Part III Control over development
Secretary of State’s powers as respects planning applications and decisions
F176AMajor infrastructure projects
(1)
This section applies to—
(a)
an application for planning permission;
(b)
an application for the approval of a local planning authority required under a development order,
if the Secretary of State thinks that the development to which the application relates is of national or regional importance.
(2)
The Secretary of State may direct that the application must be referred to him instead of being dealt with by the local planning authority.
(3)
If the Secretary of State gives a direction under subsection (2) he may also direct that any application—
(a)
under or for the purposes of the planning Acts, and
(b)
which he thinks is connected with the application mentioned in subsection (1),
must also be referred to him instead of being dealt with by the local planning authority.
(4)
If the Secretary of State gives a direction under this section—
(a)
the application must be referred to him;
(b)
he must appoint an inspector to consider the application.
(5)
If the Secretary of State gives a direction under subsection (2) the applicant must prepare an economic impact report which must—
(a)
be in such form and contain such matter as is prescribed by development order;
(b)
be submitted to the Secretary of State in accordance with such provision as is so prescribed.
(6)
For the purposes of subsection (5) the Secretary of State may, by development order, prescribe such requirements as to publicity and notice as he thinks appropriate.
(7)
A direction under this section or section 76B may be varied or revoked by a subsequent direction.
(8)
The decision of the Secretary of State on any application referred to him under this section is final.
(9)
Regional relates to a region listed in Schedule 1 to the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 (c. 45).
(10)
The following provisions of this Act apply (with any necessary modifications) to an application referred to the Secretary of State under this section as they apply to an application which falls to be determined by a local planning authority—
(a)
section 70;
(b)
section 72(1) and (5);
(c)
section 73;
(d)
section 73A.
(11)
A development order may apply (with or without modifications) any requirements imposed by the order by virtue of section 65 or 71 to an application referred to the Secretary of State under this section.
(12)
This section does not apply to an application which relates to the development of land in Wales.