Part XII

Crown Land

Provisions relating to anticipated disposal of Crown land

Tree preservation orders in anticipation of disposal of Crown land
249
1
A planning authority may make a tree preservation order in respect of Crown land in which no interest is for the time being held otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown, if they consider it expedient to do so for the purpose of preserving trees or woodlands on the land in the event of its ceasing to be Crown land or becoming subject to a private interest.
2
No tree preservation order shall be made by virtue of this section except with the consent of the appropriate authority.
3
A tree preservation order made by virtue of this section shall not take effect until the first occurrence of a relevant event.
4
For the purposes of subsection (3), a relevant event occurs in relation to any land if it ceases to be Crown land or becomes subject to a private interest.
5
A tree preservation order made by virtue of this section—
a
shall not require confirmation under section 161 until after the occurrence of the event by virtue of which it takes effect, and
b
shall by virtue of this subsection continue in force until—
i
the expiration of the period of 6 months beginning with the occurrence of that event, or
ii
the date on which the order is confirmed,
whichever occurs first.
6
Where a tree preservation order takes effect in accordance with subsection (3), the appropriate authority shall as soon as practicable give to the authority who made the order a notice in writing of the name and address of the person who has become entitled to the land in question or to a private interest in it.
7
The procedure prescribed under section 161 in connection with the confirmation of a tree preservation order shall apply in relation to an order made by virtue of this section as if the order were made on the date on which the notice under subsection (6) is received by the authority who made it.