Town and Country Planning Act 1990

12 (1) Where by virtue of any of the previous provisions of this Schedule—

(a) a simplified planning zone scheme or proposals for the alteration of such a scheme are required to be prepared, or

(b) steps are required to be taken for the adoption of any such scheme or proposals,

then, if the Secretary of State is satisfied, after holding a local inquiry or other hearing, that the local planning authority are not taking the steps necessary to enable them to prepare or adopt such a scheme or proposals within a reasonable period, he may make the scheme or the alterations, as he thinks fit.

(2) Where under this paragraph anything which ought to have been done by a local planning authority is done by the Secretary of State, the previous provisions of this Schedule apply, so far as practicable, with any necessary modifications, in relation to the doing of that thing by the Secretary of State and the thing so done.

(3) Where the Secretary of State incurs expenses under this paragraph in connection with the doing of anything which should have been done by a local planning authority, so much of those expenses as may be certified by the Secretary of State to have been incurred in the performance of functions of that authority shall on demand be repaid by the authority to the Secretary of State.