114.—(1) The Department may give directions requiring applications for hazardous consent to be referred to it instead of being dealt with by a council.
(2) A direction under subsection (1)—
(a)may be given either to a particular council or to councils generally; and
(b)may relate either to a particular application or to applications of a class specified in the direction.
(3) Where the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the Department of Justice has certified that an application for hazardous substances consent is an application to which section 235 (national security) applies, the Department of the Environment must give a direction to the council to which the application was made requiring the application to be referred to the Department of the Environment instead of being dealt with by the council.
(4) Where an application for hazardous substances consent is referred to the Department under this section, sections 109 and 110 shall apply, with any necessary modifications, as they apply to such an application which falls to be determined by a council.
(5) Any application in respect of which a direction under this section has effect shall be referred to the Department accordingly.
(6) For the purpose of considering representations made in respect of an application to which section 235 applies which has been referred to it under this section, the Department must, subject to any rules made under subsection (2) or (5) of that section, cause a public local inquiry to be held by—
(a)the planning appeals commission; or
(b)a person appointed by the Department for the purpose.
(7) For the purpose of considering representations made in respect of an application referred to it under this section, other than an application mentioned in subsection (6), the Department may cause a public local inquiry to be held by—
(a)the planning appeals commission; or
(b)a person appointed by the Department.
(8) Where a public local inquiry is not held under subsection (7), the Department must, before determining the application, serve a notice on the applicant and the appropriate council indicating the decision which it proposes to make on the application; and if within such period as may be specified in that behalf in the notice (not being less than 28 days from the date of service thereof), either the applicant or the council so requests in writing, the Department shall afford to each of them an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by—
(a)the planning appeals commission; or
(b)a person appointed by the Department.
(9) In determining an application referred to it under this section, the Department shall, where any inquiry or hearing is held, take into account the report of the planning appeals commission.
(10) The decision of the Department on an application referred to it under this section shall be final.