Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 (repealed 27.5.1997)

[F149A Prohibition of resumption of winning and working of minerals.S

[F2(1)Where it appears to the planning authority—

(a)that development of land—

(i)consisting of the winning and working of minerals; or

(ii)involving the depositing of mineral waste,

has occurred; but

(b)the winning and working or depositing has permanently ceased,

the planning authority may by order—

(i)prohibit the resumption of the winning and working or the depositing; and

(ii)impose, in relation to the site, any such requirement as is specified in subsection (3) of this section.

(2)The planning authority may assume that the winning and working or the depositing has permanently ceased only when—

(a)no winning and working or depositing has occurred, to any substantial extent, at the site for a period of at least two years; and

(b)it appears to the planning authority, on the evidence available to them at the time when they make the order, that resumption of the winning and working or the depositing to any substantial extent at the site is unlikely.

(3)The requirements mentioned in subsection (1) of this section are—

(a)a requirement to alter or remove plant or machinery which was used for the purpose of the winning and working or the depositing or for any purpose ancillary to that purpose;

(b)a requirement to take such steps as may be specified in the order, within such period as may be so specified, for the purpose of removing or alleviating any injury to amenity which has been caused by the winning and working or depositing, other than injury due to subsidence caused by underground mining operations;

(c)a requirement that any condition subject to which planning permission for the development was granted or which has been imposed by virtue of any provision of this Act shall be complied with; and

(d)a restoration condition.]

(4)An order under this section may include any such aftercare condition as the planning authority think fit if—

(a)it also includes a restoration condition;

or

(b)a restoration condition has previously been imposed in relation to the site by virtue of any provision of this Act.

(5)Subsections (3) to (8) and (11) to (19) of section 27A of this Act shall apply in relation to an after-care condition imposed under this section as they apply in relation to such a condition imposed under that section.

(6)In a case where—

(a)the use specified is a use for agriculture; and

(b)the land was in use for agriculture immediately before development consisting of the winning and working of minerals began to be carried out in, on or under it or had previously been used for agriculture and had not been used for any authorised purpose since its use for agriculture ceased; and

(c)the planning authority is aware of or can readily ascertain the physical characteristics of the land when it was last used for agriculture,

the land is brought to the required standard when its physical characteristics are restored, so far as it is practicable to do so, to what they were when it was last used for agriculture.

(7)In any other case where the use specified is a use for agriculture the land is brought to the required standard when it is reasonably fit for that use.

(8)An order under this section shall not take effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State, either without modification or subject to such modifications as he considers expedient.

(9)Where a planning authority submit an order under this section to the Secretary of State for his confirmation under this section, that authority shall serve notice of the order on any person who is an owner or occupier of any of the land to which the order relates, and on any other person who in their opinion will be affected by the order; and if within the period specified in that behalf in the notice (not being less than twenty-eight days from the service thereof) any person on whom the notice is served so requires, the Secretary of State, before confirming the order, shall afford to that person and to the planning authority an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for that purpose.

(10)Where an order under this section has been confirmed by the Secretary of State, the planning authority shall serve a copy of the order on every person who was entitled to be served with notice under subsection (9) of this section.

(11)On an order under this section taking effect any planning permission for the development to which the order relates shall cease to have effect but without prejudice to the power of the planning authority, on revoking the order, to make a further grant of planning permission for development consisting of the winning and working of minerals [F3or involving the depositing of mineral waste].]