Town and Country Planning Act 1962

131 Procedure on reference of purchase notice to Minister

(1) Where a copy of a purchase notice is transmitted to the Minister under subsection (3) of the last preceding section, the Minister shall consider whether to confirm the notice or to take other action under the next following section in respect thereof.

(2) Before confirming a purchase notice or taking any other action under the next following section in respect thereof, the Minister shall give notice of his proposed action—

(a) to the person by whom the purchase notice was served;

(b) to the council on whom the purchase notice was served;

(c) to the local planning authority for the area in which the land is situated ; and

(d) if the Minister proposes to substitute any other local authority or statutory undertakers for the council on whom the purchase notice was served, to that other local authority or those statutory undertakers.

(3) If, within such period as may be specified in a notice under the last preceding subsection, being a period of not less than twenty-eight days from the service of that notice, any of the persons, authorities or statutory undertakers on whom that notice is served so requires, the Minister, before confirming the purchase notice or taking any other action under the next following section in respect thereof, shall afford to those persons, authorities and undertakers an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Minister for the purpose.

(4) Where the Minister has given notice under subsection (2) of this section of his proposed action, and any of the persons, authorities and statutory undertakers concerned have appeared before and been heard by a person appointed by the Minister for the purpose, and it then appears to the Minister to be expedient to take action under the next following section otherwise than in accordance with the notice given by him, the Minister may take that action accordingly.