(1)The following provisions of the M1Highways Act 1980 apply for the purposes of this Part as if it were a part of that Act—

• section 302 (inquiries),

• section 303 (penalty for obstructing execution of Act),

• section 312 (restriction on institution of proceedings for offence),

• section 319 (judges and justices not to be disqualified by liability to rates),

• sections 320 to 322 (provisions as to notices), and

• section 323 (reckoning of periods).

(2)Nothing in this Part shall be construed as restricting the powers of a highway authority with respect to a road subject to a concession—

(a)as to the matters which may be provided for in the concession agreement or as to the making of agreements of any other description for any purpose connected with the special road; or

(b)as to the acquisition, by agreement or compulsorily, of any land which in the opinion of the authority is required, in connection with the road, for any purpose for which the authority may acquire land under Part XII of the Highways Act 1980.

(3)Nothing in a concession agreement shall be construed as affecting the status of the road subject to the concession as a highway maintainable at the public expense.

[F1(1A)In this Part, “strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.]

(2)Where a concession agreement is entered into jointly by two or more local highway authorities, references in this Part to the highway authority shall be construed—

(a)as references to each of those authorities in relation to times, circumstances and purposes before the special road scheme becomes operative, and

(b)in relation to times, circumstances and purposes after the special road scheme becomes operative, as references to the authority which in accordance with the scheme is the special road authority.

(3)The expressions listed below are defined or otherwise fall to be construed for the purposes of this Part in accordance with the provisions indicated—