Part III

Control over development

Secretary of State’s powers as respects planning applications and decisions

Deciding applications made under section 62A
76D
1
An application made to the Secretary of State under section 62A (“a direct application”) is to be determined by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose instead of by the Secretary of State, subject to section 76E.
2
Where a person has been appointed under subsection (1) or this subsection to determine a direct application then, at any time before the person has determined the application, the Secretary of State may—
a
revoke the person's appointment; and
b
appoint another person to determine the application instead.
3
A person appointed under this section to determine an application for planning permission
or permission in principle
made to the Secretary of State under section 62A has the same powers and duties that the Secretary of State has under section 76C.
4
Where a direct application is determined by a person appointed under this section, the person's decision is to be treated as that of the Secretary of State.
5
Except as provided by Part 12, the validity of that decision is not to be questioned in any proceedings whatsoever.
6
It is not a ground of application to the High Court under section 288 that a direct application ought to have been determined by the Secretary of State and not by a person appointed under this section unless the applicant challenges the person's power to determine the direct application before the person's decision on the direct application is given.
7
Where any enactment (other than this section and section 319A)—
a
refers (or is to be read as referring) to the Secretary of State in a context relating to or capable of relating to an application made under section 62A (otherwise than by referring to the application having been made to the Secretary of State), or
b
refers (or is to be read as referring) to anything (other than the making of the application) done or authorised or required to be done by, to or before the Secretary of State in connection with any such application,
then, so far as the context permits, the enactment is to be read, in relation to an application determined or to be determined by a person appointed under this section, as if the reference to the Secretary of State were or included a reference to that person.
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) except ss. 76, 90(2)(5) applied (with modifications) (17.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1492, regs. 2(1)(b), 3-11
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106): power to modify conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(1)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) applied (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 42, s. 24(1) (with ss. 2, 30(1), Sch. 2 para.9)
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) extended (1.11.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 96(2) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/2765, art. 2
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 20(3), Sch. 5 Pt. III paras. 15(1), 20 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/3198, art. 4, Sch. 2
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (18.12.1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 9(1)(2)
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (18.12.1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 51
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (2.4.2004) by The Docklands Light Railway (Woolwich Arsenal Extension) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/757), art. 20(1)
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (31.10.2005) by The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (Planning Functions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2721), art. 4
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (25.11.2005) by The Docklands Light Railway (Capacity Enhancement) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3105), art. 21(1) (with arts. 3(5), 15(3))
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) applied (7.6.2006) by Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c. 5), ss. 89, 121, Sch. 4 para. 3(2) (with s. 111); S.I. 2006/1281, art. 2
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (22.11.2006) by The Docklands Light Railway (Stratford International Extension) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2905), art. 17(1) (with art. 43)
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (13.12.2006) by The Luton Dunstable Translink Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3118), art. 18(1)
Pt. 3 (ss. 55-106) modified (4.5.2005) by The Telford Railfreight Terminal (Donnington) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1163), art. 25(2) (with art. 30)
Pt. 3 modified (23.8.2007) by The Docklands Light Railway (Capacity Enhancement and 2012 Games Preparation) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2297), art. 17(1) (with arts. 3(6), 12(3))
Pt. 3 modified (28.9.2007) by The London Gateway Logistics and Commercial Centre Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2657), art. 27(1) (with art. 19, Sch. 3 para. 13(2))
Pt. 3 modified (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), s. 10(1)
Pt. 3 modified (14.10.2008) by The Felixstowe Branch Line and Ipswich Yard Improvement Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2512), art. 34(1) (with art. 36(3))
Pt. 3 modified (20.7.2010) by The Network Rail (Nuneaton North Chord) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1721), art. 28(1)
Pt. 3 modified (27.8.2010) by The Llangollen and Corwen Railway Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2136), art. 11(1)
Pt. 3 modified (11.1.2023) by The Network Rail (Cambridge South Infrastructure Enhancements) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1406), arts. 1, 35(2) (with art. 34(2), Sch. 12 paras. 5, 47, 79)
Ss. 76C-76E inserted (9.5.2013 for E. for specified purposes, 1.10.2013 for specified purposes, 1.10.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 (c. 27), s. 35(1), Sch. 1 para. 5; S.I. 2013/1124, art. 2; S.I. 2013/2143, art. 2(1)(a); S.I. 2014/1531, art. 2
Pt. 3 applied (1.2.2011) by The River Mersey (Mersey Gateway Bridge) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/41), arts. 1, 47(1) (with art. 51, Sch. 10 paras. 68, 85)
Pt. 3 modified (21.4.2011) by The Network Rail (Hitchin (Cambridge Junction)) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1072), arts. 1, 36(2)
Pt. 3 applied (5.4.2017) by The Keuper Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/433), arts. 1, 38(2)
Words in s. 76D(3) inserted (13.7.2016) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 12 para. 19; S.I. 2016/733, reg. 3(d)