Part 9Miscellaneous and general

Miscellaneous

113Validity of strategies, plans and documents

(1)

This section applies to—

(a)

a revision of F1the regional strategy;

(b)

F2the National Development Framework for Wales;

(ba)

a strategic development plan;

F3(bb)

a local plan;

(bc)

a minerals and waste plan;

(bd)

a supplementary plan;

F4(c)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)

a local development plan;

(e)

a revision of a document mentioned in paragraph (b), F5(ba), F6(bb), (bc), (bd) or (d);

(f)

F7a spatial development strategy;

(g)

an alteration or replacement of F8a spatial development strategy,

and anything falling within paragraphs (a) to (g) is referred to in this section as a relevant document.

(2)

A relevant document must not be questioned in any legal proceedings except in so far as is provided by the following provisions of this section.

(3)

A person aggrieved by a relevant document may make an application to the High Court on the ground that—

(a)

the document is not within the appropriate power;

(b)

a procedural requirement has not been complied with.

F9(3A)

An application may not be made under subsection (3) without the leave of the High Court.

(3B)

An application for leave for the purposes of subsection (3A) must be made before the end of the period of six weeks beginning with the day after the relevant date.

F10(4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)

The High Court may make an interim order suspending the operation of the relevant document—

(a)

wholly or in part;

(b)

generally or as it affects the property of the applicant.

F11(5A)

An interim order has effect—

(a)

if made on an application for leave, until the final determination of—

(i)

the question of whether leave should be granted, or

(ii)

where leave is granted, the proceedings on any application under this section made with such leave;

(b)

in any other case, until the proceedings are finally determined.

(6)

Subsection (7) applies if the High Court is satisfied—

(a)

that a relevant document is to any extent outside the appropriate power;

(b)

that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by a failure to comply with a procedural requirement.

F12(7)

The High Court may—

(a)

quash the relevant document;

(b)

remit the relevant document to a person or body with a function relating to its preparation, publication, adoption or approval.

(7A)

If the High Court remits the relevant document under subsection (7)(b) it may give directions as to the action to be taken in relation to the document.

(7B)

Directions under subsection (7A) may in particular—

(a)

require the relevant document to be treated (generally or for specified purposes) as not having been approved or adopted;

(b)

require specified steps in the process that has resulted in the approval or adoption of the relevant document to be treated (generally or for specified purposes) as having been taken or as not having been taken;

(c)

require action to be taken by a person or body with a function relating to the preparation, publication, adoption or approval of the document (whether or not the person or body to which the document is remitted);

(d)

require action to be taken by one person or body to depend on what action has been taken by another person or body.

(7C)

The High Court's powers under subsections (7) and (7A) are exercisable in relation to the relevant document—

(a)

wholly or in part;

(b)

generally or as it affects the property of the applicant.

F13(8)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9)

The appropriate power is—

F14(a)

Part 5 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 in the case of a revision of the regional strategy;

(b)

F15sections 60 to 60C above in the case of the National Development Framework for Wales or a revised Framework;

(ba)

in the case of a strategic development plan or any revision of it—

(i)

section F1660M above, and

(ii)

sections 63 to 68, 68A(1), 69 to 71 and 73 to 78 above, as they apply in relation to strategic development plans (see section F1760N );

(c)

Part 2 of this Act in the case of a F18local plan, minerals and waste plan or supplementary plan or any revision of it;

(d)

sections 62 to 78 above in the case of a local development plan or any revision of it;

(e)

sections 334 to 343 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29) in the case of the spatial development strategy F19for London or any alteration or replacement of it.

F20(f)

in the case of a spatial development strategy adopted by a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, or any alteration or replacement of it, whichever provisions of (or applied by) an order under that Act give the combined authority powers in relation to such a strategy;

(10)

A procedural requirement is a requirement under the appropriate power or contained in regulations or an order made under that power which relates to the adoption, publication or approval of a relevant document.

(11)

References to the relevant date must be construed as follows—

F21(a)

for the purposes of a revision of the regional strategy, the date when the revision is published by the Secretary of State under Part 5 of Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;

(b)

F22for the purposes of the National Development Framework for Wales (or a revised Framework), the date when it is published by the Welsh Ministers;

(ba)

for the purposes of a strategic development plan (or a revision of it), the date when it is adopted by the F23corporate joint committee or approved by the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be);

(c)

for the purposes of a F24local plan, minerals and waste plan or supplementary plan (or a revision of it), the date when it is adopted F25or approved (as the case may be) under Part 2;

(d)

for the purposes of a local development plan (or a revision of it), the date when it is adopted by a local planning authority in Wales or approved by the National Assembly for Wales (as the case may be);

(e)

for the purposes of F26a spatial development strategy (or an alteration or replacement of it), the date when F27it becomes operative.

F28(12)

In this section references to a revision of the regional strategy include a revised strategy under section 79 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

F29(13)

In this section, “spatial development strategy”, “spatial development strategy for London” and “joint spatial development strategy” must be construed in accordance with section 15LH.