(1)Where—
(a)the Secretary of State would, if planning permission for any development had been granted under Part III, have power to make an order under section 247 or 248 authorising the stopping up or diversion of a highway in order to enable that development to be carried out, and
(b)subsection (2), (3) or (4) applies,
then, notwithstanding that such permission has not been granted, the Secretary of State may publish notice of the draft of such an order in accordance with section 252.
(2)This subsection applies where the relevant development is the subject of an application for planning permission and either—
(a)that application is made by a local authority or statutory undertakers or the British Coal Corporation; or
(b)that application stands referred to the Secretary of State in pursuance of a direction under section 77; or
(c)the applicant has appealed to the Secretary of State under section 78 against a refusal of planning permission or of approval required under a development order or against a condition of any such permission or approval.
(3)This subsection applies where—
(a)the relevant development is to be carried out by a local authority or statutory undertakers and requires, by virtue of an enactment, the authorisation of a government department; and
(b)the developers have made an application to the department for that authorisation and also requested a direction under section 90(1) that planning permission be deemed to be granted for that development.
(4)This subsection applies where the council of a county, metropolitan district or London borough or a joint planning board certify that they have begun to take such steps, in accordance with regulations made by virtue of section 316, as are required to enable them to obtain planning permission for the relevant development.
(5)Section 252(8) shall not be construed as authorising the Secretary of State to make an order under section 247 or 248 of which notice has been published by virtue of subsection (1) until planning permission is granted for the development which occasions the making of the order.