If a group repair scheme prepared by a local housing authority is approved by the Secretary of State, the authority may, with the consent of the persons participating in the scheme, enter into agreements to secure the carrying out of the works specified in the scheme.

The approval of the Secretary of State may be given either to a specific scheme or generally to schemes which fulfil such criteria as he may from time to time specify.

Different criteria may be specified for different types of scheme and for different areas.

The approval of a scheme may be made conditional upon compliance with requirements specified by the Secretary of State.