Town and Country Planning Act 1971

5 (1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a local planning authority (other than a London borough council) to whom application is made for listed building consent shall not grant such consent, unless they have notified the Secretary of State of the application (giving particulars of the works for which the consent is required) and either—

(a) a period of twenty-eight days has expired, beginning with the date of the notification, without the Secretary of State having directed the reference of the application to him ; or

(b) the Secretary of State has notified the authority that he does not intend to require the reference of the application.

(2) The Secretary of State may at any time before the said period expires give notice to the authority that he requires further time in which to consider whether to require the reference of the application to him and sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall then have effect with the substitution for a period of twenty-eight days of such longer period as may be specified in the Secretary of State's notice.