(1)An order made under section 257 or 258 shall not take effect unless confirmed by the [F1appropriate national authority] or unless confirmed, as an unopposed order, by the authority who made it.

[F2(1A)An order under section 257(1A) may not be confirmed unless the [F3appropriate national authority] or (as the case may be) the authority is satisfied—

(a)that planning permission in respect of the development has been 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.]

(2)The [F4appropriate national authority] shall not confirm [F5any order under section 257(1) or 258] unless satisfied as to every matter as to which the authority making the order are required under section 257 or, as the case may be, section 258 to be satisfied.

(3)The time specified—

(a)in an order under section 257 as the time from which a footpath [F6, bridleway or restricted byway] is to be stopped up or diverted; or

(b)in an order under section 258 as the time from which a right of way is to be extinguished,

shall not be earlier than confirmation of the order.

(4)Schedule 14 shall have effect with respect to the confirmation of orders under section 257 or 258 and the publicity for such orders after they are confirmed.

[F7(5)The appropriate national authority, for the purposes of this section, is⁠—

(a)in relation to England, the Secretary of State;

(b)in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers.]