(1)A regional planning authority shall, in relation to district planning authorities within their district, have the same powers as are conferred on the Secretary of State by subsections (1) to (5) of section 32 of the Act of 1972 where—
(a)the proposed development does not conform to a structure plan approved by the Secretary of State; or
(b)the proposed development raises a new planning issue of general significance to the district of the regional planning authority; and
(c)the application concerned is not subject to a direction given by the Secretary of State under the said section 32.
(2)A district planning authority may appeal to the Secretary of State against any directions given to them by virtue of this section, and the Secretary of State, whose decision shall be final, may determine the appeal in accordance with section 177(4) of this Act.