Intelligence/
Current TopicsChanges to Secretary of State Referral Requirements
The Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009 was issued on 30th March, introducing changes to the requirements for LPA’s to refer certain applications to the Secretary of State.
Most significantly, the Direction cancels the requirement to automatically refer development plan departure applications, and introduces some major changes in respect of applications for town centre uses. It also introduces a new referral requirement for developments affecting World Heritage Sites. The SoS’s existing powers of call-in under Section 77 of the 1990 Act remain.
The changes come into effect on 20th April.
A Comment setting out the new referral requirements can be accessed via the link below.
Most significantly, the Direction cancels the requirement to automatically refer development plan departure applications, and introduces some major changes in respect of applications for town centre uses. It also introduces a new referral requirement for developments affecting World Heritage Sites. The SoS’s existing powers of call-in under Section 77 of the 1990 Act remain.
The changes come into effect on 20th April.
A Comment setting out the new referral requirements can be accessed via the link below.
Changes to Secretary of State Referral Requirements (April 2009)
The Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009 and its associated Circular 02/09 were published on 30 March 2009. This follows consultation on the changes in early 2008 and is part of the Government’s commitment to allowing local authorities greater autonomy in planning decision making.