Section 21: Intervention by Secretary of State, Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

If the Secretary of State thinks that a local development document is unsatisfactory—

he may at any time before the document is adopted under section 23 direct the local planning authority to modify the document in accordance with the direction;

if he gives such a direction he must state his reasons for doing so.

The authority—

must comply with the direction;

must not adopt the document unless the Secretary of State gives notice that he is satisfied that they have complied with the direction.

But subsection (2) does not apply if or to the extent that the Secretary of State withdraws the direction.

At any time before a development plan document is adopted by a local planning authority the Secretary of State may direct that the document (or any part of it) is submitted to him for his approval.

The following paragraphs apply if the Secretary of State gives a direction under subsection (4)—

the authority must not take any step in connection with the adoption of the document until the Secretary of State gives his decision , or withdraws the direction;

if the direction is given, and not withdrawn, before the authority have submitted the document under section 20(1), the Secretary of State must hold an independent examination;

if the direction is given after the authority have submitted the document but before the person appointed to carry out the examination has made his recommendations , and is not withdrawn before those recommendations are made, the person must make his recommendations to the Secretary of State;

the document has no effect unless the document or (as the case may be) the relevant part of it has been approved by the Secretary of State, or the direction is withdrawn.

Subsections (4) to (7C) of section 20 apply to an examination held under subsection (5)(b), the reference to the local planning authority in subsection (7C) of that section being read as a reference to the Secretary of State.

For the purposes of subsection (5)(d) the "relevant part" of a development plan document is the part that—

is covered by a direction under subsection (4) which refers to only part of the document, or

continues to be covered by a direction under subsection (4) following the partial withdrawal of the direction.

The Secretary of State must publish the recommendations made to him by virtue of subsection (5)(b) or (c) and the reasons of the person making the recommendations.

In considering a document or part of a document submitted under subsection (4) the Secretary of State may take account of any matter which he thinks is relevant.

It is immaterial whether any such matter was taken account of by the authority.

In relation to a document or part of a document submitted to him under subsection (4) the Secretary of State—

may approve, approve subject to specified modifications or reject the document or part;

must give reasons for his decision under paragraph (a).

The Secretary of State may at any time—

after a development plan document has been submitted for independent examination under section 20, but

before it is adopted under section 23,

direct the local planning authority to withdraw the document.

In the exercise of any function under this section the Secretary of State must have regard to the local development scheme.

The local planning authority must reimburse the Secretary of State for any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State under this section that is specified in a notice given to the authority by the Secretary of State.

In the case of a joint local development document or a joint development plan document, the Secretary of State may apportion liability for the expenditure on such basis as the Secretary of State thinks just between the local planning authorities who have prepared the document.

Section 21: Intervention by Secretary of State

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