1

The Secretary of State shall by regulations under this Act or by order provide for the granting of planning permission.

2

An order under this section (in this Act referred to as a “development order”) may itself grant planning permission for development specified in the order, or for development of any class so specified, and may be made either—

a

as a general order applicable, except so far as it otherwise provides, to all land, but which may make different provision with respect to different descriptions of land; or

b

as a special order applicable only to such land or descriptions of land as may be specified in the order.

3

In respect of development for which planning permission is not granted by a development order, regulations under this Act or an order may provide for the granting of planning permission by the planning authority (or, in the cases hereinafter provided for, by the Secretary of State) on an application in that behalf made to the planning authority in accordance with the regulations or the order.