(1)When preparing a unitary development plan for their area and before finally determining its contents the local planning authority shall take such steps as will in their opinion secure—
(a)that adequate publicity is given in their area to the matters which they propose to include in the plan;
(b)that persons who may be expected to desire an opportunity of making representations to the authority with respect to those matters are made aware that they are entitled to an opportunity of doing so; and
(c)that such persons are given an adequate opportunity of making such representations.
(2)The authority shall consider any representations made to them within the prescribed period.
(3)Where the local planning authority have prepared a unitary development plan, before adopting it they shall—
(a)make copies of it available for inspection at their office and at such other places as may be prescribed; and
(b)send a copy to the Secretary of State.
(4)Each copy made available for inspection under subsection (3) shall be accompanied by a statement of the time within which objections to the plan may be made to the authority.
(5)The copy of a unitary development plan sent to the Secretary of State under subsection (3) shall be accompanied by a statement—
(a)of the steps which the authority have taken to comply with subsections (1) and (2); and
(b)of the authority’s consultations with, and their consideration of the views of, other persons.
(6)If, on considering the statement submitted with and the matters contained in a unitary development plan and any other information provided by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State is not satisfied that the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) have been adequately achieved by the steps taken by the authority in compliance with that subsection, he may, within 21 days of the receipt of the statement, direct the authority not to take further steps for the adoption of the plan without taking such further action as he may specify in order better to achieve those purposes and satisfying him that they have done so.
(7)A local planning authority who are given directions by the Secretary of State under subsection (6) shall—
(a)immediately withdraw the copies of the unitary development plan made available for inspection as required by subsection (3); and
(b)notify any person by whom objections to the plan have been made to the authority that the Secretary of State has given such directions.