Call in of certain applications for listed building consent to Department
88.—(1) The Department may give directions requiring applications for listed building consent to be referred to it instead of being dealt with by councils.
(2) A direction under subsection (1) may relate either to a particular application, or to applications in respect of such buildings as may be specified in the direction.
(3) Where the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the Department of Justice has certified that an application for listed building consent is an application to which section 235 (national security) applies, the Department of the Environment must give a direction to the council to which the application was made requiring the application to be referred to the Department of the Environment instead of being dealt with by the council.
(4) An application in respect of which a direction under this section has effect shall be referred to the Department accordingly.
(5) For the purpose of considering representations made in respect of an application for listed building consent to which section 235 applies which has been referred to it under this section, the Department must, subject to any rules made under section 235(2) or (5), cause a public local inquiry to be held by—
(a)the planning appeals commission; or
(b)a person appointed by the Department for the purpose.
(6) For the purpose of considering representations made in respect of an application for listed building consent referred to it under this section, other than an application mentioned in subsection (5), the Department may cause a public local inquiry to be held by—
(a)the planning appeals commission; or
(b)a person appointed by the Department for the purpose.
(7) Where a public local inquiry is not held under subsection (6), the Department must, before determining the application, serve a notice on the applicant and the appropriate council indicating the decision which it proposes to make on the application; and if within such period as may be specified in that behalf in the notice (not being less than 28 days from the date of service of the notice), the applicant or the council so requests in writing, the Department shall afford to each of them an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by—
(a)the planning appeals commission; or
(b)a person appointed by the Department for the purpose.
(8) In determining an application for listed building consent referred to it, the Department must, where any inquiry or hearing is held, take into account any report of the planning appeals commission or a person appointed by the Department for the purposes of the inquiry or hearing, as the case may be.
(9) The decision of the Department on an application for listed building consent referred to it under this section shall be final.