Part 6

Deciding applications for orders granting development consent
Chapter 5

Decisions on applications

Secretary of State is to decide applications
103
1
The Secretary of State has the function of deciding an application for an order granting development consent ...
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Decisions in cases where national policy statement has effect
104
1
This section applies in relation to an application for an order granting development consent if a national policy statement has effect in relation to development of the description to which the application relates.
2
In deciding the application the Secretary of State must have regard to—
a
any national policy statement which has effect in relation to development of the description to which the application relates (a “relevant national policy statement”),
aa
the appropriate marine policy documents (if any), determined in accordance with section 59 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;
b
any local impact report (within the meaning given by section 60(3)) submitted to the Secretary of State before the deadline specified in a notice under section 60(2),
c
any matters prescribed in relation to development of the description to which the application relates, and
d
any other matters which the Secretary of State thinks are both important and relevant to the Secretary of State's decision.
3
The Secretary of State must decide the application in accordance with any relevant national policy statement, except to the extent that one or more of subsections (4) to (8) applies.
4
This subsection applies if the Secretary of State is satisfied that deciding the application in accordance with any relevant national policy statement would lead to the United Kingdom being in breach of any of its international obligations.
5
This subsection applies if the Secretary of State is satisfied that deciding the application in accordance with any relevant national policy statement would lead to the Secretary of State being in breach of any duty imposed on the Secretary of State by or under any enactment.
6
This subsection applies if the Secretary of State is satisfied that deciding the application in accordance with any relevant national policy statement would be unlawful by virtue of any enactment.
7
This subsection applies if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the adverse impact of the proposed development would outweigh its benefits.
8
This subsection applies if the Secretary of State is satisfied that any condition prescribed for deciding an application otherwise than in accordance with a national policy statement is met.
9
For the avoidance of doubt, the fact that any relevant national policy statement identifies a location as suitable (or potentially suitable) for a particular description of development does not prevent one or more of subsections (4) to (8) from applying.

Decisions in cases where no national policy statement has effect
105
1
This section applies in relation to an application for an order granting development consent if section 104 does not apply in relation to the application.
2
In deciding the application the Secretary of State must have regard to—
a
any local impact report (within the meaning given by section 60(3)) submitted to the Secretary of State before the deadline specified in a notice under section 60(2),
b
any matters prescribed in relation to development of the description to which the application relates, and
c
any other matters which the Secretary of State thinks are both important and relevant to the Secretary of State's decision.

Matters that may be disregarded when deciding application
106
1
In deciding an application for an order granting development consent, the Secretary of State may disregard representations if the Secretary of State considers that the representations—
a
are vexatious or frivolous,
b
relate to the merits of policy set out in a national policy statement, or
c
relate to compensation for compulsory acquisition of land or of an interest in or right over land.
2
In this section “representation” includes evidence.

Timetable for decisions
107
1
The Secretary of State is under a duty to decide an application for an order granting development consent by the end of the period of 3 months beginning with—
a
the
deadline under section 98(3)
, or
b
(if earlier) the end of the day on which the Secretary of State receives a report on the application under section 74(2)(b) or 83(1)(b).
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
The Secretary of State may set a date for the deadline under subsection (1) that is later than the date for the time being set.
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
The power under subsection (3) may be exercised—
a
more than once in relation to the same deadline;
b
after the date for the time being set for the deadline.
6
Subsection (7) applies where the power under subsection (3) is exercised.
7
The Secretary of State exercising the power must make a statement, to the House of Parliament of which that Secretary of State is a member, announcing the new deadline.
8
A statement under subsection (7) must be published in such form and manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
8A
A statement under subsection (7) may be written or oral.
S. 104 partly in force; s. 104 in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent see s. 241
S. 105 partly in force; s. 105 in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent see s. 241
S. 104(2)(aa) inserted (12.1.2010) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), ss. 58(5), 324(2)(a)
S. 103 in force at 1.3.2010 by S.I. 2010/101, art. 3(d) (with art. 6)
S. 104 in force at 1.3.2010 by S.I. 2010/101, art. 3(d) (with art. 6)
S. 105 in force at 1.3.2010 by S.I. 2010/101, art. 3(d) (with art. 6)
S. 106 in force at 1.3.2010 by S.I. 2010/101, art. 3(d) (with art. 6)
S. 107 in force at 1.3.2010 by S.I. 2010/101, art. 3(d) (with art. 6)
S. 103 heading substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 48(4); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 103(1) repealed (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 48(2), Sch. 25 Pt. 20; S.I. 2012/628, art. 7
S. 103(2) repealed (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 48(3), Sch. 25 Pt. 20; S.I. 2012/628, art. 7
S. 104 heading substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(7); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(2) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(3)(a); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(1) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(2); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(3)(b); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(2)(d) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(3)(c); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(3) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(4); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(4) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(4); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(5) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(5)(a); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(5) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(5)(b); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(6) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(6); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(7) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(6); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 104(8) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 49(6); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 105(1) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 50(2); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 105(2)(a) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 50(3); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
S. 105 heading substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 50(4); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 106(1) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 51; S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
S. 107(6)-(8A) substituted for s. 107(6)-(9) (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 52(6); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 107(1) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 139(3)(a), 240(2) (with s. 144); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
S. 107(1)(b) and preceding word inserted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 139(3)(b), 240(2) (with s. 144); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 107(1) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 52(2)(a); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
Words in s. 107(1) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 52(2)(b); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
S. 107(2) repealed (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 52(3), Sch. 25 Pt. 20; S.I. 2012/628, art. 7
Words in s. 107(3) substituted (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 52(4); S.I. 2012/628, art. 7(a)
S. 107(4) repealed (1.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 13 para. 52(5), Sch. 25 Pt. 20; S.I. 2012/628, art. 7