High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021

Consultation on requests for approval

18 (1) This paragraph applies where a planning authority considers that a request for approval under Part 1 of this Schedule relates to matters which may affect any of the following—

(a) nature conservation,

(b) the conservation of the natural beauty or amenity of the countryside,

(c) the conservation of the natural beauty or amenity of inland or coastal waters or land associated with them,

(d) the conservation of flora or fauna which are dependent on an aquatic environment,

(e) the use of inland or coastal waters, or land associated with them, for recreational purposes, or

(f) a site of archaeological or historic interest.

(2) The planning authority must, within 5 days of receiving the request, invite the appropriate body or bodies to make representations.

(3) The appropriate body is—

(a) for the matters in sub-paragraph (1)(a) and (b), Natural England,

(b) for the matters in sub-paragraph (1)(c) and (e), Canal & River Trust so far as the matters relate to inland waters owned or managed by the Trust or land associated with such waters,

(c) for the matters in sub-paragraph (1)(c) and (e) other than as mentioned in paragraph (b), the Environment Agency,

(d) for the matter in sub-paragraph (1)(d), the Environment Agency, and

(e) for the matter in sub-paragraph (1)(f), the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England.

(4) Where under sub-paragraph (2) a planning authority has invited a body to make representations about a request for approval under Part 1 of this Schedule, it must not make any decision about the request until—

(a) it has received representations from the body about the request,

(b) it has been informed by the body that it does not wish to make any representations, or

(c) 21 days have elapsed since the date of the invitation.

(5) An invitation under sub-paragraph (2) must specify the time limit for making representations.