(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, the Mayor may publish the spatial development strategy.
(2)The spatial development strategy published by the Mayor must be in the form of the proposed spatial development strategy under section 335(2)(a) above, either as originally prepared or as modified to take account of—
(a)any representations made in accordance with the regulations;
(b)any direction given under subsection (7) below and not withdrawn;
(c)any report made under section 338 below by a person conducting an examination in public; or
(d)any other material considerations.
(3)Subsection (2) above is subject to the following provisions of this section.
(4)The spatial development strategy must not be published by the Mayor until after—
(a)he has considered any representations made in accordance with the regulations, or
(b)if no such representations are made, the expiry of the prescribed period,
and, in either case, if an examination in public is to be held under section 338 below, must not be published until after the report of the person or persons conducting the examination in public has been made to the Mayor.
(5)The provision that may be made by regulations under section 343 below includes provision prohibiting publication of the spatial development strategy until such further procedures as may be prescribed have been complied with.
(6)If at any time it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient to do so for the purpose of avoiding—
(a)any inconsistency with current national policies or relevant planning guidance, or
(b)any detriment to the interests of an area outside Greater London,
he may, at any time before the Mayor has published the spatial development strategy, give the Mayor a direction under subsection (7) below.
(7)A direction under this subsection is a direction to the Mayor not to publish the spatial development strategy except in a form which includes modifications to the proposed spatial development strategy in such respects as are indicated in the direction, in order to—
(a)remove the inconsistency mentioned in subsection (6)(a) above; or
(b)avoid the detriment mentioned in subsection (6)(b) above.
(8)Where a direction under subsection (7) above is given to the Mayor, the Mayor must not publish the spatial development strategy unless—
(a)he satisfies the Secretary of State that he has made the modifications necessary to conform with the direction; or
(b)the direction is withdrawn.
(9)Subject to the following provisions of this Part, the spatial development strategy shall become operative on the date on which it is published by the Mayor.
(10)For the purposes of this section “relevant regional planning guidance” means any regional planning guidance issued by the Secretary of State so far as relating to an area which includes or adjoins Greater London.
(11)In this section “the prescribed period” means such period as may be prescribed by, or determined in accordance with, regulations made under section 343 below.