Planning (Wales) Act 2015

13 Withdrawal of local development plan

For section 66 of PCPA 2004 (withdrawal of local development plan) substitute—

“66 Withdrawal of local development plan in accordance with direction

(1) The Welsh Ministers may, at any time before a local development plan is adopted under section 67, direct the local planning authority to withdraw the plan.

(2) If the Welsh Ministers give a direction under subsection (1), they must state their reasons for doing so.

(3) The authority must withdraw the plan in accordance with the direction.

66A Withdrawal of local development plan in absence of direction

(1) This section applies where a local planning authority are not required to withdraw their local development plan under section 66.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, the authority may withdraw the plan at any time before adopting it under section 67.

(3) A local planning authority may not withdraw their local development plan when the Welsh Ministers have—

(a) directed the authority to submit the plan for approval under section 65(4), or

(b) taken any step under section 71 in connection with the plan.

(4) A local planning authority may withdraw a local development plan that has been submitted for independent examination under section 64 only if—

(a) the person carrying out the independent examination recommends that the plan is withdrawn, and

(b) the recommendation is not overruled by a direction given by the Welsh Ministers.

(5) A local planning authority may withdraw a local development plan to which subsection (6) applies only if—

(a) the authority have given notice to the Welsh Ministers of their intention to withdraw the plan, and

(b) the notice period has expired.

(6) This subsection applies to a local development plan if the local planning authority—

(a) have not yet submitted the plan for independent examination under section 64, but

(b) have taken steps in connection with the preparation of the plan that are specified in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers.

(7) Where a local planning authority have given notice under subsection (5)(a), the Welsh Ministers may, by direction to the authority, do either or both of the following—

(a) require the authority to provide further information;

(b) extend the notice period.

(8) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision about the giving of notices and directions under this section (including provision about their form and content and how they are to be given).

(9) Subject to any direction given under subsection (7)(b) in a particular case, the “notice period” means whatever period, beginning with the giving of notice under subsection (5)(a), is specified in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers.”