Part 1Natural England and the Commission for Rural Communities
Chapter 1Natural England
Advisory functions
4Advice
(1)
Natural England must, at the request of a public authority, give advice to that authority on any matter relating to Natural England's general purpose.
F1(1A)
Natural England is not required by subsection (1) to give advice in response to a request to which subsection (1B) applies that is made by a public authority other than a Minister of the Crown.
(1B)
This subsection applies to a request for advice relating to—
(a)
a specific development that requires, but has not been granted, planning permission under section 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”),
(b)
an application for any consent, agreement or approval required by a condition imposed on a grant of planning permission required under that section,
(c)
permission in principle for a specific development under section 58A of the 1990 Act, and
(d)
the approval of a reserved matter within the meaning of section 92 of the 1990 Act.
(1C)
Natural England may give advice in response to a request to which it is not required to respond as a result of subsection (1A).
(2)
Subsection (3) applies if Natural England has reason to believe that advice given under subsection (1) F2or (1C) has been rejected.
(3)
At the request of Natural England, the public authority must inform Natural England in writing whether the advice has been rejected and, if so, why.
(4)
Natural England may give advice to any person on any matter relating to its general purpose—
(a)
at the request of that person, or
(b)
if Natural England thinks it appropriate to do so, on its own initiative.
(5)
The advice that may be given under this section includes, in relation to any power to make byelaws, recommendations as to the matters in respect of which byelaws should be made.