Town and Country Planning Act 1990

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.