Growth and Infrastructure Bill (HC Bill 104)

(5) An order under subsection (4) may amend, repeal or revoke any provision of
an Act or an instrument made under an Act (whenever passed or made) in
consequence of the repeal of those sections.

7 Disposals of land held for planning purposes

(1) 5In the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, section 233 (disposal by local
authorities of land held for planning purposes) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (3) (Secretary of State’s consent required for certain disposals
for consideration less than the best that can reasonably be obtained) insert—

“(3A) The Secretary of State may give consent under subsection (3)—

(a) 10in relation to any particular disposal or disposals, or in relation
to a particular class of disposals,

(b) in relation to local authorities generally, or local authorities of a
particular class, or to any particular local authority or
authorities, and

(c) 15either unconditionally or subject to conditions (either generally,
or in relation to any particular disposal or disposals or class of
disposals).”

(3) After subsection (8) (exclusion of section 123 of the Local Government Act
1972) insert—

“(9) 20Section 128(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (which already gives
protection to purchasers etc in respect of certain land transactions,
including disposals under this section by certain authorities) applies in
relation to every disposal of land under this section by a local authority
for an area in England; and section 29 of the Town and Country
25Planning Act 1959 does not apply in relation to such a disposal.”

8 Electronic communications code: the need to promote growth

(1) In section 109(2) of the Communications Act 2003 (matters to which Secretary
of State must have regard when making regulations about conditions and
restrictions on application of electronic communications code), after paragraph
30(b) insert—

“(ba) the need to promote economic growth in the United Kingdom;”

(2) In section 11A of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
(public authorities’ duty to have regard to conserving beauty etc of National
Parks when exercising functions in relation to them), after subsection (2)
35insert—

“(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply to the exercise by the Secretary of State of
the power to make regulations under section 109 of the
Communications Act 2003 (conditions and restrictions on application
of electronic communications code) if—

(a) 40the power is exercised before 6 April 2018, and

(b) the resulting regulations are expressed to cease to have effect
(other than for transitional purposes) before that date.”

(3) In Article 4 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland)
Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/170 (N.I. 1)S.I. 1985/170 (N.I. 1)) (public bodies’ duty to have regard to
45conserving beauty etc of countryside when exercising functions in relation to

it), after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the exercise by the Secretary of State of
the power to make regulations under section 109 of the
Communications Act 2003 (conditions and restrictions on application
5of electronic communications code) if—

(a) the power is exercised before 6 April 2018, and

(b) the resulting regulations are expressed to cease to have effect
(other than for transitional purposes) before that date.”

(4) In section 17A of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (public authorities’
10duty to have regard to conserving beauty etc of the Broads when exercising
functions in relation to them), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply to the exercise by the Secretary of State of
the power to make regulations under section 109 of the
Communications Act 2003 (conditions and restrictions on application
15of electronic communications code) if—

(a) the power is exercised before 6 April 2018, and

(b) the resulting regulations are expressed to cease to have effect
(other than for transitional purposes) before that date.”

(5) In subsection (2) of that section, in paragraph (c), after “statutory undertaker”
20insert “(other than an electronic communications code operator)”.

(6) In section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (public
authorities’ duty to have regard to conserving beauty etc of areas of
outstanding natural beauty when exercising functions in relation to such
areas), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) 25Subsection (1) does not apply to the exercise by the Secretary of State of
the power to make regulations under section 109 of the
Communications Act 2003 (conditions and restrictions on application
of electronic communications code) if—

(a) the power is exercised before 6 April 2018, and

(b) 30the resulting regulations are expressed to cease to have effect
(other than for transitional purposes) before that date.”

(7) The amendment in subsection (5) ceases to have effect on 6 April 2018.

(8) Consultation undertaken for the purposes of section 109(4) of the
Communications Act 2003 in anticipation of the commencement of this section
35(including consultation undertaken before the passing of this Act) is as
effective as consultation undertaken after that commencement.

9 Periodic review of mineral planning permissions

(1) Schedule 3 (periodic review of mineral planning permissions) has effect.

(2) The amendments made by that Schedule apply in relation to mineral
40permissions granted before (as well as after) its coming into force, subject to
subsection (3).

(3) Those amendments do not apply in relation to a periodic review under
Schedule 14 to the Environment Act 1995 of the mineral permissions relating
to a mining site which is begun but not completed before the coming into force
45of Schedule 3.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) a periodic review is begun when a notice is
served under paragraph 4 of Schedule 14 to the Environment Act 1995 in
connection with the review, and is completed—

(a) when an application under paragraph 6 of that Schedule in connection
5with the review is finally determined, or

(b) if no such application is made, when the mineral permissions cease to
have effect in accordance with paragraph 7 of that Schedule.

(5) Subsection (3) does not affect the determination under Schedule 14 to the
Environment Act 1995 as amended by Schedule 3 of the date of any subsequent
10periodic review by reference to a periodic review within that subsection.

(6) Expressions used in this section which are defined in the Environment Act 1995
have the same meaning as in that Act.

10 Stopping up and diversion of highways

(1) Section 253 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (procedure in
15anticipation of planning permission) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), omit paragraph (b) and the “and” preceding it.

(3) After subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) Where—

(a) the Welsh Ministers would, if planning permission for any
20development had been granted under Part 3, have power to
make an order under section 247 or 248 authorising the
stopping up or diversion of a highway in order to enable that
development to be carried out, and

(b) subsection (2), (3) or (4) applies,

25then, notwithstanding that such permission has not been granted, the
Welsh Ministers may publish notice of the draft of such an order in
accordance with section 252.”

(4) In subsection (2)—

(a) for “Secretary of State” (in each place where it occurs) substitute “Welsh
30Ministers”, and

(b) for “, a local development order or a neighbourhood development
order” substitute “or a local development order”.

(5) In subsection (4), for “, county borough, metropolitan district or London
borough” substitute “or county borough,”.

(6) 35In subsection (5)—

(a) for “or the council of a London borough” substitute “, the council of a
London borough or the Welsh Ministers”, and

(b) after “subsection (1)” insert “or, as the case may be, (1A)”.

11 Stopping up and diversion of public paths

(1) 40Part 10 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (highways) is amended as
follows.

(2) In section 257 (footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways affected by other

development: orders by other authorities), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) Subject to section 259, a competent authority may by order authorise
the stopping up or diversion in England of any footpath, bridleway or
restricted byway if they are satisfied that—

(a) 5an application for planning permission in respect of
development has been made under Part 3, and

(b) if the application were granted it would be necessary to
authorise the stopping up or diversion in order to enable the
development to be carried out.”

(3) 10In that section, in subsection (4)—

(a) omit the “and” following paragraph (a), and

(b) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(c) in the case of development in respect of which an
application for planning permission has been made
15under Part 3, the local planning authority to whom the
application has been made or, in the case of an
application made to the Secretary of State under section
62A, the local planning authority to whom the
application would otherwise have been made.”

(4) 20In section 259 (confirmation of orders made by other authorities), after
subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) An order under section 257(1A) may not be confirmed unless the
Secretary of State or (as the case may be) the authority is satisfied—

(a) that planning permission in respect of the development has
25been granted, and

(b) it is necessary to authorise the stopping up or diversion in order
to enable the development to be carried out in accordance with
the permission.”

(5) In that section, in subsection (2), for “any such order” substitute “any order
30under section 257(1) or 258”.

12 Declarations negativing intention to dedicate way as highway

(1) Section 31 of the Highways Act 1980 (dedication of way as highway presumed
after public use for 20 years) is amended as set out in subsections (2) to (6).

(2) In subsection (6) (depositing of maps and statements and lodging of
35declarations by owner of land to negative presumed intention to dedicate)—

(a) in paragraph (a) omit “on a scale of not less than 6 inches to 1 mile”,

(b) in the words after paragraph (b)—

(i) omit “statutory”, and

(ii) after “declarations” insert “in valid form”, and

(c) 40in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) for “ten” substitute “the relevant number
of”.

(3) After subsection (6) insert—

“(6A) Where the land is in England—

(a) a map deposited under subsection (6)(a) and a statement
deposited under subsection (6)(b) must be in the prescribed
form,

(b) a declaration is in valid form for the purposes of subsection (6)
5if it is in the prescribed form, and

(c) the relevant number of years for the purposes of sub-
paragraphs (i) and (ii) of subsection (6) is 20 years.

(6B) Where the land is in Wales—

(a) a map deposited under subsection (6)(a) must be on a scale of
10not less than 6 inches to 1 mile,

(b) a declaration is in valid form for the purposes of subsection (6)
if it is a statutory declaration, and

(c) the relevant number of years for the purposes of sub-
paragraphs (i) and (ii) of subsection (6) is 10 years.”

(4) 15After subsection (6B) (as inserted by subsection (3) above) insert—

“(6C) Where, under subsection (6), an owner of land in England deposits a
map and statement or lodges a declaration, the appropriate council
must take the prescribed steps in relation to the map and statement or
(as the case may be) the declaration and do so in the prescribed manner
20and within the prescribed period (if any).”

(5) In subsection (7)—

(a) for “and (6) above” substitute “, (6), (6C) and (13)”, and

(b) for “subsection (6)” substitute “subsections (6), (6C) and (13)”.

(6) After subsection (12) insert—

“(13) 25The Secretary of State may make regulations for the purposes of the
application of subsection (6) to land in England which make
provision—

(a) for a statement or declaration required for the purposes of
subsection (6) to be combined with a statement required for the
30purposes of section 15A of the Commons Act 2006;

(b) as to the fees payable in relation to the depositing of a map and
statement or the lodging of a declaration (including provision
for a fee payable under the regulations to be determined by the
appropriate council).

(14) 35For the purposes of the application of this section to land in England
“prescribed” means prescribed in regulations made by the Secretary of
State.

(15) Regulations under this section made by the Secretary of State may
make—

(a) 40such transitional or saving provision as the Secretary of State
considers appropriate;

(b) different provision for different purposes or areas.”

(7) In consequence of the amendment made by subsection (2)(c), omit paragraph
3 of Schedule 6 to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

13 Registration of town or village green: statement by owner

In the Commons Act 2006, after section 15 (registration of greens) insert—

“15A Registration of greens: statement by owner

(1) Where the owner of any land in England to which this Part applies
5deposits with the commons registration authority a statement in the
prescribed form, the statement is to be regarded, for the purposes of
section 15, as bringing to an end any period during which persons have
indulged as of right in lawful sports and pastimes on the land to which
the statement relates.

(2) 10Subsection (1) does not prevent a new period commencing.

(3) A statement under subsection (1) must be accompanied by a map in the
prescribed form identifying the land to which the statement relates.

(4) An owner of land may deposit more than one statement under
subsection (1) in respect of the same land.

(5) 15If more than one statement is deposited in respect of the same land, a
later statement (whether or not made by the same person) may refer to
the map which accompanied an earlier statement and that map is to be
treated, for the purposes of this section, as also accompanying the later
statement.

(6) 20Where a statement is deposited under subsection (1), the commons
registration authority must take the prescribed steps in relation to the
statement and accompanying map and do so in the prescribed manner
and within the prescribed period (if any).

(7) Regulations may make provision—

(a) 25for a statement required for the purposes of this section to be
combined with a statement or declaration required for the
purposes of section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980;

(b) for the requirement in subsection (3) to be satisfied by the
statement referring to a map previously deposited under
30section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980;

(c) as to the fees payable in relation to the depositing of a statement
under subsection (1) (including provision for a fee payable
under the regulations to be determined by the commons
registration authority);

(d) 35as to when a statement under subsection (1) is to be regarded as
having been deposited with the commons registration
authority.

(8) An agreement under section 4(3) of this Act or section 2(2) of the
Commons Registration Act 1965 which would have the effect of
40requiring an owner of land to deposit a statement under subsection (1)
with a registration authority in Wales is to be disregarded for the
purposes of this section.

(9) In this section “prescribed” means prescribed in regulations.

15B Register of section 15A statements

(1) 45Each commons registration authority must keep, in such manner as
may be prescribed, a register containing prescribed information about

statements deposited under section 15A(1) and the maps
accompanying those statements.

(2) The register kept under this section must be available for inspection
free of charge at all reasonable hours.

(3) 5A commons registration authority may discharge its duty under
subsection (1) by including the prescribed information in the register
kept by it under section 31A of the Highways Act 1980 (register of maps
and statements deposited and declarations lodged under section 31(6)
of that Act).

(4) 10Regulations may make provision—

(a) where a commons registration authority discharges its duty
under subsection (1) in the way described in subsection (3), for
the creation of a new part of the register kept under section 31A
of the Highways Act 1980 for that purpose;

(b) 15as to the circumstances in which an entry relating to a statement
deposited under section 15A(1) or a map accompanying such a
statement, or anything relating to the entry, is to be removed
from the register kept under this section or (as the case may be)
the register kept under section 31A of the Highways Act 1980.

(5) 20In this section “prescribed” means prescribed in regulations.”

14 Restrictions on right to register land as town or village green

(1) In the Commons Act 2006, after section 15B (as inserted by section 13 of this
Act) insert—

“15C Registration of greens: exclusions

(1) 25The right under section 15(1) to apply to register land in England as a
town or village green ceases to apply if an event specified in the first
column of the Table set out in Schedule 1A has occurred in relation to
the land (“a trigger event”).

(2) Where the right under section 15(1) has ceased to apply because of the
30occurrence of a trigger event, it becomes exercisable again only if an
event specified in the corresponding entry in the second column of the
Table occurs in relation to the land (“a terminating event”).

(3) The Secretary of State may by order make provision as to when a
trigger or a terminating event is to be treated as having occurred for the
35purposes of this section.

(4) The Secretary of State may by order provide that subsection (1) does not
apply in circumstances specified in the order.

(5) The Secretary of State may by order amend Schedule 1A so as to—

(a) specify additional trigger or terminating events;

(b) 40amend or omit any of the trigger or terminating events for the
time being specified in the Schedule.

(6) A trigger or terminating event specified by order under subsection
(5)(a) must be an event related to the development (whether past,
present or future) of the land.

(7) The transitional provision that may be included in an order under
subsection (5)(a) specifying an additional trigger or terminating event
includes provision for this section to apply where such an event has
occurred before the order is made or before it comes into force and as
5to its application in such a case.

(8) For the purposes of determining whether an application under section
15 is made within the period of two years mentioned in section 15(3)(c),
any period during which an application to register land as a town or
village green may not be made by virtue of this section is to be
10disregarded.”

(2) Schedule 4 (which inserts the new Schedule 1A to the Commons Act 2006) has
effect.

(3) For the purposes of the application of section 15C of the Commons Act 2006 (as
inserted by subsection (1) above), it does not matter whether an event specified
15in the first column of Schedule 1A to that Act occurred before or on or after the
commencement of this section.

(4) The amendment made by subsection (1) does not apply in relation to an
application under section 15(1) of the Commons Act 2006 which is sent before
the day on which this section comes into force.

15 20Applications to amend registers: modification of power to provide for fees

In section 24 of the Commons Act 2006 (regulations about making and
determination of Part 1 applications)—

(a) omit subsection (2)(d) (provision for England and Wales in the same
terms as the provision for Wales made by the new subsection (2B)), and

(b) 25after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) Regulations under subsection (1) made by the Secretary of State
may make provision as to the fees payable in relation to an
application (including provision for a fee payable under the
regulations to be determined by the person to whom the
30application is made or (if different) the person by whom the
application is to be determined).

(2B) Regulations under subsection (1) made by the Welsh Ministers
may make provision as to the fee payable on an application
(which may be a fee determined by the person to whom the
35application is made).”

Other infrastructure provisions

16 Power stations: repeal of requirements to give notice

(1) In the Energy Act 1976—

(a) section 14 (fuelling of new and converted power stations: requirement
40to give notice to Secretary of State) is omitted, and

(b) in section 19 (penalties), in subsection (2)—

(i) omit paragraph (b) (including the “or” following it), and

(ii) in paragraph (c), omit “, 7 or 14(3)”.

(2) In Schedule 16 to the Electricity Act 1989, paragraph 22 (which amends the
provision repealed by subsection (1)(a)) is omitted.

(3) In the Planning Act 2008—

(a) in section 33 (effect of requirement for development consent on other
5consent regimes), in subsection (1), omit paragraph (e), and

(b) in Schedule 2, paragraph 15 (which amends the provision repealed by
subsection (1)(a)) is omitted.

17 Conditions of licences under Gas Act 1986: payments to other licence-holders

In section 7B of the Gas Act 1986 (general provisions about licences under
10section 7 for gas transporters, under section 7ZA for gas interconnectors, and
under section 7A for gas suppliers and gas shippers) in subsection (5)(b)(ii)
(gas transporter’s licence may require payments to be made to holder of licence
under section 7A) omit “under section 7A above”.

18 Variation of consents under Electricity Act 1989

(1) 15The Electricity Act 1989 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 36B insert—

“36C Variation of consents under section 36

(1) The person for the time being entitled to the benefit of a section 36
consent may make an application to the appropriate authority for the
20consent to be varied.

(2) Regulations may make provision about the variation of a section 36
consent, including in particular provision about—

(a) the making and withdrawal of applications;

(b) fees;

(c) 25publicity and consultation requirements;

(d) rights to make representations;

(e) public inquiries;

(f) consideration of applications.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) may provide for any statutory
30provision applicable to the grant of a section 36 consent to apply with
specified modifications to the variation of a section 36 consent.

(4) On an application for a section 36 consent to be varied, the appropriate
authority may make such variations to the consent as appear to the
authority to be appropriate, having regard (in particular) to—

(a) 35the applicant’s reasons for seeking the variation;

(b) the variations proposed;

(c) any objections made to the proposed variations, the views of
consultees and the outcome of any public inquiry.

(5) Regulations may make provision treating, for prescribed purposes—

(a) 40an application for variation of a section 36 consent as made
when the application for the original consent was made;

(b) a section 36 consent varied under this section as granted in its
varied form when the original consent was granted (rather than
when the variation was made).

(6) In this section—

• 5“the appropriate authority” means—

  (a)

  the Scottish Ministers, in a case where the section 36
  consent relates to a generating station (or proposed
  generating station) in Scotland;

  (b)

  the Marine Management Organisation, in a case where
  10the section 36 consent was granted by it;

  (c)

  the Secretary of State, in any other case;

• “regulations” means regulations made by—

  (a)

  the Scottish Ministers, in the case of section 36 consents
  relating to generating stations (or proposed generating
  15stations) in Scotland;

  (b)

  the Secretary of State, in any other case;

• “Scotland” has the same meaning as in section 32(2) (see section
  32(3));

• “section 36 consent” means a consent granted under section 36
  20(construction, extension or operation of generating station),
  whenever granted;

• “statutory provision” means a provision of or made under an Act,
  whenever passed or made; and for this purpose “Act” includes
  an Act of the Scottish Parliament.”

(3) 25In section 37 (consent required for overhead lines), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision treating, for
prescribed purposes, an application for the variation under subsection
(3)(b) of a consent under this section as made when the application for
the original consent was made.”

(4) 30In section 106 (regulations and orders)—

(a) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1ZA) Subsection (1) does not apply to the power conferred on the
Scottish Ministers by section 36C.”;

(b) after subsection (2) insert—

“(3) 35Regulations made by the Scottish Ministers under section 36C
are subject to the negative procedure.”

19 Consents under Electricity Act 1989: deemed planning permission

(1) Section 90 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (deemed planning
permission: development with government authorisation) is amended as set
40out in subsections (2) to (4).

(2) Before subsection (2) insert—

“(1A) On granting or varying a consent under section 36 or 37 of the
Electricity Act 1989 in relation to a generating station or electric line in
England, the Secretary of State may give a direction for planning
45permission to be deemed to be granted, subject to such conditions (if
any) as may be specified in the direction, for—