Part XIII

Application of Act to Crown Land

Application of Act as respects Crown land

Urgent Crown development: applications to the Secretary of State
293B
1
This section applies where—
a
the appropriate authority intends to make a relevant application, and
b
the authority considers—
i
that the development to which the application relates is of national importance, and
ii
that it is necessary that the development is carried out as a matter of urgency.
2
The appropriate authority may make the application to the Secretary of State under this section.
3
In this section, “
relevant application
” means—
a
an application for planning permission for the development of land in England, or
b
an application for approval of a matter that, as defined in section 92, is a reserved matter in the case of an outline planning permission for the development of land in England,
but does not include an application of the kind described in section 73(1) or an application of a description excluded by regulations.
4
An application under this section must include—
a
such information, documents or other matters as may be required by a development order, and
b
a statement of the appropriate authority’s grounds for making the application.
5
As soon as practicable after receiving the application, the Secretary of State must give notice to the appropriate authority either agreeing or refusing to determine the application.
6
The Secretary of State may only agree to determine the application if the Secretary of State considers that—
a
the development to which the application relates is of national importance, and
b
it is necessary that the development is carried out as a matter of urgency.
7
The Secretary of State must send a copy of a notice given under subsection
(5)
to the local planning authority to whom the application could otherwise have been made.
8
The Secretary of State may by notice require the appropriate authority to provide such further information as is necessary for the purposes of—
a
deciding whether to agree or to refuse to determine the application;
b
determining the application.
9
A development order may make provision—
a
as to the form and manner in which an application must be made;
b
requiring notice to be given of an application;
c
as to the form, content and service of a notice required under
paragraph (b)
;
d
requiring that an application be publicised in such manner as the order may specify.
10
A development order which makes provision under subsection
(9)
may include provision to ensure that the imposition of any requirement under that subsection does not result in the public disclosure of sensitive information.
11
For the purposes of subsection
(10)
, information is “sensitive” if the Secretary of State directs that—
a
it relates to matters of national security or measures taken or to be taken to ensure the security of any premises or property, and
b
its public disclosure would be contrary to the national interest.
12
A development order making any provision by virtue of this section may make different provision for different cases or different classes of development.
13
The Secretary of State may give directions requiring a local planning authority to do things in relation to an application made under
section 293B
that could otherwise have been made to that authority.
14
Directions under subsection
(13)
—
a
may relate to a particular application or to applications more generally;
b
may be given to a particular authority or to authorities more generally.
Pt. XIII (ss. 293-302) modified (17.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1732, art. 2(1)(2)
Pt. XIII (ss. 293-302) extended (17.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1732, art. 2(1)(a)
Ss. 293B-293J inserted (26.12.2023 for specified purposes, 1.5.2025 for specified purposes) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 109(2), 255(3) (with s. 247); S.I. 2025/430, reg. 2(a)