197(a), as from the time when those trees are planted.

(6) Without prejudice to any other exemptions for which provision may be made by a tree preservation order, no such order shall apply—

(a) to the cutting down, uprooting, topping or lopping of trees which are dying or dead or have become dangerous, or

(b) to the cutting down, uprooting, topping or lopping of any trees in compliance with any obligations imposed by or under an Act of Parliament or so far as may be necessary for the prevention or abatement of a nuisance.

(7) This section shall have effect subject to—

(a) section 39(2) of the [1986 c. 63.] Housing and Planning Act 1986 (saving for effect of section 2(4) of the [1958 c. 69.] Opencast Coal Act 1958 on land affected by a tree preservation order despite its repeal); and

(b) section 15 of the [1967 c. 10.] Forestry Act 1967 (licences under that Act to fell trees comprised in a tree preservation order).

199 Form of and procedure applicable to orders

(1) A tree preservation order shall not take effect until it is confirmed by the local planning authority and the local planning authority may confirm any such order either without modification or subject to such modifications as they consider expedient.

(2) Provision may be made by regulations under this Act with respect—

(a) to the form of tree preservation orders, and

(b) to the procedure to be followed in connection with the making and confirmation of such orders.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), the regulations may make provision—

(a) that, before a tree preservation order is confirmed by the local planning authority, notice of the making of the order shall be given to the owners and occupiers of land affected by the order and to such other persons, if any, as may be specified in the regulations;

(b) that objections and representations with respect to the order, if duly made in accordance with the regulations, shall be considered before the order is confirmed by the local planning authority; and

(c) that copies of the order, when confirmed by the authority, shall be served on such persons as may be specified in the regulations.

200 Orders affecting land where Forestry Commissioners interested

(1) In relation to land in which the Forestry Commissioners have an interest, a tree preservation order may be made only if—

(a) there is not in force in respect of the land a plan of operations or other working plan approved by the Commissioners under a forestry dedication covenant; and

(b) the Commissioners consent to the making of the order.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Forestry Commissioners are only to be regarded as having an interest in land if—

(a) they have made a grant or loan under section 1 of the [1979 c. 21.] Forestry Act 1979 in respect of it, or

(b) there is a forestry dedication covenant in force in respect of it.

(3) A tree preservation order in respect of such land shall not have effect so as to prohibit, or to require any consent for, the cutting down of a tree in accordance with a plan of operations or other working plan approved by the Forestry Commissioners, and for the time being in force, under a forestry dedication covenant or under the conditions of a grant or loan made under section 1 of the Forestry Act 1979.

(4) In this section—

(a) “a forestry dedication covenant” means a covenant entered into with the Commissioners under section 5 of the [1967 c. 10.] Forestry Act 1967; and

(b) references to provisions of the Forestry Act 1967 and the Forestry Act 1979 include references to any corresponding provisions replaced by those provisions or by earlier corresponding provisions.

201 Provisional tree preservation orders

(1) If it appears to a local planning authority that a tree preservation order proposed to be made by that authority should take effect immediately without previous confirmation, they may include in the order as made by them a direction that this section shall apply to the order.

(2) Notwithstanding section 199(1), an order which contains such a direction—

(a) shall take effect provisionally on such date as may be specified in it, and

(b) shall continue in force by virtue of this section until—

(i) the expiration of a period of six months beginning with the date on which the order was made; or

(ii) the date on which the order is confirmed,

whichever first occurs.

202 Power for Secretary of State to make tree preservation orders

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State, after consultation with the local planning authority, to be expedient that a tree preservation order or an order amending or revoking such an order should be made, he may himself make such an order.

(2) Any order so made by the Secretary of State shall have the same effect as if it had been made by the local planning authority and confirmed by them under this Chapter.

(3) The provisions of this Chapter and of any regulations made under it with respect to the procedure to be followed in connection with the making and confirmation of any order to which subsection (1) applies and the service of copies of it as confirmed shall have effect, subject to any necessary modifications—

(a) in relation to any proposal by the Secretary of State to make such an order,

(b) in relation to the making of it by the Secretary of State, and

(c) in relation to the service of copies of it as so made.

Compensation for loss or damage caused by orders, etc.

203 Compensation in respect of tree preservation orders

A tree preservation order may make provision for the payment by the local planning authority, subject to such exceptions and conditions as may be specified in the order, of compensation in respect of loss or damage caused or incurred in consequence—

(a) of the refusal of any consent required under the order, or

(b) of the grant of any such consent subject to conditions.

204 Compensation in respect of requirement as to replanting of trees

(1) This section applies where—

(a) in pursuance of provision made by a tree preservation order, a direction is given by the local planning authority or the Secretary of State for securing the replanting of all or any part of a woodland area which is felled in the course of forestry operations permitted by or under the order; and

(b) the Forestry Commissioners decide not to make any grant or loan under section 1 of the [1979 c. 21.] Forestry Act 1979 in respect of the replanting by reason that the direction frustrates the use of the woodland area for the growing of timber or other forest products for commercial purposes and in accordance with the rules or practice of good forestry.

(2) Where this section applies, the local planning authority exercising functions under the tree preservation order shall be liable, on the making of a claim in accordance with this section, to pay compensation in respect of such loss or damage, if any, as is caused or incurred in consequence of compliance with the direction.

(3) The Forestry Commissioners shall, at the request of the person under a duty to comply with such a direction as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a), give a certificate stating—

(a) whether they have decided not to make such a grant or loan as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b), and

(b) if so, the grounds for their decision.

(4) A claim for compensation under this section must be served on the local planning authority—

(a) within 12 months from the date on which the direction was given, or

(b) where an appeal has been made to the Secretary of State against the decision of the local planning authority, within 12 months from the date of the decision of the Secretary of State on the appeal,

but subject in either case to such extension of that period as the local planning authority may allow.

205 Determination of compensation claims

(1) Except in so far as may be otherwise provided by any tree preservation order or any regulations made under this Act, any question of disputed compensation under section 203 or 204 shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

(2) In relation to the determination of any such question, the provisions of sections 2 and 4 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply subject to any necessary modifications and to the provisions of any regulations made under this Act.

Consequences of tree removal, etc.

206 Replacement of trees

(1) If any tree in respect of which a tree preservation order is for the time being in force—

(a) is removed, uprooted or destroyed in contravention of the order, or

(b) except in the case of a tree to which the order applies as part of a woodland, is removed, uprooted or destroyed or dies at a time when its cutting down or uprooting is authorised only by virtue of section 198(6)(a),

it shall be the duty of the owner of the land to plant another tree of an appropriate size and species at the same place as soon as he reasonably can.

(2) The duty imposed by subsection (1) does not apply to an owner if on application by him the local planning authority dispense with it.

(3) In respect of trees in a woodland it shall be sufficient for the purposes of this section to replace the trees removed, uprooted or destroyed by planting the same number of trees—

(a) on or near the land on which the trees removed, uprooted or destroyed stood, or

(b) on such other land as may be agreed between the local planning authority and the owner of the land,

and in such places as may be designated by the local planning authority.

(4) In relation to any tree planted pursuant to this section, the relevant tree preservation order shall apply as it applied to the original tree.

(5) The duty imposed by subsection (1) on the owner of any land shall attach to the person who is from time to time the owner of the land.

207 Enforcement of duties as to replacement of trees

(1) If it appears to the local planning authority that—

(a) the provisions of section 206, or

(b) any conditions of a consent given under a tree preservation order which require the replacement of trees,

are not complied with in the case of any tree or trees, that authority may serve on the owner of the land a notice requiring him, within such period as may be specified in the notice, to plant a tree or trees of such size and species as may be so specified.

(2) A notice under subsection (1) may only be served within four years from the date of the alleged failure to comply with those provisions or conditions.

(3) Subject to section 208, a notice under this section shall take effect at the end of such period as may be specified in it.

(4) The period so specified must not be less than 28 days after the service of the notice.

(5) The duty imposed by section 206(1) may only be enforced as provided by this section and not otherwise.

208 Appeals against s. 207 notices

(1) A person on whom a notice under section 207(1) is served may appeal to the Secretary of State against the notice on any of the following grounds—

(a) that the provisions of section 206 or, as the case may be, the conditions mentioned in section 207(1)(b) are not applicable or have been complied with;

(b) that the requirements of the notice are unreasonable in respect of the period or the size or species of trees specified in it;

(c) that the planting of a tree or trees in accordance with the notice is not required in the interests of amenity or would be contrary to the practice of good forestry;

(d) that the place on which the tree is or trees are required to be planted is unsuitable for that purpose.

(2) An appeal under subsection (1) may be made at any time within the period specified in the notice as the period at the end of which it is to take effect.

(3) Such an appeal shall be made by notice in writing to the Secretary of State.

(4) The notice shall indicate the grounds of the appeal and state the facts on which it is based.

(5) On any such appeal the Secretary of State shall, if either the appellant or the local planning authority so desire, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(6) Where such an appeal is brought, the notice under section 207(1) shall be of no effect pending the final determination or the withdrawal of the appeal.

(7) On the determination of such an appeal the Secretary of State shall give directions for giving effect to the determination, including, where appropriate, directions for quashing the notice under section 207(1) or for varying its terms.

(8) On such an appeal the Secretary of State may—

(a) correct any informality, defect or error in the notice under section 207(1), or

(b) give directions varying the terms,

if he is satisfied that the correction or, as the case may be, the variation can be made without injustice to the appellant or the local planning authority.

(9) Schedule 6 applies to appeals under this section.

(10) Where any person has appealed to the Secretary of State under this section against a notice, neither that person nor any other shall be entitled, in any other proceedings instituted after the making of the appeal, to claim that the notice was not duly served on the person who appealed.

209 Execution and cost of works required by s. 207 notice

(1) If, within the period specified in a notice under section 207(1) for compliance with it, or within such extended period as the local planning authority may allow, any trees which are required to be planted by a notice under that section have not been planted, the local planning authority may—

(a) enter the land and plant those trees, and

(b) recover from the person who is then the owner of the land any expenses reasonably incurred by them in doing so.

(2) Where such a notice has been served—

(a) any expenses incurred by the owner of any land for the purpose of complying with the notice, and

(b) any sums paid by the owner of any land under subsection (1) in respect of expenses incurred by the local planning authority in planting trees required by such a notice to be planted,

shall be deemed to be incurred or paid for the use and at the request of any person, other than the owner, responsible for the cutting down, destruction or removal of the original tree or trees.

(3) Regulations made under this Act may provide that—

(a) section 276 of the [1936 c. 49.] Public Health Act 1936 (power of local authorities to sell materials removed in executing works under that Act subject to accounting for the proceeds of sale);

(b) section 289 of that Act (power to require the occupier of any premises to permit works to be executed by the owner of the premises); or

(c) section 294 of that Act (limit on liability of persons holding premises as agents or trustees in respect of the expenses recoverable under that Act),

shall apply, subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the regulations, in relation to any steps required to be taken by a notice under section 207(1).

(4) Regulations under subsection (3) applying section 289 of the Public Health Act 1936 may include adaptations and modifications for the purpose of giving the owner of land to which such a notice relates the right, as against all other persons interested in the land, to comply with the requirements of the notice.

(5) Regulations under subsection (3) may also provide for the charging on the land of any expenses recoverable by a local authority under subsection (1).

(6) Where by virtue of this section any expenses are recoverable by a local planning authority, those expenses shall be recoverable as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

210 Penalties for non-compliance with tree preservation order

(1) If any person, in contravention of a tree preservation order—

(a) cuts down, uproots or wilfully destroys a tree, or

(b) wilfully damages, tops or lops a tree in such a manner as to be likely to destroy it,

he shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or twice the sum which appears to the court to be the value of the tree, whichever is the greater; or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(3) In determining the amount of any fine to be imposed on a person convicted on indictment of an offence under subsection (1), the court shall in particular have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or appears likely to accrue to him in consequence of the offence.

(4) If any person contravenes the provisions of a tree preservation order otherwise than as mentioned in subsection (1), he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(5) If, in the case of a continuing offence under this section, the contravention is continued after the conviction, the offender shall be guilty of a further offence and liable on summary conviction to an additional fine not exceeding £5 for each day on which the contravention is so continued.

Trees in conservation areas

211 Preservation of trees in conservation areas

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section and section 212, any person who, in relation to a tree to which this section applies, does any act which might by virtue of section 198(3)(a) be prohibited by a tree preservation order shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Subject to section 212, this section applies to any tree in a conservation area in respect of which no tree preservation order is for the time being in force.

(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove—

(a) that he served notice of his intention to do the act in question (with sufficient particulars to identify the tree) on the local planning authority in whose area the tree is or was situated; and

(b) that he did the act in question—

(i) with the consent of the local planning authority in whose area the tree is or was situated, or

(ii) after the expiry of the period of six weeks from the date of the notice but before the expiry of the period of two years from that date.

(4) Section 210 shall apply to an offence under this section as it applies to a contravention of a tree preservation order.

212 Power to disapply s. 211

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations direct that section 211 shall not apply in such cases as may be specified in the regulations.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may be framed so as to exempt from the application of that section cases defined by reference to all or any of the following matters—

(a) acts of such descriptions or done in such circumstances or subject to such conditions as may be specified in the regulations;

(b) trees in such conservation areas as may be so specified;

(c) trees of a size or species so specified; or

(d) trees belonging to persons or bodies of a description so specified.

(3) The regulations may, in relation to any matter by reference to which an exemption is conferred by them, make different provision for different circumstances.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of that subsection, exempt from the application of section 211 cases exempted from section 198 by subsection (6) of that section.

213 Enforcement of controls as respects trees in conservation areas

(1) If any tree to which section 211 applies—

(a) is removed, uprooted or destroyed in contravention of that section; or

(b) is removed, uprooted or destroyed or dies at a time when its cutting down or uprooting is authorised only by virtue of the provisions of such regulations under subsection (1) of section 212 as are mentioned in subsection (4) of that section,

it shall be the duty of the owner of the land to plant another tree of an appropriate size and species at the same place as soon as he reasonably can.

(2) The duty imposed by subsection (1) does not apply to an owner if on application by him the local planning authority dispense with it.

(3) The duty imposed by subsection (1) on the owner of any land attaches to the person who is from time to time the owner of the land and may be enforced as provided by section 207 and not otherwise.

214 Registers of s. 211 notices

It shall be the duty of a local planning authority to compile and keep available for public inspection free of charge at all reasonable hours and at a convenient place a register containing such particulars as the Secretary of State may determine of notices under section 211 affecting trees in their area.

Chapter II Land Adversely Affecting Amenity of Neighbourhood

215 Power to require proper maintenance of land

(1) If it appears to the local planning authority that the amenity of a part of their area, or of an adjoining area, is adversely affected by the condition of land in their area, they may serve on the owner and occupier of the land a notice under this section.

(2) The notice shall require such steps for remedying the condition of the land as may be specified in the notice to be taken within such period as may be so specified.

(3) Subject to the following provisions of this Chapter, the notice shall take effect at the end of such period as may be specified in the notice.

(4) That period shall not be less than 28 days after the service of the notice.

216 Penalty for non-compliance with s. 215 notice

(1) The provisions of this section shall have effect where a notice has been served under section 215.

(2) If any owner or occupier of the land on whom the notice was served fails to take steps required by the notice within the period specified in it for compliance with it, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) Where proceedings have been brought under subsection (2) against a person as the owner of the land and he has, at some time before the end of the compliance period, ceased to be the owner of the land, if he—

(a) duly lays information to that effect, and

(b) gives the prosecution not less than three clear days' notice of his intention,

he shall be entitled to have the person who then became the owner of the land brought before the court in the proceedings.

(4) Where proceedings have been brought under subsection (2) against a person as the occupier of the land and he has, at some time before the end of the compliance period, ceased to be the occupier of the land, if he—

(a) duly lays information to that effect, and

(b) gives the prosecution not less than three clear days' notice of his intention,

he shall be entitled to have brought before the court in the proceedings the person who then became the occupier of the land or, if nobody then became the occupier, the person who is the owner at the date of the notice.

(5) Where in such proceedings—

(a) it has been proved that any steps required by the notice under section 215 have not been taken within the compliance period, and

(b) the original defendant proves that the failure to take those steps was attributable, in whole or in part, to the default of a person specified in a notice under subsection (3) or (4),

then—

(i) that person may be convicted of the offence; and

(ii) if the original defendant also proves that he took all reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the notice, he shall be acquitted of the offence.

(6) If, after a person has been convicted under the previous provisions of this section, he does not as soon as practicable do everything in his power to secure compliance with the notice, he shall be guilty of a further offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £40 for each day following his first conviction on which any of the requirements of the notice remain unfulfilled.

(7) Any reference in this section to the compliance period, in relation to a notice, is a reference to the period specified in the notice for compliance with it or such extended period as the local planning authority who served the notice may allow for compliance.

217 Appeal to magistrates' court against s. 215 notice

(1) A person on whom a notice under section 215 is served, or any other person having an interest in the land to which the notice relates, may, at any time within the period specified in the notice as the period at the end of which it is to take effect, appeal against the notice on any of the following grounds—

(a) that the condition of the land to which the notice relates does not adversely affect the amenity of any part of the area of the local planning authority who served the notice, or of any adjoining area;

(b) that the condition of the land to which the notice relates is attributable to, and such as results in the ordinary course of events from, the carrying on of operations or a use of land which is not in contravention of Part III;

(c) that the requirements of the notice exceed what is necessary for preventing the condition of the land from adversely affecting the amenity of any part of the area of the local planning authority who served the notice, or of any adjoining area;

(d) that the period specified in the notice as the period within which any steps required by the notice are to be taken falls short of what should reasonably be allowed.

(2) Any appeal under this section shall be made to a magistrates' court acting for the petty sessions area in which the land in question is situated.

(3) Where such an appeal is brought, the notice to which it relates shall be of no effect pending the final determination or withdrawal of the appeal.

(4) On such an appeal the magistrates' court may correct any informality, defect or error in the notice if satisfied that the informality, defect or error is not material.

(5) On the determination of such an appeal the magistrates' court shall give directions for giving effect to their determination, including, where appropriate, directions for quashing the notice or for varying the terms of the notice in favour of the appellant.

(6) Where any person has appealed to a magistrates' court under this section against a notice, neither that person nor any other shall be entitled, in any other proceedings instituted after the making of the appeal, to claim that the notice was not duly served on the person who appealed.

218 Further appeal to the Crown Court

Where an appeal has been brought under section 217, an appeal against the decision of the magistrates' court on that appeal may be brought to the Crown Court by the appellant or by the local planning authority who served the notice in question under section 215.

219 Execution and cost of works required by s. 215 notice

(1) If, within the period specified in a notice under section 215 in accordance with subsection (2) of that section, or within such extended period as the local planning authority who served the notice may allow, any steps required by the notice to be taken have not been taken, the local planning authority who served the notice may—

(a) enter the land and take those steps, and

(b) recover from the person who is then the owner of the land any expenses reasonably incurred by them in doing so.

(2) Where a notice has been served under section 215—

(a) any expenses incurred by the owner or occupier of any land for the purpose of complying with the notice, and

(b) any sums paid by the owner of any land under subsection (1) in respect of expenses incurred by the local planning authority in taking steps required by such a notice,

shall be deemed to be incurred or paid for the use and at the request of the person who caused or permitted the land to come to be in the condition in which it was when the notice was served.

(3) Regulations made under this Act may provide that—

(a) section 276 of the [1936 c. 49.] Public Health Act 1936 (power of local authorities to sell materials removed in executing works under that Act subject to accounting for the proceeds of sale);

(b) section 289 of that Act (power to require the occupier of any premises to permit works to be executed by the owner of the premises); or

(c) section 294 of that Act (limit on liability of persons holding premises as agents or trustees in respect of the expenses recoverable under that Act),

shall apply, subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the regulations, in relation to any steps required to be taken by a notice under section 215.

(4) Regulations under subsection (3) applying section 289 of the Public Health Act 1936 may include adaptations and modifications for the purpose of giving the owner of land to which a notice under section 215 relates the right, as against all other persons interested in the land, to comply with the requirements of the enforcement notice.

(5) Regulations under subsection (3) may also provide for the charging on the land of any expenses recoverable by a local authority under subsection (1).

(6) Where by virtue of this section any expenses are recoverable by a local planning authority, those expenses shall be recoverable as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Chapter III Advertisements

Advertisement regulations

220 Regulations controlling display of advertisements

(1) Regulations under this Act shall make provision for restricting or regulating the display of advertisements so far as appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient in the interests of amenity or public safety.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), any such regulations may provide—

(a) for regulating the dimensions, appearance and position of advertisements which may be displayed, the sites on which advertisements may be displayed and the manner in which they are to be affixed to the land;

(b) for requiring the consent of the local planning authority to be obtained for the display of advertisements, or of advertisements of any class specified in the regulations;

(c) for applying, in relation to any such consent and to applications for such consent, any of the provisions mentioned in subsection (3), subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the regulations;

(d) for the constitution, for the purposes of the regulations, of such advisory committees as may be prescribed by the regulations, and for determining the manner in which the expenses of any such committee are to be defrayed.

(3) The provisions referred to in subsection (2)(c) are—

(a) the provisions of Part III relating to planning permission and to applications for planning permission, except sections 56, 62, 65 to 68, 69(3) and (4), 71, 80, 81, 91 to 96, 100 and 101 and Schedule 8;

(b) sections 137 to 141, 143 and 144 (except so far as they relate to purchase notices served in consequence of such orders as are mentioned in section 137(1)(b) or (c));

(c) section 316.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by this section, regulations made for the purposes of this section may provide that any appeal from the decision of the local planning authority, on an application for their consent under the regulations, shall be to an independent tribunal constituted in accordance with the regulations, instead of being an appeal to the Secretary of State.

(5) If any tribunal is so constituted, the Secretary of State may pay to the chairman and members of the tribunal such remuneration, whether by way of salaries or by way of fees, and such reasonable allowances in respect of expenses properly incurred in the performance of their duties, as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine.

221 Power to make different advertisement regulations for different areas

(1) Regulations made for the purposes of section 220 may make different provision with respect to different areas, and in particular may make special provision—

(a) with respect to conservation areas;

(b) with respect to areas defined for the purposes of the regulations as experimental areas, and

(c) with respect to areas defined for the purposes of the regulations as areas of special control.

(2) An area may be defined as an experimental area for a prescribed period for the purpose of assessing the effect on amenity or public safety of advertisements of a prescribed description.

(3) An area may be defined as an area of special control if it is—

(a) a rural area, or

(b) an area which appears to the Secretary of State to require special protection on grounds of amenity.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may prohibit the display in an area of special control of all advertisements except advertisements of such classes (if any) as may be prescribed.

(5) Areas of special control for the purposes of regulations under this section may be defined by means of orders made or approved by the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.

(6) Where the Secretary of State is authorised by the regulations to make or approve any such order as is mentioned in subsection (5), the regulations shall provide—

(a) for the publication of notice of the proposed order in such manner as may be prescribed,

(b) for the consideration of objections duly made to it, and

(c) for the holding of such inquiries or other hearings as may be prescribed,

before the order is made or approved.

(7) Subject to subsection (8), regulations made under section 220 may be made so as to apply—

(a) to advertisements which are being displayed on the date on which the regulations come into force, or

(b) to the use for the display of the advertisements of any site which was being used for that purpose on that date.

(8) Any regulations made in accordance with subsection (7) shall provide for exempting from them—

(a) the continued display of any such advertisements as there mentioned; and

(b) the continued use for the display of advertisements of any such site as there mentioned,

during such period as may be prescribed.

(9) Different periods may be prescribed under subsection (8) for the purposes of different provisions of the regulations.

222 Planning permission not needed for advertisements complying with regulations

Where the display of advertisements in accordance with regulations made under section 220 involves development of land—

(a) planning permission for that development shall be deemed to be granted by virtue of this section, and

(b) no application shall be necessary for that development under Part III.

Repayment of expense of removing prohibited advertisements

223 Repayment of expense of removing prohibited advertisements

(1) Where, for the purpose of complying with any regulations made under section 220, works are carried out by any person—

(a) for removing an advertisement which was being displayed on 1st August 1948; or

(b) for discontinuing the use for the display of advertisements of a site used for that purpose on that date,

that person shall, on a claim made to the local planning authority within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, be entitled to recover from that authority compensation in respect of any expenses reasonably incurred by him in carrying out those works.

(2) Except in so far as may be otherwise provided by any regulations made under this Act, any question of disputed compensation under this section shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

(3) In relation to the determination of any such question, the provisions of sections 2 and 4 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply subject to any necessary modifications and to the provisions of any regulations made under this Act.

Enforcement of control over advertisements

224 Enforcement of control as to advertisements

(1) Regulations under section 220 may make provision for enabling the local planning authority to require—

(a) the removal of any advertisement which is displayed in contravention of the regulations, or

(b) the discontinuance of the use for the display of advertisements of any site which is being so used in contravention of the regulations.

(2) For that purpose the regulations may apply any of the provisions of Part VII with respect to enforcement notices or the provisions of section 186, subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the regulations.

(3) Without prejudice to any provisions included in such regulations by virtue of subsection (1) or (2), if any person displays an advertisement in contravention of the regulations he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of such amount as may be prescribed, not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, in the case of a continuing offence, £40 for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3), a person shall be deemed to display an advertisement for the purposes of that subsection if—

(a) he is the owner or occupier of the land on which the advertisement is displayed; or

(b) the advertisement gives publicity to his goods, trade, business or other concerns.

(5) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under subsection (3) by reason only—

(a) of his being the owner or occupier of the land on which an advertisement is displayed, or

(b) of his goods, trade, business or other concerns being given publicity by the advertisement,

if he proves that it was displayed without his knowledge or consent.

225 Power to remove or obliterate placards and posters

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the local planning authority may remove or obliterate any placard or poster—

(a) which is displayed in their area; and

(b) which in their opinion is so displayed in contravention of regulations made under section 220.

(2) Subsection (1) does not authorise the removal or obliteration of a placard or poster displayed within a building to which there is no public right of access.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), where a placard or poster identifies the person who displayed it or caused it to be displayed, the local planning authority shall not exercise any power conferred by subsection (1) unless they have first given him notice in writing—

(a) that in their opinion it is displayed in contravention of regulations made under section 220; and

(b) that they intend to remove or obliterate it on the expiry of a period specified in the notice.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if—

(a) the placard or poster does not give his address, and

(b) the authority do not know it and are unable to ascertain it after reasonable inquiry.

(5) The period specified in a notice under subsection (3) must be not less than two days from the date of service of the notice.

Part IX Acquisition and Appropriation of Land for Planning Purposes, etc.

Acquisition for planning and public purposes

226 Compulsory acquisition of land for development and other planning purposes

(1) A local authority to whom this section applies shall, on being authorised to do so by the Secretary of State, have power to acquire compulsorily any land in their area which—

(a) is suitable for and required in order to secure the carrying out of development, redevelopment or improvement; or

(b) is required for a purpose which it is necessary to achieve in the interests of the proper planning of an area in which the land is situated.

(2) A local authority and the Secretary of State in considering for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) whether land is suitable for development, re-development or improvement shall have regard—

(a) to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material;

(b) to whether planning permission for any development on the land is in force; and

(c) to any other considerations which would be material for the purpose of determining an application for planning permission for development on the land.

(3) Where a local authority exercise their power under subsection (1) in relation to any land, they shall, on being authorised to do so by the Secretary of State, have power to acquire compulsorily—

(a) any land adjoining that land which is required for the purpose of executing works for facilitating its development or use; or

(b) where that land forms part of a common or open space or fuel or field garden allotment, any land which is required for the purpose of being given in exchange for the land which is being acquired.

(4) It is immaterial by whom the local authority propose that any activity or purpose mentioned in subsection (1) or (3)(a) should be undertaken or achieved (and in particular the local authority need not propose to undertake an activity or to achieve that purpose themselves).

(5) Where under subsection (1) the Secretary of State has power to authorise a local authority to whom this section applies to acquire any land compulsorily he may, after the requisite consultation, authorise the land to be so acquired by another authority, being a local authority within the meaning of this Act.

(6) Before giving an authorisation under subsection (5), the Secretary of State shall—

(a) if the land is in a non-metropolitan county, consult with the councils of the county and the district;

(b) if the land is in a metropolitan district, consult with the council of the district; and

(c) if the land is in a London borough, consult with the council of the borough.

(7) The [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981 shall apply to the compulsory acquisition of land under this section.

(8) The local authorities to whom this section applies are the councils of counties, districts and London boroughs.

227 Acquisition of land by agreement

(1) The council of any county, district or London borough may acquire by agreement any land which they require for any purpose for which a local authority may be authorised to acquire land under section 226.

(2) The provisions of Part 1 of the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (so far as applicable), other than sections 4 to 8, section 10 and section 31, shall apply in relation to the acquisition of land under this section.

228 Compulsory acquisition of land by the Secretary of State for the Environment

(1) The Secretary of State for the Environment may acquire compulsorily—

(a) any land necessary for the public service; and

(b) any land which it is proposed to use not only for the public service but also—

(i) to meet the interests of proper planning of the area, or

(ii) to secure the best or most economic development or use of the land,

otherwise than for the public service.

(2) Where the Secretary of State has acquired or proposes to acquire any land under subsection (1) (“the primary land”) and in his opinion other land ought to be acquired together with the primary land—

(a) in the interests of the proper planning of the area concerned; or

(b) for the purpose of ensuring that the primary land can be used, or developed and used, (together with that other land) in what appears to him to be the best or most economic way; or

(c) where the primary land or any land acquired, or which he proposes to acquire, by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection or of section 122(1)(a) or (b) of the Local[1980 c. 65.] Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, forms part of a common, open space or fuel or field garden allotment, for the purpose of being given in exchange for that land,

he may compulsorily acquire that other land.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the power of acquiring land compulsorily under this section shall include power to acquire an easement or other right over land by the grant of a new right.

(4) Subsection (3) shall not apply to an easement or other right over any land which would for the purposes of the [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981 form part of a common, open space or fuel or field garden allotment.

(5) References in this section to the public service include the service in the United Kingdom—

(a) of any international organisation or institution whether or not the United Kingdom or Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom is or is to become a member;

(b) of any office or agency established by such an organisation or institution or for its purposes, or established in pursuance of a treaty (whether or not the United Kingdom is or is to become a party to the treaty);

(c) of a foreign sovereign Power or the Government of such a Power.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5)(b) “treaty” includes any international agreement and any protocol or annex to a treaty or international agreement.

(7) The Acquisition of Land Act 1981 shall apply to any compulsory acquisition by the Secretary of State for the Environment under this section.

229 Appropriation of land forming part of common, etc

(1) Any local authority may be authorised, by an order made by that authority and confirmed by the Secretary of State, to appropriate for any purpose for which that authority can be authorised to acquire land under any enactment any land to which this subsection applies which is for the time being held by them for other purposes.

(2) Subsection (1) applies to land which is or forms part of a common or fuel or field garden allotment (including any such land which is specially regulated by any enactment, whether public general or local or private), other than land which is Green Belt land within the meaning of the [1938 c. xciii.] Green Belt (London and Home Counties) Act 1938.

(3) Section 19 of the [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (special provision with respect to compulsory purchase orders under that Act relating to land forming part of a common, open space or fuel or field garden allotment) shall apply to an order under this section authorising the appropriation of land as it applies to a compulsory purchase order under that Act.

(4) Where land appropriated under this section was acquired under an enactment incorporating the Lands Clauses Acts, any works executed on the land after the appropriation has been effected shall, for the purposes of section 68 of the [1845 c. 18.] Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 and section 10 of the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965, be deemed to have been authorised by the enactment under which the land was acquired.

(5) On an appropriation of land by a local authority under this section, where—

(a) the authority is not an authority to whom Part II of the 1959 Act applies;

(b) the land was immediately before the appropriation held by the authority for the purposes of a grant-aided function (within the meaning of that Act); or

(c) the land is appropriated by the authority for the purposes of such a function,

such adjustments shall be made in the accounts of the local authority as the Secretary of State may direct.

(6) On an appropriation under this section which does not fall within subsection (5), such adjustment of accounts shall be made as is required by section 24(1) of the 1959 Act.

230 Acquisition of land for purposes of exchange

(1) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by sections 226 and 227, any power of a local authority to acquire land under those sections, whether compulsorily or by agreement, shall include power to acquire land required for giving in exchange—

(a) for land appropriated under section 229; or

(b) for Green Belt land appropriated in accordance with the Green Belt (London and Home Counties) Act 1938 for any purpose specified in a development plan.

(2) In subsection (1) “Green Belt land” has the same meaning as in that Act.

231 Power of Secretary of State to require acquisition or development of land

(1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied after holding a local inquiry that the council of a county, district or London borough have failed to take steps for the acquisition of any land which in his opinion ought to be acquired by them under section 226 for a purpose which it is necessary to achieve in the interests of the proper planning of an area in which the land is situated, he may by order require the council to take such steps as may be specified in the order for acquiring the land.

(2) If the Secretary of State is satisfied after holding a local inquiry that a local authority have failed to carry out, on land acquired by them under section 226 (or section 68 of the 1962 Act or section 112 of the 1971 Act) or appropriated by them under section 229 (or section 121 of the 1971 Act), any development which in his opinion ought to be carried out, he may by order require the authority to take such steps as may be specified in the order for carrying out the development.

(3) An order under this section shall be enforceable on the application of the Secretary of State by mandamus.

Appropriation, disposal and development of land held for planning purposes, etc.

232 Appropriation of land held for planning purposes

(1) Where any land has been acquired or appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes and is for the time being held by them for the purposes for which it was so acquired or appropriated, the authority may appropriate the land for any purpose for which they are or may be authorised in any capacity to acquire land by virtue of or under any enactment not contained in this Part or in Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

(2) Land which consists or forms part of a common, or formerly consisted or formed part of a common, and is held or managed by a local authority in accordance with a local Act shall not be appropriated under this section without the consent of the Secretary of State.

(3) Such consent may be given—

(a) either in respect of a particular appropriation or in respect of appropriations of any class, and

(b) either subject to or free from any conditions or limitations.

(4) Before appropriating under this section any land which consists of or forms part of an open space, a local authority—

(a) shall publish a notice of their intention to do so for at least two consecutive weeks in a newspaper circulating in their area; and

(b) shall consider any objections to the proposed appropriation which may be made to them.

(5) In relation to any appropriation under this section—

(a) subsection (4) of section 122 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (which relates to the operation of section 68 of the [1845 c. 18.] Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 and section 10 of the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965) shall have effect as it has effect in relation to appropriations under section 122 of that Act of 1972; and

(b) subsections (5) and (6) of section 229 of this Act shall have effect as they have effect in relation to appropriations under that section.

(6) In relation to any such land as is mentioned in subsection (1), this section shall have effect to the exclusion of the provisions of section 122(1) of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972.

233 Disposal by local authorities of land held for planning purposes

(1) Where any land has been acquired or appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes and is for the time being held by them for the purposes for which it was so acquired or appropriated, the authority may dispose of the land to such person, in such manner and subject to such conditions as appear to them to be expedient in order—

(a) to secure the best use of that or other land and any buildings or works which have been, or are to be, erected, constructed or carried out on it (whether by themselves or by any other person), or

(b) to secure the erection, construction or carrying out on it of any buildings or works appearing to them to be needed for the proper planning of the area of the authority.

(2) Land which consists of or forms part of a common, or formerly consisted or formed part of a common, and is held or managed by a local authority in accordance with a local Act shall not be disposed of under this section without the consent of the Secretary of State.

(3) The consent of the Secretary of State is also required where the disposal is to be for a consideration less than the best that can reasonably be obtained and is not—

(a) the grant of a term of seven years or less; or

(b) the assignment of a term of years of which seven years or less are unexpired at the date of the assignment.

(4) Before disposing under this section of any land which consists of or forms part of an open space, a local authority—

(a) shall publish a notice of their intention to do so for at least two consecutive weeks in a newspaper circulating in their area; and

(b) shall consider any objections to the proposed disposal which may be made to them.

(5) In relation to land acquired or appropriated for planning purposes for a reason mentioned in section 226(1)(a) or (3) the powers conferred by this section on a local authority, and on the Secretary of State in respect of the giving of consent to disposals under this section, shall be so exercised as to secure to relevant occupiers, so far as may be practicable, a suitable opportunity for accommodation.

(6) A person is a relevant occupier for the purposes of subsection (5) if—

(a) he was living or carrying on business or other activities on any such land as is mentioned in that subsection which the authority have acquired as mentioned in subsection (1),

(b) he desires to obtain accommodation on such land, and

(c) he is willing to comply with any requirements of the authority as to the development and use of such land;

and in this subsection “development” includes redevelopment.

(7) In subsection (5) a suitable opportunity for accommodation means, in relation to any person, an opportunity to obtain accommodation on the land in question which is suitable to his reasonable requirements on terms settled with due regard to the price at which any such land has been acquired from him.

(8) In relation to any such land as is mentioned in subsection (1), this section shall have effect to the exclusion of section 123 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (disposal of land by principal councils).

234 Disposal by Secretary of State of land acquired under s. 228

(1) The Secretary of State may dispose of land held by him and acquired by him or any other Minister under section 228 to such person, in such manner and subject to such conditions as appear to him expedient.

(2) In particular, the Secretary of State may under subsection (1) dispose of land held by him for any purpose in order to secure its use for that purpose.

235 Development of land held for planning purposes

(1) A local authority may—

(a) erect, construct or carry out on any land to which this section applies any building or work other than a building or work for the erection, construction or carrying out of which, whether by that local authority or by any other person, statutory power exists by virtue of, or could be conferred under, an alternative enactment; and

(b) repair, maintain and insure any buildings or works on such land and generally deal with such land in a proper course of management.

(2) This section applies to any land which—

(a) has been acquired or appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes, and

(b) is for the time being held by the authority for the purposes for which it was so acquired or appropriated.

(3) A local authority may exercise the powers conferred by subsection (1) notwithstanding any limitation imposed by law on their capacity by virtue of their constitution.

(4) A local authority may enter into arrangements with an authorised association for the carrying out by the association of any operation which, apart from the arrangements, the local authority would have power under this section to carry out, on such terms (including terms as to the making of payments or loans by the authority to the association) as may be specified in the arrangements.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed—

(a) as authorising any act or omission on the part of a local authority which is actionable at the suit of any person on any grounds other than such a limitation as is mentioned in subsection (3); or

(b) as authorising an authorised association to carry out any operation which they would not have power to carry out apart from subsection (4).

(6) In this section—

• “alternative enactment” means any enactment which is not contained in this Part, in section 2, 5 or 6 of the [1963 c. 29.] Local Authorities (Land) Act 1963, in section 14(1) or (4) or 17(3) of the [1982 c. 52.] Industrial Development Act 1982 or in Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990; and

• “authorised association” means any society, company or body of persons—

  (a)

  whose objects include the promotion, formation or management of garden cities, garden suburbs or garden villages and the erection, improvement or management of buildings for the working classes and others, and

  (b)

  which does not trade for profit or whose constitution forbids the issue of any share or loan capital with interest or dividend exceeding the rate for the time being fixed by the Treasury.

Extinguishment of certain rights affecting acquired or appropriated land

236 Extinguishment of rights over land compulsorily acquired

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, upon the completion of a compulsory acquisition of land under section 226, 228 or 230—

(a) all private rights of way and rights of laying down, erecting, continuing or maintaining any apparatus on, under or over the land shall be extinguished, and

(b) any such apparatus shall vest in the acquiring authority.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply—

(a) to any right vested in, or apparatus belonging to, statutory undertakers for the purpose of the carrying on of their undertaking, or

(b) to any right conferred by or in accordance with the telecommunications code on the operator of a telecommunications code system, or

(c) to any telecommunications apparatus kept installed for the purposes of any such system.

(3) In respect of any right or apparatus not falling within subsection (2), subsection (1) shall have effect subject—

(a) to any direction given by the acquiring authority before the completion of the acquisition that subsection (1) shall not apply to any right or apparatus specified in the direction; and

(b) to any agreement which may be made (whether before or after the completion of the acquisition) between the acquiring authority and the person in or to whom the right or apparatus in question is vested or belongs.

(4) Any person who suffers loss by the extinguishment of a right or the vesting of any apparatus under this section shall be entitled to compensation from the acquiring authority.

(5) Any compensation payable under this section shall be determined in accordance with the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961.

237 Power to override easements and other rights

(1) Subject to subsection (3), the erection, construction or carrying out or maintenance of any building or work on land which has been acquired or appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes (whether done by the local authority or by a person deriving title under them) is authorised by virtue of this section if it is done in accordance with planning permission, notwithstanding that it involves—

(a) interference with an interest or right to which this section applies, or

(b) a breach of a restriction as to the user of land arising by virtue of a contract.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the interests and rights to which this section applies are any easement, liberty, privilege, right or advantage annexed to land and adversely affecting other land, including any natural right to support.

(3) Nothing in this section shall authorise interference with any right of way or right of laying down, erecting, continuing or maintaining apparatus on, under or over land which is—

(a) a right vested in or belonging to statutory undertakers for the purpose of the carrying on of their undertaking, or

(b) a right conferred by or in accordance with the telecommunications code on the operator of a telecommunications code system.

(4) In respect of any interference or breach in pursuance of subsection (1), compensation—

(a) shall be payable under section 63 or 68 of the [1845 c. 18.] Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 or under section 7 or 10 of the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965, and

(b) shall be assessed in the same manner and subject to the same rules as in the case of other compensation under those sections in respect of injurious affection where—

(i) the compensation is to be estimated in connection with a purchase under those Acts, or

(ii) the injury arises from the execution of works on land acquired under those Acts.

(5) Where a person deriving title under the local authority by whom the land in question was acquired or appropriated—

(a) is liable to pay compensation by virtue of subsection (4), and

(b) fails to discharge that liability,

the liability shall be enforceable against the local authority.

(6) Nothing in subsection (5) shall be construed as affecting any agreement between the local authority and any other person for indemnifying the local authority against any liability under that subsection.

(7) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising any act or omission on the part of any person which is actionable at the suit of any person on any grounds other than such an interference or breach as is mentioned in subsection (1).

238 Use and development of consecrated land

(1) Notwithstanding any obligation or restriction imposed under ecclesiastical law or otherwise in respect of consecrated land, any such land, which has been the subject of a relevant acquisition or appropriation, may subject to the following provisions of this section—

(a) if it has been acquired by a Minister, be used in any manner by him or on his behalf for any purpose for which he acquired the land; and

(b) in any other case, be used by any person in any manner in accordance with planning permission.

(2) Subsection (1) applies whether or not the land includes a building but it does not apply to land which consists of or forms part of a burial ground.

(3) Any use of consecrated land authorised by subsection (1) shall be subject—

(a) to compliance with the prescribed requirements with respect—

(i) to the removal and reinterment of any human remains, and

(ii) to the disposal of monuments and fixtures and furnishings; and

(b) to such provisions as may be prescribed for prohibiting or restricting the use of the land, either absolutely or until the prescribed consent has been obtained, so long as any church or other building used or formerly used for religious worship, or any part of it, remains on the land.

(4) Any use of land other than consecrated land which—

(a) has been the subject of a relevant acquisition or appropriation, and

(b) at the time of acquisition or appropriation included a church or other building used or formerly used for religious worship or the site of such a church or building,

shall be subject to compliance with such requirements as are mentioned in subsection (3)(a).

(5) Any regulations made for the purposes of subsection (3) or (4)—

(a) shall contain such provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be requisite for securing that any use of land which is subject to compliance with the regulations shall, as nearly as may be, be subject to the same control as is imposed by law in the case of a similar use authorised by an enactment not contained in this Act or by a Measure, or as it would be proper to impose on a disposal of the land in question otherwise than in pursuance of an enactment or Measure;

(b) shall contain such requirements relating to the disposal of any such land as is mentioned in subsection (3) or (4) as appear to the Secretary of State requisite for securing that the provisions of those subsections are complied with in relation to the use of the land; and

(c) may contain such incidental and consequential provisions (including provision as to the closing of registers) as appear to the Secretary of State to be expedient for the purposes of the regulations.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising any act or omission on the part of any person which is actionable at the suit of any person on any grounds other than contravention of any such obligation, restriction or enactment as is mentioned in subsection (1).

239 Use and development of burial grounds

(1) Notwithstanding anything in any enactment relating to burial grounds or any obligation or restriction imposed under ecclesiastical law or otherwise in respect of them, any land consisting of a burial ground or part of a burial ground, which has been the subject of a relevant acquisition or appropriation, may—

(a) if it has been acquired by a Minister, be used in any manner by him or on his behalf for any purpose for which he acquired the land; and

(b) in any other case, be used by any person in any manner in accordance with planning permission.

(2) This section does not apply to land which has been used for the burial of the dead until the prescribed requirements with respect to the removal and reinterment of human remains, and the disposal of monuments, in or upon the land have been complied with.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising any act or omission on the part of any person which is actionable at the suit of any person on any grounds other than contravention of any such enactment, obligation or restriction as is mentioned in subsection (1).

240 Provisions supplemental to ss. 238 and 239

(1) Provision shall be made by any regulations made for the purposes of sections 238(3) and (4) and 239(2)—

(a) for requiring the persons in whom the land is vested to publish notice of their intention to carry out the removal and reinterment of any human remains or the disposal of any monuments;

(b) for enabling the personal representatives or relatives of any deceased person themselves to undertake—

(i) the removal and reinterment of the remains of the deceased, and

(ii) the disposal of any monument commemorating the deceased,

and for requiring the persons in whom the land is vested to defray the expenses of such removal, reinterment and disposal (not exceeding such amount as may be prescribed);

(c) for requiring compliance—

(i) with such reasonable conditions (if any) as may be imposed in the case of consecrated land, by the bishop of the diocese, with respect to the manner of removal and the place and manner of reinterment of any human remains and the disposal of any monuments, and

(ii) with any directions given in any case by the Secretary of State with respect to the removal and reinterment of any human remains.

(2) Subject to the provisions of any such regulations, no faculty is required—

(a) for the removal and reinterment in accordance with the regulations of any human remains, or

(b) for the removal or disposal of any monuments,

and section 25 of the [1857 c. 81.] Burial Act 1857 (prohibition of removal of human remains without the licence of the Secretary of State except in certain cases) does not apply to a removal carried out in accordance with the regulations.

(3) In sections 238 and 239 and this section—

• “burial ground” includes any churchyard, cemetery or other ground, whether consecrated or not, which has at any time been set apart for the purposes of interment,

• “monument” includes a tombstone or other memorial, and

• “relevant acquisition or appropriation” means an acquisition made by a Minister, a local authority or statutory undertakers under this Part or Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 or compulsorily under any other enactment, or an appropriation by a local authority for planning purposes.

241 Use and development of open spaces

(1) Notwithstanding anything in any enactment relating to land which is or forms part of a common, open space or fuel or field garden allotment or in any enactment by which the land is specially regulated, such land which has been acquired by a Minister, a local authority or statutory undertakers under this Part or under Chapter V of Part I of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 or compulsorily under any other enactment, or which has been appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes—

(a) if it has been acquired by a Minister, may be used in any manner by him or on his behalf for any purpose for which he acquired the land; and

(b) in any other case, may be used by any person in any manner in accordance with planning permission.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising any act or omission on the part of any person which is actionable at the suit of any person on any grounds other than contravention of any such enactment as is mentioned in subsection (1).

242 Overriding of rights of possession

If the Secretary of State certifies that possession of a house which—

(a) has been acquired or appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes, and

(b) is for the time being held by the authority for the purposes for which it was acquired or appropriated,

is immediately required for those purposes, nothing in the [1977 c. 42.] Rent Act 1977 or Part I of the [1988 c. 50.] Housing Act 1988 shall prevent the acquiring or appropriating authority from obtaining possession of the house.

Constitution of joint body to hold land for planning purposes

243 Constitution of joint body to hold land for planning purposes

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State, after consultation with the local authorities concerned, to be expedient that any land acquired by a local authority for planning purposes should be held by a joint body, consisting of representatives of that authority and of any other local authority, he may by order provide for the establishment of such a joint body and for the transfer to that body of the land so acquired.

(2) Any order under this section providing for the establishment of a joint body may make such provision as the Secretary of State considers expedient with respect to the constitution and functions of that body.

(3) The provisions which may be included under subsection (2) include provisions—

(a) for incorporating the joint body;

(b) for conferring on them, in relation to land transferred to them as mentioned in subsection (1), any of the powers conferred on local authorities by this Part or Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 in relation to land acquired and held by such authorities for the purposes of this Part or that Chapter;

(c) for determining the manner in which their expenses are to be defrayed.

(4) Regulations under this Act may make such provision consequential upon or supplementary to the provisions of this section as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.

General and supplementary provisions

244 Powers of joint planning boards under Part IX

(1) A joint planning board or a board reconstituted under Schedule 17 to the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 shall, on being authorised to do so by the Secretary of State, have the same power to acquire land compulsorily as the local authorities to whom section 226 applies have under that section.

(2) Such a board shall have the same power to acquire land by agreement as the local authorities mentioned in subsection (1) of section 227 have under that subsection.

(3) Sections 226(1) and (7), 227, 229, 230, 232, 233 and 235 to 242 apply with the necessary modifications as if any such board were a local authority to which those sections applied.

(4) On being authorised to do so by the Secretary of State such a board shall have, for any purpose for which by virtue of this section they may acquire land compulsorily, the power which section 13 of the [1976 c. 57.] Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 confers on the local authorities to whom subsection (1) of that section applies to purchase compulsorily rights over land not in existence when their compulsory purchase is authorised, and subsections (2) to (5) of that section shall accordingly apply to the purchase of rights under this subsection as they apply to the purchase of rights under subsection (1) of that section.

245 Modification of incorporated enactments for purposes of this Part

(1) Where—

(a) it is proposed that land should be acquired compulsorily under section 226 or 228, and

(b) a compulsory purchase order relating to that land is submitted to the confirming authority in accordance with Part II of the [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981 or, as the case may be, is made in draft by the Secretary of State for the Environment in accordance with Schedule 1 to that Act,

the confirming authority or, as the case may be, that Secretary of State may disregard for the purposes of that Part or, as the case may be, that Schedule any objection to the order or draft which, in the opinion of that authority or Secretary of State, amounts in substance to an objection to the provisions of the development plan defining the proposed use of that or any other land.

(2) Where a compulsory purchase order authorising the acquisition of any land under section 226 is submitted to the Secretary of State in accordance with Part II of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, then if the Secretary of State—

(a) is satisfied that the order ought to be confirmed so far as it relates to part of the land comprised in it; but

(b) has not for the time being determined whether it ought to be confirmed so far as it relates to any other such land,

he may confirm the order so far as it relates to the land mentioned in paragraph (a) and give directions postponing consideration of the order, so far as it relates to any other land specified in the directions, until such time as may be so specified.

(3) Where the Secretary of State gives directions under subsection (2), the notices required by section 15 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 to be published and served shall include a statement of the effect of the directions.

(4) In construing the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 in relation to any of the provisions of this Part—

(a) references to the execution of the works shall be construed as including references to any erection, construction or carrying out of buildings or works authorised by section 237;

(b) in relation to the erection, construction or carrying out of any buildings or works so authorised, references in section 10 of that Act to the acquiring authority shall be construed as references to the person by whom the buildings or works in question are erected, constructed or carried out; and

(c) references to the execution of the works shall be construed as including also references to any erection, construction or carrying out of buildings or works on behalf of a Minister or statutory undertakers on land acquired by that Minister or those undertakers, where the buildings or works are erected, constructed or carried out for the purposes for which the land was acquired.

246 Interpretation of Part IX

(1) In this Part—

(a) any reference to the acquisition of land for planning purposes is a reference to the acquisition of it under section 226 or 227 of this Act or section 52 of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (or, as the case may be, under section 112 or 119 of the 1971 Act or section 68 or 71 of the 1962 Act); and

(b) any reference to the appropriation of land for planning purposes is a reference to the appropriation of it for purposes for which land can be (or, as the case may be, could have been) acquired under those sections.

(2) Nothing in sections 237 to 241 shall be construed as authorising any act or omission on the part of a local authority or body corporate in contravention of any limitation imposed by law on their capacity by virtue of their constitution.

(3) Any power conferred by section 238, 239 or 241 to use land in a manner mentioned in those sections shall be construed as a power so to use the land, whether or not it involves the erection, construction or carrying out of any building or work or the maintenance of any building or work.

Part X Highways

Orders made by Secretary of State

247 Highways affected by development: orders by Secretary of State

(1) The Secretary of State may by order authorise the stopping up or diversion of any highway if he is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in order to enable development to be carried out—

(a) in accordance with planning permission granted under Part III, or

(b) by a government department.

(2) Such an order may make such provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient for the provision or improvement of any other highway.

(3) Such an order may direct—

(a) that any highway provided or improved by virtue of it shall for the purposes of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980 be a highway maintainable at the public expense;

(b) that the Secretary of State, or any county council, metropolitan district council or London borough council specified in the order or, if it is so specified, the Common Council of the City of London, shall be the highway authority for that highway;

(c) in the case of a highway for which the Secretary of State is to be the highway authority, that the highway shall, on such date as may be specified in the order, become a trunk road within the meaning of the Highways Act 1980.

(4) An order made under this section may contain such incidental and consequential provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient, including in particular—

(a) provision for authorising the Secretary of State, or requiring any other authority or person specified in the order—

(i) to pay, or to make contributions in respect of, the cost of doing any work provided for by the order or any increased expenditure to be incurred which is attributable to the doing of any such work; or

(ii) to repay, or to make contributions in respect of, any compensation paid by the highway authority in respect of restrictions imposed under section 1 or 2 of the [1935 c. 67.] Restriction of Ribbon Development Act 1935 in relation to any highway stopped up or diverted under the order;

(b) provision for the preservation of any rights of statutory undertakers in respect of any apparatus of theirs which immediately before the date of the order is under, in, on, over, along or across the highway to which the order relates.

(5) An order may be made under this section authorising the stopping up or diversion of any highway which is temporarily stopped up or diverted under any other enactment.

(6) The provisions of this section shall have effect without prejudice to—

(a) any power conferred on the Secretary of State by any other enactment to authorise the stopping up or diversion of a highway;

(b) the provisions of Part VI of the [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981; or

(c) the provisions of section 251(1).

248 Highways crossing or entering route of proposed new highway, etc

(1) This section applies where—

(a) planning permission is granted under Part III for constructing or improving, or the Secretary of State proposes to construct or improve, a highway (“the main highway”); and

(b) another highway crosses or enters the route of the main highway or is, or will be, otherwise affected by the construction or improvement of the main highway.

(2) Where this section applies, if it appears to the Secretary of State expedient to do so—

(a) in the interests of the safety of users of the main highway; or

(b) to facilitate the movement of traffic on the main highway,

he may by order authorise the stopping up or diversion of the other highway.

(3) Subsections (2) to (6) of section 247 shall apply to an order under this section as they apply to an order under that section, taking the reference in subsection (2) of that section to any other highway as a reference to any highway other than that which is stopped up or diverted under this section and the references in subsection (3) to a highway provided or improved by virtue of an order under that section as including a reference to the main highway.

249 Order extinguishing right to use vehicles on highway

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a local planning authority by resolution adopt a proposal for improving the amenity of part of their area, and

(b) the proposal involves the public ceasing to have any right of way with vehicles over a highway in that area, being a highway which is neither a trunk road nor a road classified as a principal road.

(2) The Secretary of State may, on an application by a local planning authority who have so resolved, by order provide for the extinguishment of any right which persons may have to use vehicles on that highway.

(3) An order under subsection (2) may include such provision as the Secretary of State (after consultation with every authority who are a local planning authority for the area in question and the highway authority) thinks fit for permitting the use on the highway of vehicles (whether mechanically propelled or not) in such cases as may be specified in the order, notwithstanding the extinguishment of any such right as is mentioned in that subsection.

(4) Such provision as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be framed by reference to—

(a) particular descriptions of vehicles, or

(b) particular persons by whom, or on whose authority, vehicles may be used, or

(c) the circumstances in which, or the times at which, vehicles may be used for particular purposes.

(5) No provision contained in, or having effect under, any enactment, being a provision prohibiting or restricting the use of footpaths, footways or bridleways shall affect any use of a vehicle on a highway in relation to which an order under subsection (2) has effect, where the use is permitted in accordance with provisions of the order included by virtue of subsection (3).

(6) If any authority who are a local planning authority for the area in which a highway to which an order under subsection (2) relates is situated apply to the Secretary of State in that behalf, he may by order revoke that order, and, if he does so, any right to use vehicles on the highway in relation to which the order was made which was extinguished by virtue of the order under that subsection shall be reinstated.

(7) Such an order as is mentioned in subsection (6) may make provision requiring the removal of any obstruction of a highway resulting from the exercise of powers under Part VIIA of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980.

(8) Before making an application under subsection (2) or (6) the local planning authority shall consult with the highway authority (if different) and any other authority who are a local planning authority for the area in question.

(9) Subsections (2), (3), (4) and (6) of section 247 shall apply to an order under this section as they apply to an order under that section.

250 Compensation for orders under s. 249

(1) Any person who, at the time of an order under section 249(2) coming into force, has an interest in land having lawful access to a highway to which the order relates shall be entitled to be compensated by the local planning authority on whose application the order was made in respect of—

(a) any depreciation in the value of his interest which is directly attributable to the order; and

(b) any other loss or damage which is so attributable.

(2) In subsection (1) “lawful access” means access authorised by planning permission or access in respect of which no such permission is necessary.

(3) A claim for compensation under this section shall be made to the local planning authority on whose application the order was made within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner.

(4) For the purpose of assessing any such compensation the rules set out in section 5 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall, so far as applicable and subject to any necessary modifications, have effect as they have effect for the purpose of assessing compensation for the compulsory acquisition of an interest in land.

(5) Where an interest in land is subject to a mortgage—

(a) any compensation to which this section applies which is payable in respect of depreciation of the value of that interest shall be assessed as if the interest were not subject to the mortgage;

(b) a claim for any such compensation may be made by any mortgagee of the interest, but without prejudice to the making of a claim by the person entitled to the interest;

(c) no compensation to which this section applies shall be payable in respect of the interest of the mortgagee (as distinct from the interest which is subject to the mortgage); and

(d) any compensation to which this section applies which is payable in respect of the interest which is subject to the mortgage shall be paid to the mortgagee (or, if there is more than one mortgagee, to the first mortgagee) and shall in either case be applied by him as if it were proceeds of sale.

(6) Except in so far as may be otherwise provided by any regulations made under this Act, any question of disputed compensation under this section shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

(7) In relation to the determination of any such question, the provisions of sections 2 and 4 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply subject to any necessary modifications and to the provisions of any regulations made under this Act.

251 Extinguishment of public rights of way over land held for planning purposes

(1) Where any land has been acquired or appropriated for planning purposes and is for the time being held by a local authority for the purposes for which it was acquired or appropriated, the Secretary of State may by order extinguish any public right of way over the land if he is satisfied—

(a) that an alternative right of way has been or will be provided; or

(b) that the provision of an alternative right of way is not required.

(2) In this section any reference to the acquisition or appropriation of land for planning purposes shall be construed in accordance with section 246(1) as if this section were in Part IX.

(3) Subsection (1) shall also apply (with the substitution of a reference to the Broads Authority for the reference to the local authority) in relation to any land within the Broads which is held by the Broads Authority and which was acquired by, or vested in, the Authority for any purpose connected with the discharge of any of its functions.

252 Procedure for making of orders

(1) Before making an order under section 247, 248, 249 or 251 the Secretary of State shall publish in at least one local newspaper circulating in the relevant area, and in the London Gazette, a notice—

(a) stating the general effect of the order;

(b) specifying a place in the relevant area where a copy of the draft order and of any relevant map or plan may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable hours during a period of 28 days from the date of the publication of the notice (“the publication date”); and

(c) stating that any person may within that period by notice to the Secretary of State object to the making of the order.

(2) Not later than the publication date, the Secretary of State shall serve a copy of the notice, together with a copy of the draft order and of any relevant map or plan—

(a) on every local authority in whose area any highway or, as the case may be, any land to which the order relates is situated, and

(b) on any water, sewerage, hydraulic power or electricity undertakers or public gas supplier having any cables, mains, sewers, pipes or wires laid along, across, under or over any highway to be stopped up or diverted, or, as the case may be, any land over which a right of way is proposed to be extinguished, under the order.

(3) Not later than the publication date, the Secretary of State shall also cause a copy of the notice to be displayed in a prominent position at the ends of so much of any highway as is proposed to be stopped up or diverted or, as the case may be, of the right of way proposed to be extinguished under the order.

(4) If before the end of the period of 28 days mentioned in subsection (1)(b) an objection is received by the Secretary of State from any local authority or undertakers or public gas supplier on whom a notice is required to be served under subsection (2), or from any other person appearing to him to be affected by the order, and the objection is not withdrawn, then unless subsection (5) applies the Secretary of State shall cause a local inquiry to be held.

(5) If, in a case where the objection is made by a person other than such a local authority or undertakers or supplier, the Secretary of State is satisfied that in the special circumstances of the case the holding of such an inquiry is unnecessary he may dispense with the inquiry.

(6) Subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (local inquiries: evidence and costs) shall apply in relation to an inquiry caused to be held by the Secretary of State under subsection (4).

(7) Where publication of the notice mentioned in subsection (1) takes place on more than one day, the references in this section to the publication date are references to the latest date on which it is published.

(8) After considering any objections to the order which are not withdrawn and, where a local inquiry is held, the report of the person who held the inquiry, the Secretary of State may, subject to subsection (9), make the order either without modification or subject to such modifications as he thinks fit.

(9) Where—

(a) the order contains a provision requiring any such payment, repayment or contribution as is mentioned in section 247(4)(a); and

(b) objection to that provision is duly made by an authority or person who would be required by it to make such a payment, repayment or contribution; and

(c) the objection is not withdrawn,

the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

(10) Immediately after the order has been made, the Secretary of State shall publish, in the manner specified in subsection (1), a notice stating that the order has been made and naming a place where a copy of the order may be seen at all reasonable hours.

(11) Subsections (2), (3) and (7) shall have effect in relation to a notice under subsection (10) as they have effect in relation to a notice under subsection (1).

(12) In this section—

• “the relevant area”, in relation to an order, means the area in which any highway or land to which the order relates is situated;

• “local authority” means the council of a county, district, parish or London borough, a joint authority established by Part IV of the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985, a housing action trust established under Part III of the [1988 c. 50.] Housing Act 1988 and the parish meeting of a rural parish not having a separate parish council;

and in subsection (2)—

(i) the reference to water undertakers shall be construed as including a reference to the National Rivers Authority, and

(ii) the reference to electricity undertakers shall be construed as a reference to holders of licences under section 6 of the [1989 c. 29.] Electricity Act 1989 who are entitled to exercise any power conferred by paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to that Act.

253 Procedure in anticipation of planning permission

(1) Where—

(a) the Secretary of State would, if planning permission for any development had been granted under Part III, have power to make an order under section 247 or 248 authorising the stopping up or diversion of a highway in order to enable that development to be carried out, and

(b) subsection (2), (3) or (4) applies,

then, notwithstanding that such permission has not been granted, the Secretary of State may publish notice of the draft of such an order in accordance with section 252.

(2) This subsection applies where the relevant development is the subject of an application for planning permission and either—

(a) that application is made by a local authority or statutory undertakers or the British Coal Corporation; or

(b) that application stands referred to the Secretary of State in pursuance of a direction under section 77; or

(c) the applicant has appealed to the Secretary of State under section 78 against a refusal of planning permission or of approval required under a development order or against a condition of any such permission or approval.

(3) This subsection applies where—

(a) the relevant development is to be carried out by a local authority or statutory undertakers and requires, by virtue of an enactment, the authorisation of a government department; and

(b) the developers have made an application to the department for that authorisation and also requested a direction under section 90(1) that planning permission be deemed to be granted for that development.

(4) This subsection applies where the council of a county, metropolitan district or London borough or a joint planning board certify that they have begun to take such steps, in accordance with regulations made by virtue of section 316, as are required to enable them to obtain planning permission for the relevant development.

(5) Section 252(8) shall not be construed as authorising the Secretary of State to make an order under section 247 or 248 of which notice has been published by virtue of subsection (1) until planning permission is granted for the development which occasions the making of the order.

254 Compulsory acquisition of land in connection with highways

(1) The Secretary of State, or a local highway authority on being authorised by the Secretary of State to do so, may acquire land compulsorily—

(a) for the purpose of providing or improving any highway which is to be provided or improved in pursuance of an order under section 247, 248 or 249 or for any other purpose for which land is required in connection with the order; or

(b) for the purpose of providing any public right of way which is to be provided as an alternative to a right of way extinguished under an order under section 251.

(2) The [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981 shall apply to the acquisition of land under this section.

255 Concurrent proceedings in connection with highways

(1) In relation to orders under sections 247, 248 and 249, regulations made under this Act may make provision for securing that any proceedings required to be taken for the purposes of the acquisition of land under section 254 (as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) of that section) may be taken concurrently with any proceedings required to be taken for the purposes of the order.

(2) In relation to orders under section 251, regulations made under this Act may make provision for securing—

(a) that any proceedings required to be taken for the purposes of such an order may be taken concurrently with any proceedings required to be taken for the purposes of the acquisition of the land over which the right of way is to be extinguished; or

(b) that any proceedings required to be taken for the purposes of the acquisition of any other land under section 254 (as mentioned in subsection (1)(b) of that section) may be taken concurrently with either or both of the proceedings referred to in paragraph (a).

256 Telecommunic-ation apparatus: orders by Secretary of State

(1) Where—

(a) in pursuance of an order under section 247, 248 or 249 a highway is stopped up or diverted or, as the case may be, any right to use vehicles on that highway is extinguished; and

(b) immediately before the date on which the order came into force there was under, in, on, over, along or across the highway any telecommunication apparatus kept installed for the purposes of a telecommunications code system,

the operator of that system shall have the same powers in respect of the apparatus as if the order had not come into force.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), any person entitled to land over which the highway subsisted shall be entitled to require the alteration of the apparatus.

(3) Where—

(a) any such order provides for the improvement of a highway, other than a trunk road, and

(b) immediately before the date on which the order came into force there was under, in, on, over, along or across the highway any telecommunication apparatus kept installed for the purposes of a telecommunications code system,

the local highway authority shall be entitled to require the alteration of the apparatus.

(4) Subsection (3) does not have effect so far as it relates to the alteration of any apparatus for the purpose of authority’s works as defined in Part II of the [1950 c. 39.] Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950.

(5) Paragraph 1(2) of the telecommunications code (alteration of apparatus to include moving, removal or replacement of apparatus) shall apply for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that code.

(6) Paragraph 21 of the telecommunications code (restriction on removal of telecommunication apparatus) shall apply in relation to any entitlement conferred by this section to require the alteration, moving or replacement of any telecommunication apparatus as it applies in relation to an entitlement to require the removal of any such apparatus.

Orders by other authorities

257 Footpaths and bridleways affected by development: orders by other authorities

(1) Subject to section 259, a competent authority may by order authorise the stopping up or diversion of any footpath or bridleway if they are satisfied that it is necessary to do so in order to enable development to be carried out—

(a) in accordance with planning permission granted under Part III, or

(b) by a government department.

(2) An order under this section may, if the competent authority are satisfied that it should do so, provide—

(a) for the creation of an alternative highway for use as a replacement for the one authorised by the order to be stopped up or diverted, or for the improvement of an existing highway for such use;

(b) for authorising or requiring works to be carried out in relation to any footpath or bridleway for whose stopping up or diversion, creation or improvement provision is made by the order;

(c) for the preservation of any rights of statutory undertakers in respect of any apparatus of theirs which immediately before the date of the order is under, in, on, over, along or across any such footpath or bridleway;

(d) for requiring any person named in the order to pay, or make contributions in respect of, the cost of carrying out any such works.

(3) An order may be made under this section authorising the stopping up or diversion of a footpath or bridleway which is temporarily stopped up or diverted under any other enactment.

(4) In this section “competent authority” means—

(a) in the case of development authorised by a planning permission, the local planning authority who granted the permission or, in the case of a permission granted by the Secretary of State, who would have had power to grant it; and

(b) in the case of development carried out by a government department, the local planning authority who would have had power to grant planning permission on an application in respect of the development in question if such an application had fallen to be made.

258 Extinguishment of public rights of way over land held for planning purposes

(1) Where any land has been acquired or appropriated for planning purposes and is for the time being held by a local authority for the purposes for which it was acquired or appropriated, then, subject to section 259, the local authority may by order extinguish any public right of way over the land, being a footpath or bridleway, if they are satisfied—

(a) that an alternative right of way has been or will be provided; or

(b) that the provision of an alternative right of way is not required.

(2) In this section any reference to the acquisition or appropriation of land for planning purposes shall be construed in accordance with section 246(1) as if this section were in Part IX.

(3) Subsection (1) shall also apply (with the substitution of a reference to the Broads Authority for the reference to the local authority) in relation to any land within the Broads which is held by the Broads Authority and which was acquired by, or vested in, the Authority for any purpose connected with the discharge of any of its functions.

259 Confirmation of orders made by other authorities

(1) An order made under section 257 or 258 shall not take effect unless confirmed by the Secretary of State or unless confirmed, as an unopposed order, by the authority who made it.

(2) The Secretary of State shall not confirm any such order unless satisfied as to every matter as to which the authority making the order are required under section 257 or, as the case may be, section 258 to be satisfied.

(3) The time specified—

(a) in an order under section 257 as the time from which a footpath or bridleway is to be stopped up or diverted; or

(b) in an order under section 258 as the time from which a right of way is to be extinguished,

shall not be earlier than confirmation of the order.

(4) Schedule 14 shall have effect with respect to the confirmation of orders under section 257 or 258 and the publicity for such orders after they are confirmed.

260 Telecommunic-ation apparatus: orders by or on application of other authorities

(1) This section applies where—

(a) any order is made by a local authority under section 258(1), or on the application of a local authority under section 251(1), which extinguishes a public right of way; or

(b) any order is made by a competent authority under section 257 which authorises the stopping up or diversion of a footpath or bridleway,

and at the time of the publication of the notice required by section 252(1) or, as the case may be, paragraph 1 of Schedule 14 any telecommunication apparatus was kept installed for the purposes of a telecommunications code system under, in, on, over, along or across the land over which the right of way subsisted.

(2) In subsection (1) “competent authority” has the same meaning as in section 257 and in the following provisions of this section references to the authority are to the authority who made the order or, as the case may be, to the authority on whose application it was made.

(3) The power of the operator of the telecommunications code system to remove the apparatus—

(a) shall, notwithstanding the making of the order, be exercisable at any time not later than the end of the period of three months from the date on which the right of way is extinguished or authorised to be stopped up or diverted; and

(b) if before the end of that period the operator of the system has given notice to the authority of his intention to remove the apparatus or a part of it, shall be exercisable in respect of the whole or, as the case may be, that part of the apparatus after the end of that period.

(4) The operator of the system may by notice given in that behalf to the authority not later than the end of that period abandon the telecommunication apparatus or any part of it.

(5) Subject to subsection (4), the operator of the system shall be deemed at the end of that period to have abandoned any part of the apparatus which the operator has then neither removed nor given notice of his intention to remove.

(6) The operator of the system shall be entitled to recover from the authority the expense of providing, in substitution for the apparatus and any other telecommunication apparatus connected with it which is rendered useless in consequence of the removal or abandonment of the first-mentioned apparatus, any telecommunication apparatus in such other place as the operator may require.

(7) Where under the previous provisions of this section the operator of the system has abandoned the whole or any part of any telecommunication apparatus, that apparatus or that part of it shall vest in the authority and shall be deemed, with its abandonment, to cease to be kept installed for the purposes of a telecommunications code system.

(8) As soon as reasonably practicable after the making of any such order as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) in circumstances in which that subsection applies in relation to the operator of any telecommunications code system, the person by whom the order was made shall give notice to the operator of the making of the order.

(9) Subsections (5) and (6) of section 256 apply for the purposes of this section as they apply for the purposes of that section.

Temporary highway orders: mineral workings

261 Temporary stopping up of highways for mineral workings

(1) Where the Secretary of State is satisfied—

(a) that an order made by him under section 247 for the stopping up or diversion of a highway is required for the purpose of enabling minerals to be worked by surface working; and

(b) that the highway can be restored, after the minerals have been worked, to a condition not substantially less convenient to the public,

the order may provide for the stopping up or diversion of the highway during such period as may be prescribed by or under the order and for its restoration at the expiration of that period.

(2) Where a competent authority within the meaning of section 257 are satisfied—

(a) that an order made by them under that section for the stopping up or diversion of a footpath or bridleway is required for the purpose of enabling minerals to be worked by surface working; and

(b) that the footpath or bridleway can be restored, after the minerals have been worked, to a condition not substantially less convenient to the public,

the order may provide for the stopping up or diversion of the footpath or bridleway during such period as may be prescribed by or under the order and for its restoration at the expiration of that period.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 247 or 257, any such order as is authorised by subsection (1) or (2) may contain such provisions as appear to the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the competent authority to be expedient—

(a) for imposing upon persons who, apart from the order, would be subject to any liability with respect to the repair of the original highway during the period prescribed by or under the order a corresponding liability in respect of any highway provided in pursuance of the order;

(b) for the stopping up at the expiry of that period of any highway so provided and for the reconstruction and maintenance of the original highway;

and any provision included in the order in accordance with subsection (4) of section 247 or subsection (2) of section 257 requiring payment to be made in respect of any cost or expenditure under the order may provide for the payment of a capital sum in respect of the estimated amount of that cost or expenditure.

(4) In relation to any highway which is stopped up or diverted by virtue of an order under section 247 or 248, sections 271 and 272 shall have effect—

(a) as if for references to land which has been acquired as there mentioned and to the acquiring or appropriating authority there were substituted respectively references to land over which the highway subsisted and to the person entitled to possession of that land; and

(b) as if references in subsection (5) of each of those sections to a local authority or statutory undertakers included references to any person (other than a Minister) who is entitled to possession of that land,

and sections 275 to 278 shall have effect accordingly.

(5) Subsection (4) shall not apply to land constituting the site of a highway in respect of which opencast planning permission (within the meaning of section 51 of the [1958 c. 69.] Opencast Coal Act 1958) has been granted.

Part XI Statutory Undertakers

Preliminary

262 Meaning of “statutory undertakers”

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Act “statutory undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on any railway, light railway, tramway, road transport, water transport, canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking or any undertaking for the supply of hydraulic power and a relevant airport operator (within the meaning of Part V of the [1986 c. 31.] Airports Act 1986).

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Act “statutory undertaking” shall be construed in accordance with subsection (1) and, in relation to a relevant airport operator (within the meaning of that Part), means an airport to which that Part of that Act applies.

(3) Subject to subsection (5), for the purposes of the provisions mentioned in subsection (4) any public gas supplier, water or sewerage undertaker, the National Rivers Authority, the Post Office and the Civil Aviation Authority shall be deemed to be statutory undertakers and their undertakings statutory undertakings.

(4) The provisions referred to in subsection (3) are sections 55, 90, 101, 108(3), 123, 139 to 141, 143, 148, 170(12)(b), 236(2)(a), 237 to 241, 245, 247(4)(b), 253, 257(2), 263(1) and (2), 264, 266 to 283, 288(10)(a), 306, 325(9), 336(2) and (3), paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 and Schedules 8, 13 and 14.

(5) Subsection (4) shall apply—

(a) as respects the Post Office, as if the reference to sections 55, 247(4)(b), 253 and 257(2) were omitted; and

(b) as respects the Post Office and the Civil Aviation Authority as if—

(i) the references to sections 245, 263(1) and (2) and 336(2) and (3) were omitted; and

(ii) after the words “266 to 283” there were inserted the words “(except section 271 as applied by section 13 of the Opencast Coal Act 1958)”.

(6) Any holder of a licence under section 6 of the [1989 c. 29.] Electricity Act 1989 shall be deemed to be a statutory undertaker and his undertaking a statutory undertaking—

(a) for the purposes of the provisions mentioned in subsection (7)(a), if he holds a licence under subsection (1) of that section;

(b) for the purposes of the provisions mentioned in subsection (7)(b), if he is entitled to exercise any power conferred by Schedule 3 to that Act; and

(c) for the purposes of the provisions mentioned in subsection (7)(c), if he is entitled to exercise any power conferred by paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to that Act.

(7) The provisions referred to in subsection (6) are—

(a) sections 55, 108(3), 123, 139 to 141, 143, 148, 236(2)(a), 237, 245, 253, 263(1) and (2), 264, 266 to 283, 288(10)(a), 306, 325(9) and 336(2) and (3), paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 and Schedule 13;

(b) sections 170(12)(b) and 238 to 241; and

(c) sections 247(4) and 257(2) and Schedule 14.

263 Meaning of “operational land”

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section and to section 264, in this Act “operational land” means, in relation to statutory undertakers—

(a) land which is used for the purpose of carrying on their undertaking; and

(b) land in which an interest is held for that purpose.

(2) Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) do not include land which, in respect of its nature and situation, is comparable rather with land in general than with land which is used, or in which interests are held, for the purpose of the carrying on of statutory undertakings.

(3) In sections 108(3), 123(3) and (4), 266 to 283 and Part II of Schedule 8 “operational land”, in relation to the Post Office and the Civil Aviation Authority, means land of the Post Office’s or, as the case may be, of the Authority’s of any such class as may be prescribed by regulations.

(4) Such regulations—

(a) shall be made—

(i) in the case of the Post Office, by the appropriate Minister and the Secretary of State acting jointly; and

(ii) in the case of the Civil Aviation Authority, by the appropriate Minister;

(b) may define a class of land by reference to any circumstances whatsoever, and

(c) in the case of the Civil Aviation Authority, may make provision for different circumstances, including prescribing different classes of land for the purposes of different provisions.

264 Cases in which land is to be treated as not being operational land

(1) This section applies where an interest in land is held by statutory undertakers for the purpose of carrying on their undertaking and—

(a) the interest was acquired by them on or after 6th December 1968; or

(b) it was held by them immediately before that date but the circumstances were then such that the land did not fall to be treated as operational land for the purposes of the 1962 Act.

(2) Where this section applies in respect of any land then, notwithstanding the provisions of section 263, the land shall not be treated as operational land for the purposes of this Act unless it falls within subsection (3) or (4).

(3) Land falls within this subsection if—

(a) there is, or at some time has been, in force with respect to it a specific planning permission for its development; and

(b) that development, if carried out, would involve or have involved its use for the purpose of the carrying on of the statutory undertakers' undertaking.

(4) Land falls within this subsection if—

(a) the undertakers' interest in the land was acquired by them as the result of a transfer under the provisions of the [1968 c. 73.] Transport Act 1968, the [1969 c. 35.] Transport (London) Act 1969, the [1986 c. 44.] Gas Act 1986, the [1986 c. 31.] Airports Act 1986 or the [1989 c. 15.] Water Act 1989 from other statutory undertakers; and

(b) immediately before transfer the land was operational land of those other undertakers.

(5) A specific planning permission for the purpose of subsection (3)(a) is a planning permission—

(a) granted on an application in that behalf made under Part III; or

(b) granted by provisions of a development order granting planning permission generally for development which has received specific parliamentary approval; or

(c) granted by a special development order in respect of development specifically described in the order; or

(d) deemed to be granted by virtue of a direction of a government department under section 90(1).

(6) In subsection (5)—

(a) the reference in paragraph (a) to Part III includes a reference to Part III of the 1971 Act and the enactments in force before the commencement of that Act and replaced by Part III of it; and

(b) the reference in paragraph (b) to development which has received specific parliamentary approval is a reference to development authorised—

(i) by a local or private Act of Parliament,

(ii) by an order approved by both Houses of Parliament; or

(iii) by an order which has been brought into operation in accordance with the provisions of the [1945 c. 18.] Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945,

being an Act or order which designates specifically both the nature of the development authorised by it and the land upon which it may be carried out;

(c) the reference in paragraph (d) to section 90(1) includes a reference to section 40 of the 1971 Act, section 41 of the 1962 Act and section 35 of the 1947 Act.

(7) This section shall not apply to land in the case of which an interest of the Postmaster General’s vested in the Post Office by virtue of section 16 of the [1969 c. 49.] Post Office Act 1969.

(8) Where an interest in land is held by the Civil Aviation Authority this section shall not apply for the purpose of determining whether the land is operational land in relation to the Authority for the purposes of this Act.

265 Meaning of “the appropriate Minister”

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in this Act “the appropriate Minister” means—

(a) in relation to statutory undertakers carrying on any railway, light railway, tramway, road transport, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking, the Civil Aviation Authority or a relevant airport operator (within the meaning of Part V of the [1986 c. 31.] Airports Act 1986), the Secretary of State for Transport;

(b) in relation to statutory undertakers carrying on an undertaking for the supply of hydraulic power, the Secretary of State for Energy;

(c) in relation to the Post Office, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; and

(d) in relation to any other statutory undertakers, the Secretary of State for the Environment.

(2) For the purposes of sections 170(12), 266 to 280, 325(9) and 336(2) and (3) and Part II of Schedule 8, “the appropriate Minister”, in relation to a public gas supplier or a holder of a licence under section 6 of the [1989 c. 29.] Electricity Act 1989, means the Secretary of State for Energy.

(3) For the purposes of sections 170(12), 266 to 280, 325(9) and 336(2) and (3) and Part II of Schedule 8 and Schedule 14 “the appropriate Minister”—

(a) in relation to the National Rivers Authority, means the Secretary of State or the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and

(b) in relation to a water or sewerage undertaker, means the Secretary of State.

(4) References in this Act to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister—

(a) if the appropriate Minister is not the one concerned as the Secretary of State, shall be construed as references to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister; and

(b) if the one concerned as the Secretary of State is also the appropriate Minister, shall be construed as references to him alone,

and similarly with references to a Minister and the appropriate Minister and with any provision requiring the Secretary of State to act jointly with the appropriate Minister.

Application of Part III to statutory undertakers

266 Applications for planning permission by statutory undertakers

(1) Where—

(a) an application for planning permission to develop land to which this subsection applies is made by statutory undertakers and is referred to the Secretary of State under Part III; or

(b) an appeal is made to the Secretary of State under that Part from the decision on such an application; or

(c) such an application is deemed to be made under subsection (5) of section 177 on an appeal under section 174 by statutory undertakers,

the application or appeal shall be dealt with by the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister.

(2) Subsection (1) applies—

(a) to operational land; and

(b) to land in which the statutory undertakers hold or propose to acquire an interest with a view to its being used for the purpose of carrying on their undertaking, where the planning permission, if granted on the application or appeal, would be for development involving the use of the land for that purpose.

(3) An application for planning permission which is deemed to have been made by virtue of section 196(6) shall be determined by the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Part as to compensation, the provisions of this Act shall apply to an application which is dealt with under this section by the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister as if it had been dealt with by the Secretary of State.

(5) Subsection (2)(b) shall have effect in relation to the Civil Aviation Authority as if for the reference to development involving the use of land for the purpose of carrying on the Civil Aviation Authority’s undertaking there were substituted a reference to development involving the use of land for such of the purposes of carrying on that undertaking as may be prescribed by the appropriate Minister.

267 Conditional grants of planning permission

Notwithstanding anything in Part III, planning permission to develop operational land of statutory undertakers shall not, except with their consent, be granted subject to conditions requiring—

(a) that any buildings or works authorised by the permission shall be removed, or

(b) that any use of the land so authorised shall be discontinued,

at the end of a specified period.

268 Development requiring authorisation of government department

(1) The Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister shall not be required under section 266(1) to deal with an application for planning permission for the development of operational land if the authorisation of a government department is required in respect of that development.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where the relevant authorisation has been granted without any direction as to the grant of planning permission.

(3) For the purposes of this section development shall be taken to be authorised by a government department if—

(a) any consent, authority or approval to or for the development is granted by the department in pursuance of an enactment;

(b) a compulsory purchase order is confirmed by the department authorising the purchase of land for the purpose of the development;

(c) consent is granted by the department to the appropriation of land for the purpose of the development or the acquisition of land by agreement for that purpose;

(d) authority is given by the department for the borrowing of money for the purpose of the development, or for the application for that purpose of any money not otherwise so applicable; or

(e) any undertaking is given by the department to pay a grant in respect of the development in accordance with an enactment authorising the payment of such grants,

and references in this section to the authorisation of a government department shall be construed accordingly.

269 Revocation or modification of permission to develop operational land

In relation to any planning permission granted on the application of statutory undertakers for the development of operational land, the provisions of Part III with respect to the revocation and modification of planning permission shall have effect as if for any reference in them to the Secretary of State there were substituted a reference to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister.

270 Order requiring discontinuance of use etc. of operational land

The provisions of Part III with respect to the making of orders—

(a) requiring the discontinuance of any use of land;

(b) imposing conditions on the continuance of it; or

(c) requiring buildings or works on land to be altered or removed,

and the provisions of Schedule 9 with respect to the making of orders under that Schedule shall have effect in relation to operational land of statutory undertakers as if for any reference in them to the Secretary of State there were substituted a reference to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister.

Extinguishment of rights of statutory undertakers, etc.

271 Extinguishment of rights of statutory undertakers: preliminary notices

(1) This section applies where any land has been acquired by a Minister, a local authority or statutory undertakers under Part IX of this Act or Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 or compulsorily under any other enactment or has been appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes, and—

(a) there subsists over that land a right vested in or belonging to statutory undertakers for the purpose of the carrying on of their undertaking, being a right of way or a right of laying down, erecting, continuing or maintaining apparatus on, under or over the land; or

(b) there is on, under or over the land apparatus vested in or belonging to statutory undertakers for the purpose of the carrying on of their undertaking.

(2) If the acquiring or appropriating authority is satisfied that the extinguishment of the right or, as the case may be, the removal of the apparatus, is necessary for the purpose of carrying out any development with a view to which the land was acquired or appropriated, they may serve on the statutory undertakers a notice—

(a) stating that at the end of the relevant period the right will be extinguished; or

(b) requiring that before the end of that period the apparatus shall be removed.

(3) The statutory undertakers on whom a notice is served under subsection (2) may, before the end of the period of 28 days from the date of service of the notice, serve a counter-notice on the acquiring or appropriating authority—

(a) stating that they object to all or any of the provisions of the notice; and

(b) specifying the grounds of their objection.

(4) If no counter-notice is served under subsection (3)—

(a) any right to which the notice relates shall be extinguished at the end of the relevant period; and

(b) if at the end of that period any requirement of the notice as to the removal of any apparatus has not been complied with, the acquiring or appropriating authority may remove the apparatus and dispose of it in any way the authority may think fit.

(5) If a counter-notice is served under subsection (3) on a local authority or on statutory undertakers, the authority or undertakers may either—

(a) withdraw the notice (without prejudice to the service of a further notice); or

(b) apply to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister for an order under this section embodying the provisions of the notice, with or without modification.

(6) If a counter-notice is served under subsection (3) on a Minister—

(a) he may withdraw the notice (without prejudice to the service of a further notice); or

(b) he and the appropriate Minister may make an order under this section embodying the provisions of the notice, with or without modification.

(7) In this section any reference to the appropriation of land for planning purposes shall be construed in accordance with section 246(1) as if this section were in Part IX.

(8) For the purposes of this section the relevant period, in relation to a notice served in respect of any right or apparatus, is the period of 28 days from the date of service of the notice or such longer period as may be specified in it in relation to that right or apparatus.

272 Extinguishment of rights of telecommunica-tions code system operators: preliminary notices

(1) This section applies where any land has been acquired by a Minister, a local authority or statutory undertakers under Part IX of this Act or under Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 or compulsorily under any other enactment or has been appropriated by a local authority for planning purposes, and—

(a) there subsists over that land a right conferred by or in accordance with the telecommunications code on the operator of a telecommunications code system, being a right of way or a right of laying down, erecting, continuing or maintaining apparatus on, under or over the land; or

(b) there is on, under or over the land telecommunication apparatus kept installed for the purposes of any such system.

(2) If the acquiring or appropriating authority is satisfied that the extinguishment of the right or, as the case may be, the removal of the apparatus is necessary for the purpose of carrying out any development with a view to which the land was acquired or appropriated, they may serve on the operator of the telecommunications code system a notice—

(a) stating that at the end of the relevant period the right will be extinguished; or

(b) requiring that before the end of that period the apparatus shall be removed.

(3) The operator of the telecommunications code system on whom a notice is served under subsection (2) may, before the end of the period of 28 days from the date of service of the notice, serve a counter-notice on the acquiring or appropriating authority—

(a) stating that he objects to all or any of the provisions of the notice; and

(b) specifying the grounds of his objection.

(4) If no counter-notice is served under subsection (3)—

(a) any right to which the notice relates shall be extinguished at the end of the relevant period; and

(b) if at the end of that period any requirement of the notice as to the removal of any apparatus has not been complied with, the acquiring or appropriating authority may remove the apparatus and dispose of it in any way the authority may think fit.

(5) If a counter-notice is served under subsection (3) on a local authority or on statutory undertakers, the authority or undertakers may either—

(a) withdraw the notice (without prejudice to the service of a further notice); or

(b) apply to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for an order under this section embodying the provisions of the notice, with or without modification.

(6) If a counter-notice is served under subsection (3) on a Minister—

(a) he may withdraw the notice (without prejudice to the service of a further notice); or

(b) he and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry may make an order under this section embodying the provisions of the notice, with or without modification.

(7) In this section any reference to the appropriation of land for planning purposes shall be construed in accordance with section 246(1) as if this section were in Part IX.

(8) For the purposes of this section the relevant period, in relation to a notice served in respect of any right or apparatus, is the period of 28 days from the date of service of the notice or such longer period as may be specified in it in relation to that right or apparatus.

273 Notice for same purposes as ss. 271 and 272 but given by undertakers to developing authority

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where land has been acquired or appropriated as mentioned in section 271(1), and—

(a) there is on, under or over the land any apparatus vested in or belonging to statutory undertakers; and

(b) the undertakers claim that development to be carried out on the land is such as to require, on technical or other grounds connected with the carrying on of their undertaking, the removal or re-siting of the apparatus affected by the development,

the undertakers may serve on the acquiring or appropriating authority a notice claiming the right to enter on the land and carry out such works for the removal or re-siting of the apparatus or any part of it as may be specified in the notice.

(2) No notice under this section shall be served later than 21 days after the beginning of the development of land which has been acquired or appropriated as mentioned in section 271(1).

(3) Where a notice is served under this section, the authority on whom it is served may, before the end of the period of 28 days from the date of service, serve on the statutory undertakers a counter-notice—

(b) specifying the grounds of their objection.

(4) If no counter-notice is served under subsection (3), the statutory undertakers shall, after the end of that period, have the rights claimed in their notice.

(5) If a counter-notice is served under subsection (3), the statutory undertakers who served the notice under this section may either withdraw it or may apply to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister for an order under this section conferring on the undertakers the rights claimed in the notice or such modified rights as the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister think it expedient to confer on them.

(6) Where, by virtue of this section or of an order of Ministers under it, statutory undertakers have the right to execute works for the removal or re-siting of apparatus, they may arrange with the acquiring or appropriating authority for the works to be carried out by that authority, under the superintendence of the undertakers, instead of by the undertakers themselves.

(7) In subsection (1)(a), the reference to apparatus vested in or belonging to statutory undertakers shall include a reference to telecommunication apparatus kept installed for the purposes of a telecommunications code system.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (7), in this section—

(a) references (except in subsection (1)(a)) to statutory undertakers shall have effect as references to the operator of any such system; and

(b) references to the appropriate Minister shall have effect as references to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

274 Orders under ss. 271 and 272

(1) Where a Minister and the appropriate Minister propose to make an order under section 271(6) or 272(6), they shall prepare a draft of the order.

(2) Before making an order under subsection (5) or (6) of section 271, or under subsection (5) or (6) of section 272, the Ministers proposing to make the order shall give the statutory undertakers or, as the case may be, the operator of the telecommunications code system on whom notice was served under subsection (2) of section 271 or, as the case may be, under subsection (2) of section 272 an opportunity of objecting to the application for, or proposal to make, the order.

(3) If any such objection is made, before making the order the Ministers shall consider the objection and give those statutory undertakers or, as the case may be, that operator (and, in a case falling within subsection (5) of either of those sections, the local authority or statutory undertakers on whom the counter-notice was served) an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed for the purpose by the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister.

(4) After complying with subsections (2) and (3) the Ministers may, if they think fit, make the order in accordance with the application or, as the case may be, in accordance with the draft order, either with or without modification.

(5) Where an order is made under section 271 or 272—

(a) any right to which the order relates shall be extinguished at the end of the period specified in that behalf in the order; and

(b) if, at the end of the period so specified in relation to any apparatus, any requirement of the order as to the removal of the apparatus has not been complied with, the acquiring or appropriating authority may remove the apparatus and dispose of it in any way the authority may think fit.

(6) In this section references to the appropriate Minister shall in the case of an order under section 272 be taken as references to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Extension or modification of statutory undertakers' functions

275 Extension or modification of functions of statutory undertakers

(1) The powers conferred by this section shall be exercisable where, on a representation made by statutory undertakers, it appears to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister to be expedient that the powers and duties of those undertakers should be extended or modified, in order—

(a) to secure the provision of services which would not otherwise be provided, or satisfactorily provided, for any purpose in connection with which a local authority or Minister may be authorised under Part IX of this Act or under Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to acquire land or in connection with which any such person may compulsorily acquire land under any other enactment; or

(b) to facilitate an adjustment of the carrying on of the undertaking necessitated by any of the acts and events mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) The said acts and events are—

(a) the acquisition under Part IX of this Act or that Chapter or compulsorily under any other enactment of any land in which an interest was held, or which was used, for the purpose of the carrying on of the undertaking of the statutory undertakers in question;

(b) the extinguishment of a right or the imposition of any requirement by virtue of section 271 or 272;

(c) a decision on an application made by the statutory undertakers for planning permission to develop any such land as is mentioned in paragraph (a);

(d) the revocation or modification of planning permission granted on any such application;

(e) the making of an order under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 in relation to any such land.

(3) The powers conferred by this section shall also be exercisable where, on a representation made by a local authority or Minister, it appears to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister to be expedient that the powers and duties of statutory undertakers should be extended or modified in order to secure the provision of new services, or the extension of existing services, for any purpose in connection with which the local authority or Minister making the representation may be authorised under Part IX of this Act or under Chapter V of Part I of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to acquire land or in connection with which the local authority or Minister may compulsorily acquire land under any other enactment.

(4) Where the powers conferred by this section are exercisable, the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister may, if they think fit, by order provide for such extension or modification of the powers and duties of the statutory undertakers as appears to them to be requisite in order—

(a) to secure the services in question, as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (3), or

(b) to secure the adjustment in question, as mentioned in subsection (1)(b),

as the case may be.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4), an order under this section may make provision—

(a) for empowering the statutory undertakers—

(i) to acquire (whether compulsorily or by agreement) any land specified in the order, and

(ii) to erect or construct any buildings or works so specified;

(b) for applying in relation to the acquisition of any such land or the construction of any such works enactments relating to the acquisition of land and the construction of works;

(c) where it has been represented that the making of the order is expedient for the purposes mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (3), for giving effect to such financial arrangements between the local authority or Minister and the statutory undertakers as they may agree, or as, in default of agreement, may be determined to be equitable in such manner and by such tribunal as may be specified in the order;

(d) for such incidental and supplemental matters as appear to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister to be expedient for the purposes of the order.

276 Procedure in relation to orders under s. 275

(1) As soon as possible after making such a representation as is mentioned in subsection (1) or subsection (3) of section 275 the statutory undertakers, the local authority or Minister making the representation shall—

(a) publish notice of the representation; and

(b) if the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister so direct, serve a similar notice on such persons, or persons of such classes, as they may direct.

(2) A notice under subsection (1)—

(a) shall be published in such form and manner as the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister may direct;

(b) shall give such particulars as they may direct of the matters to which the representation relates; and

(c) shall specify the time within which, and the manner in which, objections to the making of an order on the representation may be made.

(3) Orders under section 275 shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

277 Relief of statutory undertakers from obligations rendered impracticable

(1) Where, on a representation made by statutory undertakers, the appropriate Minister is satisfied that the fulfilment of any obligation incurred by those undertakers in connection with the carrying on of their undertaking has been rendered impracticable by an act or event to which this subsection applies, the appropriate Minister may, if he thinks fit, by order direct that the statutory undertakers shall be relieved of the fulfilment of that obligation, either absolutely or to such extent as may be specified in the order.

(2) Subsection (1) applies to the following acts and events—

(a) the compulsory acquisition under Part IX of this Act or under Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 or under any other enactment of any land in which an interest was held, or which was used, for the purpose of the carrying on of the undertaking of the statutory undertakers; and

(b) the acts and events specified in section 275(2)(b) to (e).

(3) The appropriate Minister may direct statutory undertakers who have made a representation to him under subsection (1) to publicise it in either or both of the following ways—

(a) by publishing in such form and manner as he may direct a notice, giving such particulars as he may direct of the matters to which the representation relates and specifying the time within which, and the manner in which, objections to the making of an order on the representation may be made;

(b) by serving such a notice on such persons, or persons of such classes, as he may direct.

(4) The statutory undertakers shall comply with any direction given to them under subsection (3) as soon as possible after the making of the representation under subsection (1).

(5) If any objection to the making of an order under this section is duly made and is not withdrawn before the order is made, the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

(6) Immediately after an order is made under this section by the appropriate Minister, he shall—

(a) publish a notice stating that the order has been made and naming a place where a copy of it may be seen at all reasonable hours; and

(b) serve a similar notice—

(i) on any person who duly made an objection to the order and has sent to the appropriate Minister a request in writing to serve him with the notice required by this subsection, specifying an address for service; and

(ii) on such other persons (if any) as the appropriate Minister thinks fit.

(7) Subject to subsection (8), and to the provisions of Part XII, an order under this section shall become operative on the date on which the notice required by subsection (6) is first published.

(8) Where in accordance with subsection (5) the order is subject to special parliamentary procedure, subsection (7) shall not apply.

278 Objections to orders under ss. 275 and 277

(1) For the purposes of sections 275 to 277, an objection to the making of an order shall not be treated as duly made unless—

(a) the objection is made within the time and in the manner specified in the notice required by section 276 or, as the case may be, section 277; and

(b) a statement in writing of the grounds of the objection is comprised in or submitted with the objection.

(2) Where an objection to the making of such an order is duly made in accordance with subsection (1) and is not withdrawn, the following provisions of this section shall have effect in relation to it.

(3) Unless the appropriate Minister decides without regard to the objection not to make the order, or decides to make a modification which is agreed to by the objector as meeting the objection, before he makes a final decision he—

(a) shall consider the grounds of the objection as set out in the statement; and

(b) may, if he thinks fit, require the objector to submit within a specified period a further statement in writing as to any of the matters to which the objection relates.

(4) In so far as the appropriate Minister, after considering the grounds of the objection as set out in the original statement and in any such further statement, is satisfied that the objection relates to a matter which can be dealt with in the assessment of compensation, the appropriate Minister may treat the objection as irrelevant for the purpose of making a final decision.

(5) If—

(a) after considering the grounds of the objection as so set out, the appropriate Minister is satisfied that, for the purpose of making a final decision, he is sufficiently informed as to the matters to which the objection relates; or

(b) in a case where a further statement has been required, it is not submitted within the specified period,

the appropriate Minister may make a final decision without further investigation as to those matters.

(6) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), before making a final decision the appropriate Minister shall give the objector an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed for the purpose by the appropriate Minister.

(7) If the objector takes that opportunity, the appropriate Minister shall give an opportunity of appearing and being heard on the same occasion to the statutory undertakers, local authority or Minister on whose representation the order is proposed to be made, and to any other persons to whom it appears to him to be expedient to give such an opportunity.

(8) Notwithstanding anything in the previous provisions of this section, if it appears to the appropriate Minister that the matters to which the objection relates are such as to require investigation by public local inquiry before he makes a final decision, he shall cause such an inquiry to be held.

(9) Where the appropriate Minister determines to cause such an inquiry to be held, any of the requirements of subsections (3) to (7) to which effect has not been given at the time of that determination shall be dispensed with.

(10) In this section any reference to making a final decision in relation to an order is a reference to deciding whether to make the order or what modification (if any) ought to be made.

(11) In the application of this section to an order under section 275, any reference to the appropriate Minister shall be construed as a reference to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister.

Compensation

279 Right to compensation in respect of certain decisions and orders

(1) Statutory undertakers shall, subject to the following provisions of this Part, be entitled to compensation from the local planning authority—

(a) in respect of any decision made in accordance with section 266 by which planning permission to develop operational land of those undertakers is refused or is granted subject to conditions where—

(i) planning permission for that development would have been granted by a development order but for a direction given under such an order that planning permission so granted should not apply to the development; and

(ii) it is not development which has received specific parliamentary approval (within the meaning of section 264(6));

(b) in respect of any order under section 97, as modified by section 269, by which planning permission which was granted on the application of those undertakers for the development of any such land is revoked or modified.

(2) Where by virtue of section 271—

(a) any right vested in or belonging to statutory undertakers is extinguished; or

(b) any requirement is imposed on statutory undertakers,

those undertakers shall be entitled to compensation from the acquiring or appropriating authority at whose instance the right was extinguished or the requirement imposed.

(3) Where by virtue of section 272—

(a) any right vested in or belonging to an operator of a telecommunications code system is extinguished; or

(b) any requirement is imposed on such an operator,

the operator shall be entitled to compensation from the acquiring or appropriating authority at whose instance the right was extinguished or the requirement imposed.

(4) Where—

(a) works are carried out for the removal or re-siting of statutory undertakers' apparatus; and

(b) the undertakers have the right to carry out those works by virtue of section 273 or an order of Ministers under that section,

the undertakers shall be entitled to compensation from the acquiring or appropriating authority.

(5) Subsection (1) shall not apply in respect of a decision or order if—

(a) it relates to land acquired by the statutory undertakers after 7th January 1947; and

(b) the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister include in the decision or order a direction that subsection (1) shall not apply to it.

(6) The Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister may only give a direction under subsection (5) if they are satisfied, having regard to the nature, situation and existing development of the land and of any neighbouring land, and to any other material considerations, that it is unreasonable that compensation should be recovered in respect of the decision or order in question.

(7) For the purposes of this section the conditions referred to in sections 91 and 92 shall be disregarded.

280 Measure of compensation to statutory undertakers, etc

(1) Where statutory undertakers are entitled to compensation—

(a) as mentioned in subsection (1), (2) or (4) of section 279;

(b) under the provisions of section 115 in respect of an order made under section 102 or paragraph 1, 3, 5 or 6 of Schedule 9, as modified by section 270; or

(c) in respect of a compulsory acquisition of land which has been acquired by those undertakers for the purposes of their undertaking, where the first-mentioned acquisition is effected under a compulsory purchase order confirmed or made without the appropriate Minister’s certificate,

or the operator of a telecommunications code system is entitled to compensation as mentioned in section 279(3), the amount of the compensation shall (subject to section 281) be an amount calculated in accordance with this section.

(2) Subject to subsections (4) to (6), that amount shall be the aggregate of—

(a) the amount of any expenditure reasonably incurred in acquiring land, providing apparatus, erecting buildings or doing work for the purpose of any adjustment of the carrying on of the undertaking or, as the case may be, the running of the telecommunications code system rendered necessary by the proceeding giving rise to compensation (a “business adjustment”);

(b) the appropriate amount for loss of profits; and

(c) where the compensation is under section 279(2) or (3), and is in respect of the imposition of a requirement to remove apparatus, the amount of any expenditure reasonably incurred by the statutory undertakers or, as the case may be, the operator in complying with the requirement, reduced by the value after removal of the apparatus removed.

(3) In subsection (2) “the appropriate amount for loss of profits” means—

(a) where a business adjustment is made, the aggregate of—

(i) the estimated amount of any decrease in net receipts from the carrying on of the undertaking or, as the case may be, the running of the telecommunications code system pending the adjustment, in so far as the decrease is directly attributable to the proceeding giving rise to compensation; and

(ii) such amount as appears reasonable compensation for any estimated decrease in net receipts from the carrying on of the undertaking or, as the case may be, the running of the telecommunications code system in the period after the adjustment has been completed, in so far as the decrease is directly attributable to the adjustment;

(b) where no business adjustment is made, such amount as appears reasonable compensation for any estimated decrease in net receipts from the carrying on of the undertaking or, as the case may be, the running of the telecommunications code system which is directly attributable to the proceeding giving rise to compensation.

(4) Where a business adjustment is made, the aggregate amount mentioned in subsection (2) shall be reduced by such amount (if any) as appears to the Lands Tribunal to be appropriate to offset—

(a) the estimated value of any property (whether moveable or immoveable) belonging to the statutory undertakers or the operator and used for the carrying on of their undertaking or, as the case may be, the running of the telecommunications code system which in consequence of the adjustment ceases to be so used, in so far as the value of the property has not been taken into account under paragraph (c) of that subsection; and

(b) the estimated amount of any increase in net receipts from the carrying on of the undertaking or the running of the telecommunications code system in the period after the adjustment has been completed, in so far as that amount has not been taken into account in determining the amount mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection and is directly attributable to the adjustment.

(5) Where a business adjustment is made the aggregate amount mentioned in subsection (2) shall be further reduced by any amount which appears to the Lands Tribunal to be appropriate, having regard to any increase in the capital value of immoveable property belonging to the statutory undertakers or the operator which is directly attributable to the adjustment, allowance being made for any reduction made under subsection (4)(b).

(6) Where—

(a) the compensation is under section 279(4); and

(b) the acquiring or appropriating authority carry out the works,

then, in addition to any reduction falling to be made under subsection (4) or (5), the aggregate amount mentioned in subsection (2) shall be reduced by the actual cost to the authority of carrying out the works.

(7) References in this section to a decrease in net receipts shall be construed as references—

(a) to the amount by which a balance of receipts over expenditure is decreased;

(b) to the amount by which a balance of expenditure over receipts is increased; or

(c) where a balance of receipts over expenditure is converted into a balance of expenditure over receipts, to the aggregate of the two balances;

and references to an increase in net receipts shall be construed accordingly.

(8) In this section—

• “proceeding giving rise to compensation” means—

  (a)

  except in relation to compensation under section 279(4), the particular action (that is to say, the decision, order, extinguishment of a right, imposition of a requirement or acquisition) in respect of which compensation falls to be assessed, as distinct from any development or project in connection with which that action may have been taken;

  (b)

  in relation to compensation under section 279(4), the circumstances making it necessary for the apparatus in question to be removed or re-sited;

• “the appropriate Minister’s certificate” means such a certificate as is mentioned in section 16 of or paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981.

281 Exclusion of s. 280 at option of statutory undertakers

(1) Where statutory undertakers are entitled to compensation in respect of such a compulsory acquisition as is mentioned in section 280(1)(c), the statutory undertakers may by notice in writing under this section elect that the compensation shall be ascertained in accordance with the enactments (other than rule (5) of the rules set out in section 5 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961) which would be applicable apart from section 280.

(2) If the statutory undertakers so elect the compensation shall be ascertained accordingly.

(3) An election under this section may be made either in respect of the whole of the land comprised in the compulsory acquisition in question or in respect of part of that land.

(4) Any notice under this section shall be given to the acquiring authority before the end of the period of two months from the date of service of notice to treat in respect of the interest of the statutory undertakers.

282 Procedure for assessing compensation

(1) Where the amount of any such compensation as is mentioned in subsection (1) of section 280 falls to be ascertained in accordance with the provisions of that section, the compensation shall, in default of agreement, be assessed by the Lands Tribunal, if apart from this section it would not fall to be so assessed.

(2) For the purposes of any proceedings arising before the Lands Tribunal in respect of compensation falling to be ascertained as mentioned in subsection (1), the provisions of sections 2 and 4 of the [1961 c. 33.] Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply as they apply to proceedings on a question referred to the Tribunal under section 1 of that Act, but with the substitution in section 4 of that Act, for references to the acquiring authority, of references to the person from whom the compensation is claimed.

Advertisements

283 Display of advertisements on operational land

Sections 266 to 270 and 279(1), (5) and (6) do not apply in relation to the display of advertisements on operational land of statutory undertakers.

Part XII Validity

284 Validity of development plans and certain orders, decisions and directions

(1) Except in so far as may be provided by this Part, the validity of—

(a) a structure plan, local plan or unitary development plan or any alteration, repeal or replacement of any such plan, whether before or after the plan, alteration, repeal or replacement has been approved or adopted; or

(b) a simplified planning zone scheme or an alteration of such a scheme, whether before or after the adoption or approval of the scheme or alteration; or

(c) an order under any provision of Part X except section 251(1), whether before or after the order has been made; or

(d) an order under section 277, whether before or after the order has been made; or

(e) any such order as is mentioned in subsection (2), whether before or after it has been confirmed; or

(f) any such action on the part of the Secretary of State as is mentioned in subsection (3),

shall not be questioned in any legal proceedings whatsoever.

(2) The orders referred to in subsection (1)(e) are—

(a) any order under section 97 or under the provisions of that section as applied by or under any other provision of this Act;

(b) any order under section 102;

(c) any tree preservation order;

(d) any order made in pursuance of section 221(5);

(e) any order under paragraph 1, 3, 5 or 6 of Schedule 9.

(3) The action referred to in subsection (1)(f) is action on the part of the Secretary of State of any of the following descriptions—

(a) any decision on an application for planning permission referred to him under section 77;

(b) any decision on an appeal under section 78;

(c) the giving of any direction under section 80;

(d) any decision to confirm a completion notice under section 95;

(e) any decision to grant planning permission under paragraph (a) of section 177(1) or to discharge a condition or limitation under paragraph (b) of that section;

(f) any decision to confirm or not to confirm a purchase notice including—

(i) any decision not to confirm such a notice in respect of part of the land to which it relates, or

(ii) any decision to grant any permission, or give any direction, instead of confirming such a notice, either wholly or in part;

(g) any decision on an application for an established use certificate referred to the Secretary of State under subsection (5) of section 192 or on an appeal under section 195(1);

(h) any decision relating—

(i) to an application for consent under a tree preservation order,

(ii) to an application for consent under any regulations made in accordance with section 220 or 221, or

(iii) to any certificate or direction under any such order or regulations, whether it is a decision on appeal or a decision on an application referred to the Secretary of State for determination in the first instance.

(4) Nothing in this section shall affect the exercise of any jurisdiction of any court in respect of any refusal or failure on the part of the Secretary of State to take any such action as is mentioned in subsection (3).

285 Validity of enforcement notices and similar notices

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the validity of an enforcement notice shall not, except by way of an appeal under Part VII, be questioned in any proceedings whatsoever on any of the grounds on which such an appeal may be brought.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to proceedings brought under section 179(6) to (8) against a person who—

(a) has held an interest in the land since before the enforcement notice was issued under that Part;

(b) did not have a copy of the enforcement notice served on him under that Part; and

(c) satisfies the court—

(i) that he did not know and could not reasonably have been expected to know that the enforcement notice had been issued; and

(ii) that his interests have been substantially prejudiced by the failure to serve him with a copy of it.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the validity of a notice which has been served under section 215 on the owner and occupier of the land shall not, except by way of an appeal under Chapter II of Part VIII, be questioned in any proceedings whatsoever on either of the grounds specified in section 217(1)(a) or (b).

(4) Subsection (3) shall not prevent the validity of such a notice being questioned on either of those grounds in proceedings brought under section 216 against a person on whom the notice was not served, but who has held an interest in the land since before the notice was served on the owner and occupier of the land, if he did not appeal against the notice under that Chapter.

(5) The validity of a notice purporting to be an enforcement notice shall not depend on whether any non-compliance to which the notice relates was a non-compliance with conditions, or with limitations, or with both.

(6) Any reference in such a notice to non-compliance with conditions or limitations (whether both expressions are used in the notice or only one of them) shall be construed as a reference to non-compliance with conditions, or with limitations, or with both conditions and limitations, as the case may require.

286 Challenges to validity on ground of authority’s powers

(1) The validity of any permission, determination or certificate granted, made or issued or purporting to have been granted, made or issued by a local planning authority in respect of—

(a) an application for planning permission;

(b) an application for determining under section 64 whether an application for such permission is required;

(c) an application for an established use certificate under section 192;

(d) an application for consent to the display of advertisements under section 220; or

(e) a determination under section 302 or Schedule 15,

shall not be called in question in any legal proceedings, or in any proceedings under this Act which are not legal proceedings, on the ground that the permission, determination or certificate should have been granted, made or given by some other local planning authority.

(2) The validity of any order under section 97 revoking or modifying planning permission, any order under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 requiring discontinuance of use, or imposing conditions on continuance of use, or requiring the alteration or removal of buildings or works, or any enforcement notice under section 172 or stop notice under section 183, being an order or notice purporting to have been made, issued or served by a local planning authority, shall not be called in question in any such proceedings on the ground—

(a) in the case of an order or notice purporting to have been made, issued or served by a district planning authority, that they failed to comply with paragraph 11(2) of Schedule 1;

(b) in the case of an order or notice purporting to have been made, issued or served by a county planning authority, that they had no power to make, issue or serve it because it did not relate to a county matter within the meaning of that Schedule.

287 Proceedings for questioning validity of development plans and certain schemes and orders

(1) If any person aggrieved by a unitary development plan or a local plan or by any alteration, repeal or replacement of any such plan or structure plan, desires to question the validity of the plan or, as the case may be, the alteration, repeal or replacement on the ground—

(a) that it is not within the powers conferred by Part II, or

(b) that any requirement of that Part or of any regulations made under it has not been complied with in relation to the approval or adoption of the plan or, as the case may be, its alteration, repeal or replacement,

he may make an application to the High Court under this section.

(2) On any application under this section the High Court—

(a) may by interim order wholly or in part suspend the operation of the plan, or, as the case may be, the alteration, repeal or replacement, either generally or in so far as it affects any property of the applicant, until the final determination of the proceedings;

(b) if satisfied that the plan or, as the case may be, the alteration, repeal or replacement is wholly or to any extent outside the powers conferred by Part II, or that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by the failure to comply with any requirement of that Part or of any regulations made under it, may wholly or in part quash the plan or, as the case may be, the alteration, repeal or replacement either generally or in so far as it affects any property of the applicant.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall apply, subject to any necessary modifications, to a simplified planning zone scheme or an alteration of such a scheme or to an order under section 247, 248, 249, 251, 257, 258 or 277 as they apply to any plan or any alteration, repeal or replacement there mentioned.

(4) An application under this section must be made within six weeks from the relevant date.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) the relevant date is—

(a) in the case of an application in respect of such a plan as is mentioned in subsection (1), the date of the publication of the first notice of the approval or adoption of the plan, alteration, repeal or replacement required by regulations under section 26 or, as the case may be, section 53,

(b) in the case of an application by virtue of subsection (3) in respect of a simplified planning zone scheme or an alteration of such a scheme, the date of the publication of the first notice of the approval or adoption of the scheme or alteration required by regulations under paragraph 13 of Schedule 7,

(c) in the case of an application by virtue of subsection (3) in respect of an order under section 247, 248, 249, or 251, the date on which the notice required by section 252(10) is first published,

(d) in the case of an application by virtue of subsection (3) in respect of an order under section 257 or 258, the date on which the notice required by paragraph 7 of Schedule 14 is first published in accordance with that paragraph,

(e) in the case of an application by virtue of subsection (3) in respect of an order under section 277, the date on which the notice required by subsection (6) of that section is first published;

but subject, in the case of those orders mentioned in paragraphs (c) and (e) to which section 292 applies, to that section.

(6) In their application to simplified planning zone schemes and their alteration, subsections (1) and (2) shall have effect as if they referred to Part III instead of Part II.

288 Proceedings for questioning the validity of other orders, decisions and directions

(1) If any person—

(a) is aggrieved by any order to which this section applies and wishes to question the validity of that order on the grounds—

(i) that the order is not within the powers of this Act, or

(ii) that any of the relevant requirements have not been complied with in relation to that order; or

(b) is aggrieved by any action on the part of the Secretary of State to which this section applies and wishes to question the validity of that action on the grounds—

(i) that the action is not within the powers of this Act, or

(ii) that any of the relevant requirements have not been complied with in relation to that action,

he may make an application to the High Court under this section.

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), if the authority directly concerned with any order to which this section applies, or with any action on the part of the Secretary of State to which this section applies, wish to question the validity of that order or action on any of the grounds mentioned in subsection (1), the authority may make an application to the High Court under this section.

(3) An application under this section must be made within six weeks from the date on which the order is confirmed (or, in the case of an order under section 97 which takes effect under section 99 without confirmation, the date on which it takes effect) or, as the case may be, the date on which the action is taken.

(4) This section applies to any such order as is mentioned in subsection (2) of section 284 and to any such action on the part of the Secretary of State as is mentioned in subsection (3) of that section.

(5) On any application under this section the High Court—

(a) may, subject to subsection (6), by interim order suspend the operation of the order or action, the validity of which is questioned by the application, until the final determination of the proceedings;

(b) if satisfied that the order or action in question is not within the powers of this Act, or that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by a failure to comply with any of the relevant requirements in relation to it, may quash that order or action.

(6) Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) shall not apply to applications questioning the validity of tree preservation orders.

(7) In relation to a tree preservation order, or to an order made in pursuance of section 221(5), the powers conferred on the High Court by subsection (5) shall be exercisable by way of quashing or (where applicable) suspending the operation of the order either in whole or in part, as the court may determine.

(8) References in this section to the confirmation of an order include the confirmation of an order subject to modifications as well as the confirmation of an order in the form in which it was made.

(9) In this section “the relevant requirements”, in relation to any order or action to which this section applies, means any requirements of this Act or of the [1971 c. 62.] Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971, or of any order, regulations or rules made under this Act or under that Act which are applicable to that order or action.

(10) Any reference in this section to the authority directly concerned with any order or action to which this section applies—

(a) in relation to any such decision as is mentioned in section 284(3)(f), is a reference to the council on whom the notice in question was served and, in a case where the Secretary of State has modified such a notice, wholly or in part, by substituting another local authority or statutory undertakers for that council, includes a reference to that local authority or those statutory undertakers;

(b) in any other case, is a reference to the authority who made the order in question or made the decision or served the notice to which the proceedings in question relate, or who referred the matter to the Secretary of State, or, where the order or notice in question was made or served by him, the authority named in the order or notice.

289 Appeals to High Court relating to enforcement notices and notices under s. 207

(1) Where the Secretary of State gives a decision in proceedings on an appeal under Part VII against an enforcement notice the appellant or the local planning authority or any other person having an interest in the land to which the notice relates may, according as rules of court may provide, either appeal to the High Court against the decision on a point of law or require the Secretary of State to state and sign a case for the opinion of the High Court.

(2) Where the Secretary of State gives a decision in proceedings on an appeal under Part VIII against a notice under section 207, the appellant or the local planning authority or any person (other than the appellant) on whom the notice was served may, according as rules of court may provide, either appeal to the High Court against the decision on a point of law or require the Secretary of State to state and sign a case for the opinion of the High Court.

(3) At any stage of the proceedings on any such appeal as is mentioned in subsection (1), the Secretary of State may state any question of law arising in the course of the proceedings in the form of a special case for the decision of the High Court.

(4) A decision of the High Court on a case stated by virtue of subsection (3) shall be deemed to be a judgment of the court within the meaning of section 16 of the [1981 c. 54.] Supreme Court Act 1981 (jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to hear and determine appeals from any judgment of the High Court).

(5) In relation to any proceedings in the High Court or the Court of Appeal brought by virtue of this section the power to make rules of court shall include power to make rules—

(a) prescribing the powers of the High Court or the Court of Appeal with respect to the remitting of the matter with the opinion or direction of the court for re-hearing and determination by the Secretary of State; and

(b) providing for the Secretary of State, either generally or in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the rules, to be treated as a party to any such proceedings and to be entitled to appear and to be heard accordingly.

(6) No appeal to the Court of Appeal shall be brought by virtue of this section except with the leave of the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

(7) In this section “decision” includes a direction or order, and references to the giving of a decision shall be construed accordingly.

290 Appeals to High Court against decisions under s. 64

(1) If, in the case of any decision to which this section applies, the person who made the application to which the decision relates or the local planning authority is dissatisfied with the decision in point of law, that person or, as the case may be, the local planning authority may, according as rules of court may provide, either appeal against the decision to the High Court or require the Secretary of State to state and sign a case for the opinion of the High Court.

(2) This section applies to any decision of the Secretary of State—

(a) on an application under section 64 which is referred to the Secretary of State under the provisions of section 77 as applied by that section; or

(b) on an appeal brought under the provisions of section 78 as applied by section 64.

(3) Where an application under section 64 is made as part of an application for planning permission, subsections (1) and (2) shall have effect in relation to that application in so far as it is an application under the said section 64, but not in so far as it is an application for planning permission.

(4) In relation to proceedings in the High Court or the Court of Appeal brought by virtue of this section, the power to make rules of court shall include power to make rules prescribing the powers of the High Court or the Court of Appeal with respect to—

(a) the giving of any decision which might have been given by the Secretary of State;

(b) the remitting of the matter, with the opinion or direction of the court, for re-hearing and determination by the Secretary of State;

(c) the giving of directions to the Secretary of State.

(5) No appeal to the Court of Appeal shall be brought by virtue of this section except with the leave of the High Court or of the Court of Appeal.

(6) Without prejudice to the previous provisions of this section, rules of court in relation to proceedings in the High Court or the Court of Appeal brought by virtue of this section may provide for the Secretary of State, either generally or in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the rules, to be treated as a party to any such proceedings and to be entitled to appear and to be heard accordingly.

291 Special provisions as to decisions relating to statutory undertakers

In relation to any action which—

(a) apart from the provisions of Part XI would fall to be taken by the Secretary of State and, if so taken, would be action falling within section 284(3); but

(b) by virtue of that Part, is required to be taken by the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister,

the provisions of sections 284 and 288 shall have effect (subject to section 292) as if any reference in those provisions to the Secretary of State were a reference to the Secretary of State and the appropriate Minister.

292 Special provisions as to orders subject to special parliamentary procedure

(1) Where an order under section 247, 248, 249 or 277 is subject to special parliamentary procedure, then—

(a) if the order is confirmed by Act of Parliament under section 6 of the [1945 c. 18.] Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945, sections 284 and 287 shall not apply to the order;

(b) in any other case, section 287 shall have effect in relation to the order as if, in subsection (4) of that section, for the reference to the date there mentioned there were substituted a reference to the date on which the order becomes operative under section 6 of that Act (“the operative date”).

(2) Where by virtue of Part XI any such action as is mentioned in section 291 is required to be embodied in an order, and that order is subject to special parliamentary procedure, then—

(a) if the order in which the action is embodied is confirmed by Act of Parliament under section 6 of that Act, sections 284 and 288 shall not apply;

(b) in any other case, section 288 shall apply with the substitution for any reference to the date on which the action is taken of a reference to the operative date.

Part XIII Application of Act to Crown Land

Preliminary

293 Preliminary definitions

(1) In this Part—

• “Crown land” means land in which there is a Crown interest or a Duchy interest;

• “Crown interest” means an interest belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown or belonging to a government department or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department;

• “Duchy interest” means an interest belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Duchy of Lancaster or belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall;

• “private interest” means an interest which is neither a Crown interest nor a Duchy interest.

(2) For the purposes of this Part “the appropriate authority”, in relation to any land—

(a) in the case of land belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown and forming part of the Crown Estate, means the Crown Estate Commissioners;

(b) in relation to any other land belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown, means the government department having the management of that land;

(c) in relation to land belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Duchy of Lancaster, means the Chancellor of the Duchy;

(d) in relation to land belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall, means such person as the Duke of Cornwall, or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall, appoints;

(e) in the case of land belonging to a government department or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department, means that department.

(3) If any question arises as to what authority is the appropriate authority in relation to any land, that question shall be referred to the Treasury, whose decision shall be final.

(4) A person who is entitled to occupy Crown land by virtue of a licence in writing shall be treated for the purposes of section 296(1)(c), so far as applicable to Parts III, VII and VIII, and sections 294(2) to (7), 295, 299 and 300 as having an interest in land and references in section 299 to the disposal of an interest in Crown land, and in that section and sections 294(2) and 300 to a private interest in such land, shall be construed accordingly.

Application of Act as respects Crown land

294 Control of development on Crown land: special enforcement notices

(1) No enforcement notice shall be issued under section 172 in respect of development carried out by or on behalf of the Crown after 1st July 1948 on land which was Crown land at the time when the development was carried out.

(2) The following provisions of this section apply to development of Crown land carried out otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown at a time when no person is entitled to occupy it by virtue of a private interest.

(3) Where—

(a) it appears to a local planning authority that development to which this subsection applies has taken place in their area, and

(b) they consider it expedient to do so having regard to the provisions of the development plan and to any other material considerations,

they may issue a notice under this section (a “special enforcement notice”).

(4) No special enforcement notice shall be issued except with the consent of the appropriate authority.

(5) A special enforcement notice shall specify—

(a) the matters alleged to constitute development to which this section applies; and

(b) the steps which the authority issuing the notice require to be taken for restoring the land to its condition before the development took place or for discontinuing any use of the land which has been instituted by the development.

(6) A special enforcement notice shall also specify—

(a) the date on which it is to take effect (“the specified date”), and

(b) the period within which any such steps as are mentioned in subsection (5)(b) are to be taken.

(7) A special enforcement notice may specify different periods for the taking of different steps.

295 Supplementary provisions as to special enforcement notices

(1) Not later than 28 days after the date of the issue of a special enforcement notice and not later than 28 days before the specified date, the local planning authority who issued it shall serve a copy of it—

(a) on the person who carried out the development alleged in the notice;

(b) on any person who is occupying the land when the notice is issued; and

(c) on the appropriate authority.

(2) The local planning authority need not serve a copy of the notice on the person mentioned in subsection (1)(a) if they are unable after reasonable enquiry to identify or trace him.

(3) Any such person as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b) may appeal against the notice to the Secretary of State on the ground that the matters alleged in the notice—

(a) have not taken place, or

(b) do not constitute development to which section 294 applies.

(4) A person may appeal against a special enforcement notice under subsection (3) whether or not he was served with a copy of it.

(5) The provisions contained in or having effect under sections 174(3) to (5), 175(1) to (4) and 176(1) to (4) shall apply to special enforcement notices issued by local planning authorities and to appeals against them under subsection (3) as they apply to enforcement notices and to appeals under section 174.

(6) The Secretary of State may by regulations apply to special enforcement notices and to appeals under subsection (3) such other provisions of this Act (with such modifications as he thinks fit) as he thinks necessary or expedient.

296 Exercise of powers in relation to Crown land

(1) Notwithstanding any interest of the Crown in Crown land, but subject to the following provisions of this section—

(a) a plan approved, adopted or made under Part II of this Act or Part II of the 1971 Act may include proposals relating to the use of Crown land;

(b) any power to acquire land compulsorily under Part IX may be exercised in relation to any interest in Crown land which is for the time being held otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown;

(c) any restrictions or powers imposed or conferred by Part III, VII or VIII, by the provisions of Part VI relating to purchase notices, or by any of the provisions of sections 266 to 270, shall apply and be exercisable in relation to Crown land, to the extent of any interest in it for the time being held otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown.

(2) Except with the consent of the appropriate authority—

(a) no order or notice shall be made, issued or served under any of the provisions of section 102, 103, 172, 198, 199 or 215 or Schedule 9 or under any of those provisions as applied by any order or regulations made under Part VIII, in relation to land which for the time being is Crown land;

(b) no interest in land which for the time being is Crown land shall be acquired compulsorily under Part IX.

(3) No purchase notice shall be served in relation to any interest in Crown land unless—

(a) an offer has been previously made by the owner of that interest to dispose of it to the appropriate authority on equivalent terms, and

(b) that offer has been refused by the appropriate authority.

(4) In subsection (3) “equivalent terms” means that the price payable for the interest shall be equal to (and shall, in default of agreement, be determined in the same manner as) the compensation which would be payable in respect of it if it were acquired in pursuance of a purchase notice.

(5) The rights conferred by the provisions of Chapter II of Part VI shall be exercisable by a person who (within the meaning of those provisions) is an owner-occupier of a hereditament or agricultural unit which is Crown land, or is a resident owner-occupier of a hereditament which is Crown land, in the same way as they are exercisable in respect of a hereditament or agricultural unit which is not Crown land, and those provisions shall apply accordingly.

297 Agreements relating to Crown land

(1) The appropriate authority and the local planning authority for the area in which any Crown land is situated may make agreements for securing the use of the land, so far as may be prescribed by any such agreement, in conformity with the provisions of the development plan applicable to it.

(2) Any such agreement may contain such consequential provisions, including provisions of a financial character, as may appear to be necessary or expedient having regard to the purposes of the agreement.

(3) An agreement made under this section by a government department shall not have effect unless it is approved by the Treasury.

(4) In considering whether to make or approve an agreement under this section relating—

(a) to land belonging to a government department, or

(b) to land held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department,

the department and the Treasury shall have regard to the purposes for which the land is held by or for the department.

298 Supplementary provisions as to Crown and Duchy interests

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section—

(a) where there is a Crown interest in any land, the provisions of sections 109 to 113 and Part V and the provisions of Schedule 3 to the Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 in so far as they relate to those sections or that Part, or to Part VII or sections 166 to 168 of the 1971 Act, shall have effect in relation to any private interest or Duchy interest as if the Crown interest were a private interest; and

(b) where there is a Duchy interest in any land, those provisions shall have effect in relation to that interest, and to any private interest, as if the Duchy interest were a private interest.

(2) References in this Act to claims established under Part VI of the 1947 Act include references to claims so established in accordance with arrangements made under section 88(2) of that Act (which provided for the application of Part VI of that Act to Duchy interests and for the payment of sums in lieu of development charges in respect of such interests); references to development charges include references to sums determined in accordance with such arrangements to be appropriate in substitution for development charges; and references to the amount of an established claim or of a development charge shall be construed accordingly.

(3) Where, in accordance with an agreement under section 297, the approval of a local planning authority is required in respect of any development of land in which there is a Duchy interest, the provisions of this Act referred to in subsection (1)(a) shall have effect in relation to the withholding of that approval, or the giving of it subject to conditions, as if it were a refusal of planning permission or, as the case may be, a grant of planning permission subject to conditions.

Provisions relating to anticipated disposal of Crown land

299 Application for planning permission etc. in anticipation of disposal of Crown land

(1) This section has effect for the purpose of enabling Crown land, or an interest in Crown land, to be disposed of with the benefit of planning permission or a determination under section 64.

(2) Notwithstanding the interest of the Crown in the land in question, an application for any such permission or determination may be made by—

(a) the appropriate authority; or

(b) any person authorised by that authority in writing;

and, subject to subsections (3) to (5), all the statutory provisions relating to the making and determination of any such application shall accordingly apply as if the land were not Crown land.

(3) Any planning permission granted by virtue of this section shall apply only—

(a) to development carried out after the land in question has ceased to be Crown land; and

(b) so long as that land continues to be Crown land, to development carried out by virtue of a private interest in the land.

(4) In relation to any application made by virtue of this section for any determination under section 64, subsection (1) of that section shall have effect as if for the reference to an application for planning permission being required there were substituted a reference to such an application being required in the event of the proposed operations or change of use being carried out or made otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown.

(5) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a) modify or exclude any of the statutory provisions referred to in subsection (2) in their application by virtue of that subsection and any other statutory provisions in their application to permissions or determinations granted or made by virtue of this section;

(b) make provision for requiring a local planning authority to be notified of any disposal of, or of an interest in, any Crown land in respect of which an application has been made by virtue of this section; and

(c) make such other provision in relation to the making and determination of applications by virtue of this section as he thinks necessary or expedient.

(6) This section shall not be construed as affecting any right to apply for any such permission or determination as is mentioned in subsection (1) in respect of Crown land in a case in which such an application can be made by virtue of a private interest in the land.

(7) In this section “statutory provisions” means provisions contained in or having effect under any enactment.

300 Tree preservation orders in anticipation of disposal of Crown land

(1) A local planning authority may make a tree preservation order in respect of Crown land in which no interest is for the time being held otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown, if they consider it expedient to do so for the purpose of preserving trees or woodlands on the land in the event of its ceasing to be Crown land or becoming subject to a private interest.

(2) No tree preservation order shall be made by virtue of this section except with the consent of the appropriate authority.

(3) A tree preservation order made by virtue of this section shall not take effect until the first occurrence of a relevant event.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), a relevant event occurs in relation to any land if it ceases to be Crown land or becomes subject to a private interest.

(5) A tree preservation order made by virtue of this section—

(a) shall not require confirmation under section 199 until after the occurrence of the event by virtue of which it takes effect; and

(b) shall by virtue of this subsection continue in force until—

(i) the expiration of the period of six months beginning with the occurrence of that event; or

(ii) the date on which the order is confirmed,

whichever first occurs.

(6) Where a tree preservation order takes effect in accordance with subsection (3), the appropriate authority shall as soon as practicable give to the authority who made the order a notice in writing of the name and address of the person who has become entitled to the land in question or to a private interest in it.

(7) The procedure prescribed under section 199 in connection with the confirmation of a tree preservation order shall apply in relation to an order made by virtue of this section as if the order were made on the date on which the notice under subsection (6) is received by the authority who made it.

301 Requirement of planning permission for continuance of use instituted by the Crown

(1) A local planning authority in whose area any Crown land is situated may agree with the appropriate authority that subsection (2) shall apply to such use of land by the Crown as is specified in the agreement, being a use resulting from a material change made or proposed to be made by the Crown in the use of the land.

(2) Where an agreement is made under subsection (1) in respect of any Crown land, then, if at any time the land ceases to be used by the Crown for the purposes specified in the agreement, this Act shall have effect in relation to any subsequent private use of the land as if—

(a) the specified use by the Crown had required planning permission, and

(b) that use had been authorised by planning permission granted subject to a condition requiring its discontinuance at that time.

(3) The condition referred to in subsection (2) shall not be enforceable against any person who had a private interest in the land at the time when the agreement was made unless the local planning authority by whom the agreement was made have notified him of the making of the agreement and of the effect of that subsection.

(4) An agreement made under subsection (1) by a local planning authority shall be a local land charge, and for the purposes of the [1975 c. 76.] Local Land Charges Act 1975 the local planning authority by whom such an agreement is made shall be treated as the originating authority as respects the charge constituted by the agreement.

(5) In this section “private use” means use otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown, and references to the use of land by the Crown include references to its use on behalf of the Crown.

Enforcement in respect of war-time breaches of planning control by Crown

302 Enforcement in respect of war-time breaches of planning control by the Crown

(1) This section applies where during the war period—

(a) works not complying with planning control were carried out on land, or

(b) a use of land not complying with planning control was begun by or on behalf of the Crown.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), if at any time after the end of the war period there subsists in the land a permanent or long-term interest which is neither held by or on behalf of the Crown nor subject to any interest or right to possession so held, the planning control shall, so long as such an interest subsists in the land, be enforceable in respect of those works or that use notwithstanding—

(a) that the works were carried out or the land used by or on behalf of the Crown, or

(b) the subsistence in the land of any interest held by or on behalf of the Crown in reversion (whether immediate or not) expectant on the termination of that permanent or long-term interest.

(3) A person entitled to make an application under this subsection with respect to any land may apply at any time before the relevant date to an authority responsible for enforcing any planning control for a determination—

(a) whether works on the land carried out, or a use of the land begun, during the war period fail to comply with any planning control which the authority are responsible for enforcing, and

(b) if so, whether the works or use should be deemed to comply with that control.

(4) Where any works on land carried out, or use of land begun, during the war period remain or continues after the relevant date and no such determination has been given, the works or use shall by virtue of this subsection be treated for all purposes as complying with that control unless steps for enforcing the control have been begun before that date.

(5) Schedule 15 shall have effect for the purpose of making supplementary provision concerning the enforcement of breaches of planning control to which this section applies and the making and determination of applications under subsection (3).

(6) In this section and that Schedule—

• “authority responsible for enforcing planning control” means, in relation to any works on land or use of land, the authority empowered by virtue of section 75 of the 1947 Act or of paragraph 34 of Schedule 24 to the 1971 Act (including that paragraph as it continues in effect by virtue of Schedule 3 to the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990) to serve an enforcement notice in respect of it or the authority who would be so empowered if the works had been carried out, or the use begun, otherwise than in compliance with planning control;

• “the relevant date”, in relation to any land, means the date with which the period of five years from the end of the war period ends, but for the purposes of this definition any time during which, notwithstanding subsection (2), planning control is unenforceable by reason of the subsistence in or over the land of any interest or right to possession held by or on behalf of the Crown shall be disregarded;

• “owner” has the same meaning as in the [1985 c. 68.] Housing Act 1985 and “owned” shall be construed accordingly;

• “permanent or long-term interest”, in relation to any land, means the fee simple in the land, a tenancy of the land granted for a term of more than ten years and not subject to a subsisting right of the landlord to determine the tenancy at or before the expiration of ten years from the beginning of the term, or a tenancy granted for a term of ten years or less with a right of renewal which would enable the tenant to prolong the term of the tenancy beyond ten years;

• “tenancy” includes a tenancy under an underlease and a tenancy under an agreement for a lease or underlease, but does not include an option to take a tenancy and does not include a mortgage;

• “war period” means the period extending from 3rd September 1939 to 26th March 1946;

• “works” includes any building, structure, excavation or other work on land.

(7) References in this section and that Schedule to non-compliance with planning control mean—

(a) in relation to works on land carried out, or a use of land begun, at a time when the land was subject to a resolution to prepare a scheme under the [1932 c. 48.] Town and Country Planning Act 1932, that the works were carried out or the use begun otherwise than in accordance with the terms of an interim development order or of permission granted under such an order;

(b) in relation to works on land carried out, or a use of land begun, at a time when the land was subject to such a scheme, that the works were carried out or the use begun otherwise than in conformity with the provisions of the scheme;

and references in this Act to compliance with planning control shall be construed accordingly.

(8) References in this section and that Schedule to the enforcement of planning control shall be construed as references to the exercise of the powers conferred by section 75 of the 1947 Act or by paragraph 34 of Schedule 24 to the 1971 Act (including that paragraph as it continues in effect by virtue of Schedule 3 to the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990).

Part XIV Financial Provisions

303 Fees for planning applications, etc

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make such provision as he thinks fit for the payment of a fee of the prescribed amount to a local planning authority in respect of an application made to them under the planning Acts or any order or regulations made under them for any permission, consent, approval, determination or certificate.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide for the transfer of prescribed fees received in respect of any description of application by an authority to whom applications fall to be made to any other authority by whom applications of that description fall to be dealt with.

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations make such provision as he thinks fit for the payment to him of a fee of the prescribed amount in respect of an application for planning permission which is deemed to be made to him under this Act or any order or regulations made under it.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) or (3) may provide for the remission or refunding of a prescribed fee (in whole or in part) in prescribed circumstances.

(5) No such regulations shall be made unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(6) The reference to the planning Acts in subsection (1) does not include a reference to section 302 of this Act.

304 Grants for research and education

The Secretary of State may, with the consent of the Treasury, make grants for assisting establishments engaged in promoting or assisting research relating to, and education with respect to, the planning and design of the physical environment.

305 Contributions by Ministers towards compensation paid by local authorities

(1) Where—

(a) compensation is payable by a local authority under this Act in consequence of any decision or order to which this section applies, and

(b) that decision or order was given or made wholly or partly in the interest of a service which is provided by a government department and the cost of which is defrayed out of money provided by Parliament,

the Minister responsible for the administration of that service may pay to that authority a contribution of such amount as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine.

(2) This section applies to any decision or order given or made under Part III, the provisions of Part VI relating to purchase notices, Part VII, Part VIII or Schedule 5, 6 or 9.

306 Contributions by local authorities and statutory undertakers

(1) Without prejudice to section 274 of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980 (contributions by local authorities to expenses of highway authorities), any local authority may contribute towards any expenses incurred by a local highway authority—

(a) in the acquisition of land under Part IX of this Act or Chapter V of Part I of the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990,

(b) in the construction or improvement of roads on land so acquired, or

(c) in connection with any development required in the interests of the proper planning of the area of the local authority.

(2) Any local authority and any statutory undertakers may contribute towards—

(a) any expenses incurred by a local planning authority in or in connection with the carrying out of a survey or the preparation of a unitary development plan or a local plan or the alteration, repeal or replacement of such a plan or a structure plan under Part II;

(b) any expenses incurred by a local planning authority or a mineral planning authority in or in connection with the performance of any of their functions under Part III, the provisions of Part VI relating to purchase notices, Part VII, Part VIII (except section 207), Part IX or Schedule 5 or 9.

(3) Where any expenses are incurred by a local authority in the payment of compensation payable in consequence of anything done under Part III, the provisions of Part VI relating to purchase notices, Part VII, Part VIII, or Schedule 5 or 9, the Secretary of State may, if it appears to him to be expedient to do so, require any other local authority to contribute towards those expenses such sum as appears to him to be reasonable, having regard to any benefit accruing to that authority by reason of the proceeding giving rise to the compensation.

(4) Subsection (3) shall apply in relation to payments made by a local authority to any statutory undertakers in accordance with financial arrangements to which effect is given under section 275(5)(c), as it applies in relation to compensation payable by such an authority in consequence of anything done under Part III, Part VIII or Schedule 5 or 9, and the reference in that subsection to the proceeding giving rise to the compensation shall be construed accordingly.

(5) For the purposes of this section, contributions made by a local planning authority towards the expenditure of a joint advisory committee shall be deemed to be expenses incurred by that authority for the purposes for which that expenditure is incurred by the committee.

307 Assistance for acquisition of property where objection made to blight notice in certain cases

(1) The council of a county, district or London borough may advance money to any person for the purposes of enabling him to acquire a hereditament or agricultural unit in respect of which a counter-notice has been served under section 151 specifying the grounds mentioned in subsection (4)(d) of that section as, or as one of, the grounds of objection.

(2) No advance may be made under subsection (1) in the case of a hereditament if its annual value exceeds such amount as may be prescribed for the purposes of section 149(3)(a).

(3) An advance under subsection (1) may be made subject to such conditions as the council may think fit.

308 Recovery from acquiring authorities of sums paid by way of compensation

(1) This section applies where—

(a) an interest in land is compulsorily acquired or is sold to an authority possessing compulsory purchase powers, and

(b) a notice is registered under section 110(2) or 132(1) in respect of any of the land acquired or sold (whether before or after the completion of the acquisition or sale) in consequence of a planning decision or order made before the service of the notice to treat, or the making of the contract, in pursuance of which the acquisition or sale is effected.

(2) Where this section applies the Secretary of State shall, subject to the following provisions of this section, be entitled to recover from the acquiring authority a sum equal to so much of the amount of the compensation specified in the notice as (in accordance with section 110(5) or, as the case may be, section 132(4)) is to be treated as attributable to that land.

(3) If, immediately after the completion of the acquisition or sale, there is outstanding some interest in the land acquired or sold to which a person other than the acquiring authority is entitled, the sum referred to in subsection (2) shall not accrue due until that interest either ceases to exist or becomes vested in the acquiring authority.

(4) No sum shall be recoverable under this section in the case of a compulsory acquisition or sale where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the interest in question is being acquired for the purposes of the use of the land as a public open space.

(5) Where the Secretary of State recovers a sum under this section in respect of any land by reason that it is land in respect of which a notice is registered under the provisions of section 110, section 112(11) to (13) shall have effect in relation to that sum as if it were a sum recovered as mentioned in section 112(11).

(6) In this section and in section 309 “interest” (where the reference is to an interest in land) means the fee simple or a tenancy of the land and does not include any other interest in it.

309 Recovery from acquiring authorities of sums paid in respect of war-damaged land

(1) Where an interest in land is compulsorily acquired by, or sold to, an authority possessing compulsory purchase powers, and a payment exceeding £20 has become or becomes payable under section 59 of the 1947 Act in respect of that interest, the Secretary of State shall, subject to the following provisions of this section, be entitled to recover the amount of the payment from the acquiring authority.

(2) If, before 18th November 1952, operations were begun in, on, over or under the land, or a use of the land was instituted, and—

(a) a development charge has at any time been determined to be payable in respect of the operations or use, or it has at any time been determined that no development charge was payable; or

(b) the operations or use were comprised in a scheme of development exempt from development charge,

subsection (1) shall not apply to so much of any payment referred to in that subsection as was attributable to any land in relation to which the determination was made or, as the case may be, which is included in that scheme of development.

(3) No amount shall be recoverable under this section in respect of any land in relation to which an amount has become recoverable by the Secretary of State under the provisions of section 133 as applied by section 327.

(4) If the acquisition or sale in question does not extend to the whole of the land to which the payment under section 59 of the 1947 Act related, the amount recoverable under this section shall be so much of that payment as in accordance with subsection (5) is to be treated as apportioned to the land in which the interest acquired or sold subsists.

(5) For the purposes of this section a payment under section 59 of the 1947 Act shall be treated as apportioned, as between different parts of the land to which it related, in the way in which it might reasonably be expected to have been so apportioned if, under the scheme made under that section, the authority determining the amount of the payment had been required (in accordance with the same principles as applied to the determination of that amount) to apportion it between different parts of that land.

(6) In this section references to a scheme of development exempt from development charge are references to a scheme of development such that, if the operations and uses of land comprised in the scheme had all been begun or instituted before 18th November 1952, all those operations and uses would have been exempt from the provisions of Part VII of the 1947 Act by virtue of regulations made under it.

(7) References in this section to the amount of a payment shall be construed as including any interest payable on the principal amount of the payment.

310 Sums recoverable from acquiring authorities reckonable for purposes of grant

Where—

(a) a sum is recoverable from any authority under section 308 or 309 by reference to an acquisition or purchase of an interest in land, and

(b) a grant became or becomes payable to that or some other authority under an enactment in respect of that acquisition or purchase or of a subsequent appropriation of the land,

the power conferred by that enactment to pay the grant shall include, and shall be deemed always to have included, power to pay a grant in respect of that sum as if it had been expenditure incurred by the acquiring authority in connection with the acquisition or purchase.

311 Expenses of government departments

(1) The following expenses of the Secretary of State shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—

(a) any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under subsection (5) of section 220 or in the payment of expenses of any committee established under that section;

(b) any sums necessary to enable the Secretary of State to make any payments becoming payable by him under Part IV or V;

(c) any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under Part X;

(d) any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in the making of grants under section 304;

(e) any administrative expenses incurred by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Act.

(2) There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament any expenses incurred by any government department (including the Secretary of State)—

(a) in the acquisition of land under Part IX;

(b) in the payment of compensation under section 236(4), 279(2) or 325;

(c) under section 240(1)(b); or

(d) under section 305.

312 Payments under s. 59 of 1947 Act and Parts I and V of 1954 Act

(1) The Secretary of State shall pay out of money provided by Parliament any payments falling to be made by him on or after 1st April 1968 under—

(a) section 59 of the 1947 Act (war-damaged land); or

(b) any provision of Part I or Part V of the 1954 Act.

(2) Any sums received by the Secretary of State by virtue of—

(a) the provisions of section 133, as applied by virtue of Schedule 24 to the 1971 Act and Schedule 3 to the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 to compensation paid under Part V of the 1954 Act; or

(b) the provisions of section 308 as so applied,

shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

313 General provision as to receipts of Secretary of State

Without prejudice to section 312, and subject to the provisions of section 112, any sums received by the Secretary of State under any provision of this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

314 Expenses of county councils

The council of a county may direct that any expenses incurred by them under the provisions specified in Parts I and II of Schedule 16 shall be treated as special expenses of a county council chargeable upon such part of the county as may be specified in the directions.

Part XV Miscellaneous and General Provisions

Application of Act in special cases

315 Power to modify Act in relation to minerals

(1) In relation to development consisting of the winning and working of minerals, the provisions specified in Parts I and II of Schedule 16 shall have effect subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be prescribed.

(2) In relation to interests in land consisting of or comprising minerals (being either the fee simple or tenancies of such land) and in relation to claims established (as mentioned in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 12) wholly or partly in respect of such land, the provisions specified in Part III of Schedule 16 shall have effect subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be prescribed.

(3) Regulations made for the purposes of this section may only be made with the consent of the Treasury and shall be of no effect unless they are approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

(4) Any regulations made by virtue of subsection (1) shall not apply—

(a) to the winning and working, on land held or occupied with land used for the purposes of agriculture, of any minerals reasonably required for the purposes of that use, including the fertilisation of the land so used and the maintenance, improvement or alteration of buildings or works on it which are occupied or used for those purposes; or

(b) to development consisting of the winning and working of any minerals vested in the British Coal Corporation, being development to which any of the provisions of the planning Acts relating to operational land of statutory undertakers apply by virtue of regulations made under section 317.

(5) Nothing in subsection (1) or (4) shall be construed as affecting the prerogative right of Her Majesty (whether in right of the Crown or of the Duchy of Lancaster) or of the Duke of Cornwall to any gold or silver mine.

316 Application of certain provisions to local planning authorities

(1) In relation to land of local planning authorities and to the development by local authorities of land in respect of which they are the local planning authorities, the provisions specified in Part V of Schedule 16 shall have effect subject to such exceptions and modifications as may be prescribed by regulations.

(2) Subject to section 90, any such regulations may in particular provide for securing—

(a) that any application by such an authority for planning permission to develop such land, or for any other consent required in relation to such land under those provisions, shall be made to the Secretary of State and not to the local planning authority;

(b) that any order or notice authorised to be made, issued or served under those provisions in relation to such land shall be made or served by the Secretary of State and not by the local planning authority.

(3) Sections 65 to 68 and 71(1) and (2) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, in relation to applications made to the Secretary of State in pursuance of regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1), as they apply in relation to applications for planning permission which fall to be determined by the local planning authority.

(4) In relation to statutory undertakers who are local planning authorities, section 283 and the provisions specified in that section shall have effect subject to such exceptions and modifications as may be prescribed.

(5) In relation to an urban development corporation which is the local planning authority by virtue of an order under section 149(1) of the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and a housing action trust established under Part III of the [1988 c. 50.] Housing Act 1988 which is a local planning authority by virtue of an order under section 67(1) of that Act, subsections (1) to (3) shall have effect for the purposes of Part III of this Act specified in the order, and in relation to the kinds of development so specified as if—

(a) in subsection (1) the reference to development by local authorities of land in respect of which they are the local planning authorities included a reference to development by the corporation or, as the case may be, the trust of land in respect of which it is the local planning authority; and

(b) in subsection (2)—

(i) in paragraph (a) the words “the corporation” or, as the case may be, “the trust” were substituted for the words “such an authority”, and the word “corporation” or, as the case may be, “trust” were substituted for the words “local planning authority”; and

(ii) in paragraph (b) the word “corporation” or, as the case may be, “trust” were substituted for the words “local planning authority”.

317 The British Coal Corporation

(1) The Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Energy may by regulations made with the consent of the Treasury direct that any of the provisions specified in Part I of Schedule 16 or of section 264 relating to statutory undertakers and to land of such undertakers—

(a) shall apply to the British Coal Corporation as if it were a statutory undertaker; and

(b) shall apply to land (including mines) of that Corporation of any such class as may be specified in the regulations as if it were operational land.

(2) Such regulations may apply those provisions subject to such adaptations, modifications and exceptions as may be specified in the regulations.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), where such regulations apply any provisions by virtue of which any compensation is payable to the British Coal Corporation which if it were payable to statutory undertakers would be assessable in accordance with the provisions of section 280, they may provide for an alternative basis of assessment.

318 Ecclesiastical property

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of the [1981 c. 67.] Acquisition of Land Act 1981 with respect to notices served under that Act, where under any of the provisions of this Act a notice or copy of a notice is required to be served on an owner of land, and the land is ecclesiastical property, a similar notice or copy of a notice shall be served on the Church Commissioners.

(2) Where the fee simple of any ecclesiastical property is in abeyance—

(a) if the property is situated elsewhere than in Wales, then for the purposes of the provisions specified in Part VI of Schedule 16 the fee simple shall be treated as being vested in the Church Commissioners;

(b) in any case, the fee simple shall, for the purposes of a compulsory acquisition of the property under Part IX, be treated as being vested in the Church Commissioners, and any notice to treat shall be served, or be deemed to have been served, accordingly.

(3) Any compensation payable under Part IV, section 186, Part VIII (except section 204) or section 250 in respect of land which is ecclesiastical property—

(a) shall be paid to the Church Commissioners, and

(b) shall be applied by them for the purposes for which the proceeds of a sale by agreement of the land would be applicable under any enactment or Measure authorising or disposing of the proceeds of such a sale.

(4) Any sum which under any of the provisions specified in Part III of Schedule 16 is payable in relation to land which is, or on 1st July 1948 was, ecclesiastical property, and apart from this subsection would be payable to an incumbent—

(a) shall be paid to the Church Commissioners, and

(b) shall be applied by them for the purposes mentioned in subsection (3)(b).

(5) Where any sum is recoverable under section 111, 112, 133 or 327 in respect of any such land, the Church Commissioners may apply any money or securities held by them in the payment of that sum.

(6) In this section “ecclesiastical property” means land belonging to an ecclesiastical benefice, or being or forming part of a church subject to the jurisdiction of a bishop of any diocese or the site of such a church, or being or forming part of a burial ground subject to such jurisdiction.

319 Application of Act to Isles of Scilly

(1) The Secretary of State shall by order provide for the application to the Isles of Scilly of the provisions specified in Parts I and II of Schedule 16, sections 1(4), 67, 72(5), 97(5), 102(8), 105, 116, 190 (in so far as it applies to orders under Schedule 9), 294(2) to (7), 295, 299 to 301 and 303, the definitions of “development consisting of the winning and working of minerals” and “mineral working deposit” in section 336(1), paragraph 11(4) of Schedule 1 and Schedules 5, 9 and 11, as if those Isles were a separate county.

(2) In relation to land in the Isles of Scilly, the provisions specified in Part III of Schedule 16 and section 225 shall have effect as if those Isles were a district and the Council of the Isles were the council of that district.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order provide for the application to the Isles of Scilly of the provisions specified in Part IV of that Schedule as if those Isles were a separate county or district.

(4) Before making an order under subsection (1) or (3) the Secretary of State shall consult with the Council of the Isles of Scilly.

(5) Any order under subsection (1) or (3) may provide for the application of provisions to the Isles subject to such modifications as may be specified in the order.

Local inquiries and other hearings

320 Local inquiries

(1) The Secretary of State may cause a local inquiry to be held for the purposes of the exercise of any of his functions under any of the provisions of this Act.

(2) Subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (local inquiries: evidence and costs) apply to an inquiry held by virtue of this section.

321 Planning inquiries to be held in public subject to certain exceptions

(1) This section applies to any inquiry held under section 320(1), paragraph 6 of Schedule 6 or paragraph 5 of Schedule 8.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), at any such inquiry oral evidence shall be heard in public and documentary evidence shall be open to public inspection.

(3) If the Secretary of State is satisfied in the case of any such inquiry—

(a) that giving evidence of a particular description or, as the case may be, making it available for inspection would be likely to result in the disclosure of information as to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (4); and

(b) that the public disclosure of that information would be contrary to the national interest,

he may direct that evidence of the description indicated in the direction shall only be heard or, as the case may be, open to inspection at that inquiry by such persons or persons of such descriptions as he may specify in the direction.

(4) The matters referred to in subsection (3)(a) are—

(a) national security; and

(b) the measures taken or to be taken to ensure the security of any premises or property.

322 Orders as to costs of parties where no local inquiry held

(1) This section applies to proceedings under this Act where the Secretary of State is required, before reaching a decision, to give any person an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by him.

(2) The Secretary of State has the same power to make orders under section 250(5) of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (orders with respect to the costs of the parties) in relation to proceedings to which this section applies which do not give rise to a local inquiry as he has in relation to a local inquiry.

323 Procedure on certain appeals and applications

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the procedure to be followed in connection with proceedings under this Act where he is required, before reaching a decision, to give any person an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by him and which are to be disposed of without an inquiry or hearing to which rules under section 11 of the [1971 c. 62.] Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 apply.

(2) The regulations may in particular make provision as to the procedure to be followed—

(a) where steps have been taken with a view to the holding of such an inquiry or hearing which does not take place, or

(b) where steps have been taken with a view to the determination of any matter by a person appointed by the Secretary of State and the proceedings are the subject of a direction that the matter shall instead be determined by the Secretary of State, or

(c) where steps have been taken in pursuance of such a direction and a further direction is made revoking that direction,

and may provide that such steps shall be treated as compliance, in whole or in part, with the requirements of the regulations.

(3) The regulations may also—

(a) provide for a time limit within which any party to the proceedings must submit representations in writing and any supporting documents;

(b) prescribe the time limit (which may be different for different classes of proceedings) or enable the Secretary of State to give directions setting the time limit in a particular case or class of case;

(c) empower the Secretary of State to proceed to a decision taking into account only such written representations and supporting documents as were submitted within the time limit; and

(d) empower the Secretary of State, after giving the parties written notice of his intention to do so, to proceed to a decision notwithstanding that no written representations were made within the time limit, if it appears to him that he has sufficient material before him to enable him to reach a decision on the merits of the case.

Rights of entry

324 Rights of entry

(1) Any person duly authorised in writing by the Secretary of State or by a local planning authority may at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of surveying it in connection with—

(a) the preparation, approval, adoption or making of a unitary development plan or a local plan relating to the land under Part II or the alteration of such a plan or a structure plan relating to the land under that Part, including the carrying out of any survey under that Part;

(b) any application under Part III or sections 198 to 200, 220 or 221 or under any order or regulations made under any of those provisions, for any permission, consent or determination to be given or made in connection with that land or any other land under that Part or any of those sections or under any such order or regulations;

(c) any proposal by the local planning authority or by the Secretary of State to make, issue or serve any order or notice under Part III (other than sections 94 and 96), Part VII or Part VIII or under any order or regulations made under any of those provisions.

(2) Any person duly authorised in writing by the Secretary of State or a local authority may at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of ascertaining whether any of the functions conferred by sections 207 to 209 should or may be exercised in connection with the land or for the purpose of exercising any of those functions in connection with the land.

(3) Any person duly authorised in writing by the local planning authority may at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of exercising a power conferred on the authority by section 225 if—

(a) the land is unoccupied; and

(b) it would be impossible to exercise the power without entering the land.

(4) Any person who is an officer of the Valuation Office or is duly authorised in writing by the Secretary of State may at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of surveying it, or estimating its value, in connection with a claim for compensation under Part V in respect of that land or any other land.

(5) Any person who is an officer of the Valuation Office or is duly authorised in writing by a local planning authority may at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of surveying it, or estimating its value, in connection with a claim for compensation in respect of that land or any other land which is payable by the local planning authority under Part IV, section 186, Part VIII (other than section 204), section 250(1) or Part XI (other than section 279(2) or (3) or 280(1)(c)).

(6) Any person who is an officer of the Valuation Office or is duly authorised in writing by a local authority or Minister authorised to acquire land under section 226 or 228 or by a local authority who have power to acquire land under Part IX may at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of surveying it, or estimating its value, in connection with any proposal to acquire that land or any other land or in connection with any claim for compensation in respect of any such acquisition.

(7) Any person duly authorised in writing by the Secretary of State or by a local planning authority may at any reasonable time enter any land in respect of which an order or notice has been made or served as mentioned in subsection (1)(c) for the purpose of ascertaining whether the order or notice has been complied with.

(8) Subject to section 325, any power conferred by this section to survey land shall be construed as including power to search and bore for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the subsoil or the presence of minerals in it.

(9) In subsections (1)(c) and (7) references to a local planning authority include, in relation to a building situated in Greater London, a reference to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England.

325 Supplementary provisions as to rights of entry

(1) A person authorised under section 324 to enter any land—

(a) shall, if so required, produce evidence of his authority before so entering, and

(b) shall not demand admission as of right to any land which is occupied unless 24 hours' notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(2) Any person who wilfully obstructs a person acting in the exercise of his powers under section 324 shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

(3) If any person who, in compliance with the provisions of section 324, is admitted into a factory, workshop or workplace discloses to any person any information obtained by him in it as to any manufacturing process or trade secret, he shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if the disclosure is made by a person in the course of performing his duty in connection with the purpose for which he was authorised to enter the premises.

(5) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both.

(6) Where any land is damaged—

(a) in the exercise of a right of entry conferred under section 324, or

(b) in the making of any survey for the purpose of which any such right of entry has been so conferred,

compensation in respect of that damage may be recovered by any person interested in the land from the Secretary of State or authority on whose behalf the entry was effected.

(7) The provisions of section 118 shall apply in relation to compensation under subsection (6) as they apply in relation to compensation under Part IV.

(8) No person shall carry out under section 324 any works authorised by virtue of subsection (8) of that section unless notice of his intention to do so was included in the notice required by subsection (1).

(9) The authority of the appropriate Minister shall be required for the carrying out under that section of works so authorised if the land in question is held by statutory undertakers, and they object to the proposed works on the ground that the execution of the works would be seriously detrimental to the carrying on of their undertaking.

Miscellaneous and general provisions

326 Assumptions as to planning permission in determining value of interests in land

(1) In any case where the value or depreciation in value of an interest in land falls to be determined on the assumption that planning permission would be granted for development of any class specified in Schedule 3, it shall be further assumed, as regards development of any class specified in paragraph 1 or 3 of that Schedule, that such permission would be granted subject to the condition set out in Schedule 10.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), so far as applicable to any determination of existing use value as defined in section 144(6)—

(a) references to Schedule 3 and to paragraphs 1 and 3 of that Schedule shall be construed as references to Schedule 3 to the 1947 Act and to the corresponding paragraphs of that Schedule; and

(b) that Schedule shall have effect as if it contained a paragraph corresponding to paragraph 13 of Schedule 3.

(3) Except as provided in section 111(5), nothing in subsections (1) and (2) or in paragraph 13 or 14(2) of Schedule 3 affects the meaning of “new development” in this Act or any determination to be made for the purpose of Part V.

(4) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that where, under any provision of this Act, the value of an interest in land is required to be assessed on the assumption that planning permission would be granted for development of any class specified in Schedule 3, that assumption is to be made on the footing that any such development must comply with the provisions of any enactment, other than the planning Acts, which would be applicable to it.

327 Recovery on subsequent development of payments in respect of war-damaged land

(1) In relation to notices registered under section 57 of the 1954 Act (which provided for the registration of notices of payments made under section 59 of the 1947 Act) sections 133 and 134 shall have effect as they have effect in relation to notices registered under section 132 but subject to the following provisions.

(2) Any reference in section 133 or 134 to the compensation specified in a notice shall be construed as a reference to the payment so specified.

(3) Section 133 shall be assumed to apply to every description of new development.

(4) No amount shall be recoverable by the Secretary of State by virtue of this section in respect of any land in relation to which an amount has become recoverable under section 309.

(5) For the purposes of this section a payment under section 59 of the 1947 Act shall be treated as apportioned, as between different parts of the land to which it related, in the way in which it might reasonably be expected to have been so apportioned if, under the scheme made under that section, the authority determining the amount of the payment had been required (in accordance with the same principles as applied to the determination of that amount) to apportion it between different parts of that land.

328 Settled land and land of universities and colleges

(1) The purposes authorised for the application of capital money—

(a) by section 73 of the [1925 c. 18.] Settled Land Act 1925 and by that section as applied by section 28 of the [1925 c. 20.] Law of Property Act 1925 in relation to trusts for sale; and

(b) by section 26 of the [1925 c. 24.] Universities and College Estates Act 1925,

shall include the payment of any sum recoverable under section 111, 112, 133 or 327.

(2) The purposes authorised as purposes for which money may be raised by mortgage—

(a) by section 71 of the Settled Land Act 1925 and by that section as so applied; and

(b) by section 30 of the Universities and College Estates Act 1925,

shall include the payment of any sum so recoverable.

329 Service of notices

(1) Any notice or other document required or authorised to be served or given under this Act may be served or given either—

(a) by delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served or to whom it is to be given; or

(b) by leaving it at the usual or last known place of abode of that person or, in a case where an address for service has been given by that person, at that address; or

(c) by sending it in a prepaid registered letter, or by the recorded delivery service, addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of abode or, in a case where an address for service has been given by that person, at that address; or

(d) in the case of an incorporated company or body, by delivering it to the secretary or clerk of the company or body at their registered or principal office or sending it in a prepaid registered letter, or by the recorded delivery service, addressed to the secretary or clerk of the company or body at that office.

(2) Where the notice or document is required or authorised to be served on any person as having an interest in premises, and the name of that person cannot be ascertained after reasonable inquiry, or where the notice or document is required or authorised to be served on any person as an occupier of premises, the notice or document shall be taken to be duly served if—

(a) it is addressed to him either by name or by the description of “the owner” or, as the case may be, “the occupier” of the premises (describing them) and is delivered or sent in the manner specified in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c); or

(b) it is so addressed and is marked in such a manner as may be prescribed for securing that it is plainly identifiable as a communication of importance and—

(i) it is sent to the premises in a prepaid registered letter or by the recorded delivery service and is not returned to the authority sending it, or

(ii) it is delivered to some person on those premises, or is affixed conspicuously to some object on those premises.

(3) Where—

(a) the notice or other document is required to be served on or given to all persons who have interests in or are occupiers of premises comprised in any land, and

(b) it appears to the authority required or authorised to serve or give the notice or other document that any part of that land is unoccupied,

the notice or document shall be taken to be duly served on all persons having interests in, and on any occupiers of, premises comprised in that part of the land (other than a person who has given to that authority an address for the service of the notice or document on him) if it is addressed to “the owners and any occupiers” of that part of the land (describing it) and is affixed conspicuously to some object on the land.

330 Power to require information as to interests in land

(1) For the purpose of enabling the Secretary of State or a local authority to make an order or issue or serve any notice or other document which, by any of the provisions of this Act, he or they are authorised or required to make, issue or serve, the Secretary of State or the local authority may by notice in writing require the occupier of any premises and any person who, either directly or indirectly, receives rent in respect of any premises to give in writing such information as to the matters mentioned in subsection (2) as may be so specified.

(2) Those matters are—

(a) the nature of the interest in the premises of the person on whom the notice is served;

(b) the name and address of any other person known to him as having an interest in the premises;

(c) the purpose for which the premises are being used;

(d) the time when that use began;

(e) the name and address of any person known to the person on whom the notice is served as having used the premises for that purpose;

(f) the time when any activities being carried out on the premises began.

(3) A notice under subsection (1) may require information to be given within 21 days after the date on which it is served, or such longer time as may be specified in it, or as the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the local authority may allow.

(4) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a notice served on him under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(5) Any person who, having been required by a notice under subsection (1) to give any information, knowingly makes any misstatement in respect of it shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or both.

331 Offences by corporations

(1) Where an offence under this Act which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a) a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or

(b) any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity,

he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and be liable to be proceeded against accordingly.

(2) In subsection (1) “director”, in relation to any body corporate—

(a) which was established by or under an enactment for the purpose of carrying on under national ownership an industry or part of an industry or undertaking, and

(b) whose affairs are managed by its members,

means a member of that body corporate.

332 Combined applications

(1) Regulations made under this Act may provide for the combination in a single document, made in such form and transmitted to such authority as may be prescribed, of—

(a) an application for planning permission in respect of any development; and

(b) an application required, under any enactment specified in the regulations, to be made to a local authority in respect of that development.

(2) Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult with such local authorities or associations of local authorities as appear to him to be concerned.

(3) Different provision may be made by any such regulations in relation to areas in which different enactments are in force.

(4) If an application required to be made to a local authority under an enactment specified in any such regulations is made in accordance with the provisions of the regulations, it shall be valid notwithstanding anything in that enactment prescribing, or enabling any authority to prescribe, the form in which, or the manner in which, such an application is to be made.

(5) Subsection (4) shall have effect without prejudice to—

(a) the validity of any application made in accordance with the enactment in question; or

(b) any provision of that enactment enabling a local authority to require further particulars of the matters to which the application relates.

(6) In this section “application” includes a submission.

333 Regulations and orders

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations under this Act—

(a) for prescribing the form of any notice, order or other document authorised or required by this Act to be served, made or issued by any local authority;

(b) for any purpose for which regulations are authorised or required to be made under this Act (other than a purpose for which regulations are authorised or required to be made by another Minister).

(2) Any power conferred by this Act to make regulations shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

(3) Any statutory instrument containing regulations made under this Act (except regulations under section 88 and regulations which by virtue of this Act are of no effect unless approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(4) The power to make development orders and orders under sections 2, 28, 55(2)(f), 87, 149(3)(a) and 319 shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

(5) Any statutory instrument—

(a) which contains an order under section 2 which has been made after a local inquiry has been held in accordance with subsection (2) of that section; or

(b) which contains a development order or an order under section 28, 87 or 149(3)(a),

shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6) Without prejudice to subsection (5), where a development order makes provision for excluding or modifying any enactment contained in a public general Act (other than any of the enactments specified in Schedule 17) the order shall not have effect until that provision is approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(7) Without prejudice to section 14 of the [1978 c. 30.] Interpretation Act 1978, any power conferred by any of the provisions of this Act to make an order, shall include power to vary or revoke any such order by a subsequent order.

334 Licensing planning areas

(1) Where the united district for which, by an order under section 2, a joint planning board is constituted comprises a licensing planning area, or the whole or part of such a united district is included in a licensing planning area, the Secretary of State may by order revoke or vary any order in force under Part VII of the [1964 c. 26.] Licensing Act 1964 so far as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of the order under section 2.

(2) Subject to subsection (1), nothing in any order made under section 2 shall affect the validity of any order in force under Part VII of the Licensing Act 1964 if made before the date of the order under section 2.

335 Act not excluded by special enactments

For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the provisions of this Act, and any restrictions or powers imposed or conferred by it in relation to land, apply and may be exercised in relation to any land notwithstanding that provision is made by any enactment in force at the passing of the 1947 Act, or by any local Act passed at any time during the Session of Parliament held during the regnal years 10 & 11 Geo. 6, for authorising or regulating any development of the land.

336 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, except in so far as the context otherwise requires and subject to the following provisions of this section and to any transitional provision made by the Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990—

• “the 1944 Act” means the Town and Country Planning Act 1944;

• “the 1947 Act” means the [1947 c. 51.] Town and Country Planning Act 1947;

• “the 1954 Act” means the [1954 c. 72.] Town and Country Planning Act 1954;

• “the 1959 Act” means the [1959 c. 53.] Town and Country Planning Act 1959;

• “the 1962 Act” means the [1962 c. 38.] Town and Country Planning Act 1962;

• “the 1968 Act” means the [1968 c. 72.] Town and Country Planning Act 1968;

• “the 1971 Act” means the [1971 c. 78.] Town and Country Planning Act 1971;

• “acquiring authority”, in relation to the acquisition of an interest in land (whether compulsorily or by agreement) or to a proposal so to acquire such an interest, means the government department, local authority or other body by whom the interest is, or is proposed to be, acquired;

• “advertisement” means any word, letter, model, sign, placard, board, notice, device or representation, whether illuminated or not, in the nature of, and employed wholly or partly for the purposes of, advertisement, announcement or direction, and (without prejudice to the previous provisions of this definition) includes any hoarding or similar structure used, or adapted for use, for the display of advertisements, and references to the display of advertisements shall be construed accordingly;

• “aftercare condition” has the meaning given in paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 5;

• “aftercare scheme” has the meaning given in paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 5;

• “agriculture” includes horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming, the breeding and keeping of livestock (including any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur, or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land), the use of land as grazing land, meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land for woodlands where that use is ancillary to the farming of land for other agricultural purposes, and “agricultural” shall be construed accordingly;

• “the appropriate Minister” has the meaning given in section 265;

• “authority possessing compulsory purchase powers”, in relation to the compulsory acquisition of an interest in land, means the person or body of persons effecting the acquisition and, in relation to any other transaction relating to an interest in land, means any person or body of persons who could be or have been authorised to acquire that interest compulsorily for the purposes for which the transaction is or was effected or a body (being a parish council, community council or parish meeting) on whose behalf a district council or county council could be or have been so authorised;

• “authority to whom Part II of the 1959 Act applies” means a body of any of the descriptions specified in Part I of Schedule 4 to the 1959 Act;

• “bridleway” has the same meaning as in the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980;

• “the Broads” has the same meaning as in the [1988 c. 4.] Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988;

• “building” includes any structure or erection, and any part of a building, as so defined, but does not include plant or machinery comprised in a building;

• “buildings or works” includes waste materials, refuse and other matters deposited on land, and references to the erection or construction of buildings or works shall be construed accordingly;

• “building operations” includes rebuilding operations, structural alterations of or additions to buildings, and other operations normally undertaken by a person carrying on business as a builder;

• “caravan site” has the meaning given in section 1(4) of the [1960 c. 62.] Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960;

• “clearing”, in relation to land, means the removal of buildings or materials from the land, the levelling of the surface of the land, and the carrying out of such other operations in relation to it as may be prescribed;

• “common” includes any land subject to be enclosed under the Inclosure Acts 1845 to 1882, and any town or village green;

• “compulsory acquisition” does not include the vesting in a person by an Act of Parliament of property previously vested in some other person;

• “conservation area” means an area designated under section 69 of the Planning [1990 c. 9.] (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;

• “development” has the meaning given in section 55, and “develop” shall be construed accordingly;

• “development consisting of the winning and working of minerals” includes the extraction of minerals from a mineral-working deposit;

• “development order” has the meaning given in section 59;

• “development plan” shall be construed in accordance with sections 27 and 54 (but subject to the transitional provisions in Schedule 2);

• “disposal” means disposal by way of sale, exchange or lease, or by way of the creation of any easement, right or privilege, or in any other manner, except by way of appropriation, gift or mortgage, and “dispose of” shall be construed accordingly;

• “enactment” includes an enactment in any local or private Act of Parliament and an order, rule, regulation, byelaw or scheme made under an Act of Parliament;

• “enforcement notice” means a notice under section 172;

• “engineering operations” includes the formation or laying out of means of access to highways;

• “enterprise zone scheme” means a scheme or modified scheme having effect to grant planning permission in accordance with section 88;

• “erection”, in relation to buildings as defined in this subsection, includes extension, alteration and re-erection;

• “established use certificate” has the meaning given in section 192;

• “footpath” has the same meaning as in the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980;

• “fuel or field garden allotment” means any allotment set out as a fuel allotment, or a field garden allotment, under an Inclosure Act;

• “functions” includes powers and duties;

• “government department” includes any Minister of the Crown;

• “the Greater London Development Plan” means the development plan submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local Government under section 25 of the [1963 c. 33.] London Government Act 1963 and approved by the Secretary of State under section 5 of the 1962 Act or the corresponding provision of the 1971 Act;

• “highway” has the same meaning as in the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980 ;

• “improvement”, in relation to a highway, has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980;

• “joint planning board” has the meaning given in section 2;

• “land” means any corporeal hereditament, including a building, and, in relation to the acquisition of land under Part IX, includes any interest in or right over land;

• “lease” includes an underlease and an agreement for a lease or underlease, but does not include an option to take a lease or a mortgage, and “leasehold interest” means the interest of the tenant under a lease as so defined;

• “local authority” (except in section 252 and subject to subsection (10)) means—

  (a)

  a charging authority, a precepting authority (except the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District), a combined police authority or a combined fire authority, as those expressions are defined in section 144 of the [1988 c. 41.] Local Government Finance Act 1988;

  (b)

  a levying body within the meaning of section 74 of that Act; and

  (c)

  a body as regards which section 75 of that Act applies;

and includes any joint board or joint committee if all the constituent authorities are local authorities within paragraph (a), (b) or (c);

• “local highway authority” means a highway authority other than the Secretary of State;

• “local planning authority” shall be construed in accordance with Part I;

• “London borough” includes the City of London, references to the council of a London borough or the clerk to such a council being construed, in relation to the City, as references to the Common Council of the City and the town clerk of the City respectively;

• “means of access” includes any means of access, whether private or public, for vehicles or for foot passengers, and includes a street;

• “mineral compensation modifications” has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 11;

• “mineral planning authority” has the meaning given in section 1(4);

• “mineral-working deposit” means any deposit of material remaining after minerals have been extracted from land or otherwise deriving from the carrying out of operations for the winning and working of minerals in, on or under land;

• “minerals” includes all minerals and substances in or under land of a kind ordinarily worked for removal by underground or surface working, except that it does not include peat cut for purposes other than sale;

• “Minister” means any Minister of the Crown or other government department;

• “mortgage” includes any charge or lien on any property for securing money or money’s worth;

• “new development” has the meaning given in section 55(6);

• “open space” means any land laid out as a public garden, or used for the purposes of public recreation, or land which is a disused burial ground;

• “operational land” has the meaning given in section 263;

• “owner”, in relation to any land, means (except in sections 66, 67 and 71) a person, other than a mortgagee not in possession, who, whether in his own right or as trustee for any other person, is entitled to receive the rack rent of the land or, where the land is not let at a rack rent, would be so entitled if it were so let;

• “the planning Acts” means this Act, the [1990 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the [1990 c. 10.] Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 and the Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990;

• “planning decision” means a decision made on an application under Part III;

• “planning permission” means permission under Part III, and in construing references to planning permission to develop land or to carry out any development of land, or to applications for such permission, regard shall be had to section 63(3) and (5);

• “planning permission granted for a limited period” has the meaning given in section 72(2);

• “prescribed” (except in relation to matters expressly required or authorised by this Act to be prescribed in some other way) means prescribed by regulations under this Act;

• “previous apportionment”, in relation to an apportionment for any of the purposes of the relevant provisions, means an apportionment made before the apportionment in question, being—

  (a)

  an apportionment for any of the purposes of the relevant provisions as made, confirmed or varied by the Lands Tribunal on a reference to that Tribunal; or

  (b)

  an apportionment for any of those purposes which might have been referred to the Lands Tribunal by virtue of any of the relevant provisions, where the time for such a reference has expired without its being required to be so referred or where, after it had been so referred, the reference was withdrawn before the Tribunal gave their decision on it; or

  (c)

  an apportionment made by or with the approval of the Central Land Board in connection with the approval by the Board under section 2(2) of the [1953 c. 16.] Town and Country Planning Act 1953 of an assignment of part of the benefit of an established claim (as defined by paragraph 1(4) of Schedule 12 to this Act),

  and in this definition “the relevant provisions” means any of the provisions of Part V of this Act, or of Part VII of the 1971 Act, or of Part VI of the 1962 Act, any of those provisions as applied by any other provision of this Act or of those Acts, and any of the provisions of the 1954 Act;

• “public gas supplier” has the same meaning as in Part I of the [1986 c. 44.] Gas Act 1986;

• “purchase notice” has the meaning given in section 137;

• “relevant order” has the meaning given in paragraph 11 of Schedule 11;

• “replacement of open space”, in relation to any area, means the rendering of land available for use as an open space, or otherwise in an undeveloped state, in substitution for land in that area which is so used;

• “restoration condition” has the meaning given in paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 5;

• “restriction on the winning and working of minerals” has the meaning given in paragraph 10 of Schedule 11;

• “simplified planning zone” and “simplified planning zone scheme” shall be construed in accordance with sections 82 and 83;

• “special consultations” has the meaning given in paragraph 12 of Schedule 11;

• “statutory undertakers” and “statutory undertaking” have the meanings given in section 262;

• “steps for the protection of the environment” has the meaning given in paragraph 5(4) of Schedule 9;

• “stop notice” has the meaning given in section 183;

• “suspension order” has the meaning given in paragraph 5 of Schedule 9; and

• “supplementary suspension order” has the meaning given in paragraph 6 of Schedule 9;

• “tenancy” has the same meaning as in the [1954 c. 56.] Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 ;

• “tree preservation order” has the meaning given in section 198;

• “urban development area” and “urban development corporation” have the same meanings as in Part XVI of the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;

• “use”, in relation to land, does not include the use of land for the carrying out of any building or other operations on it;

• “Valuation Office” means the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue Department;

• “war damage” has the meaning given in the [1943 c. 21.] War Damage Act 1943.

(2) If, in relation to anything required or authorised to be done under this Act, any question arises as to which Minister is or was the appropriate Minister in relation to any statutory undertakers, that question shall be determined by the Treasury.

(3) If any question so arises whether land of statutory undertakers is operational land, that question shall be determined by the Minister who is the appropriate Minister in relation to those undertakers.

(4) Words in this Act importing a reference to service of a notice to treat shall be construed as including a reference to the constructive service of such a notice which, by virtue of any enactment, is to be deemed to be served.

(5) With respect to references in this Act to planning decisions—

(a) in relation to a decision altered on appeal by the reversal or variation of the whole or part of it, such references shall be construed as references to the decision as so altered;

(b) in relation to a decision upheld on appeal, such references shall be construed as references to the decision of the local planning authority and not to the decision of the Secretary of State on the appeal;

(c) in relation to a decision given on an appeal in the circumstances mentioned in section 78(2), such references shall be construed as references to the decision so given;

(d) the time of a planning decision, in a case where there is or was an appeal, shall be taken to be or have been the time of the decision as made by the local planning authority (whether or not that decision is or was altered on that appeal) or, in the case of a decision given on an appeal in the circumstances mentioned in section 78(2), the end of the period there mentioned.

(6) Section 56 shall apply for determining for the purposes of this Act when development of land shall be taken to be initiated.

(7) In relation to the sale or acquisition of an interest in land—

(a) in a case where the interest is or was conveyed or assigned without a preliminary contract, references in this Act to a contract are references to the conveyance or assignment; and

(b) references to the making of a contract are references to the execution of it.

(8) In this Act—

(a) references to a person from whom title is derived by another person include references to any predecessor in title of that other person;

(b) references to a person deriving title from another person include references to any successor in title of that other person;

(c) references to deriving title are references to deriving title either directly or indirectly.

(9) References in the planning Acts to any of the provisions in Part V of Schedule 16 include, except where the context otherwise requires, references to those provisions as modified under section 316(1) to (3).

(10) In section 90, Chapter I of Part VI, and sections 324(2) and 330 “local authority”, in relation to land in the Broads, includes the Broads Authority.

337 Short title, commencement and extent

(1) This Act may be cited as the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

(2) Except as provided in Part II and in Schedule 4 to the [1990 c. 11.] Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990, this Act shall come into force at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which it is passed.

(3) This Act extends to England and Wales only.