(1)Two or more local planning authorities may agree to prepare a joint local development plan.
(2)This Part applies for the purposes of the preparation, revision, adoption, withdrawal and revocation of a joint local development plan as it applies for the purposes of the preparation, revision, adoption, withdrawal and revocation of a local development plan.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (2) anything which must be done by or in relation to a local planning authority in connection with a local development plan must be done by or in relation to each of the authorities mentioned in subsection (1) in connection with a joint local development plan.
(4)Subsections (5) to (7) apply if a local planning authority withdraw from an agreement mentioned in subsection (1).
(5)Any step taken in relation to the plan must be treated as a step taken by—
(a)an authority which was a party to the agreement for the purposes of any corresponding plan prepared by them;
(b)two or more other authorities who were parties to the agreement for the purposes of any corresponding joint local development plan.
(6)Any independent examination of a local development plan to which the agreement relates must be suspended.
(7)If before the end of the period prescribed for the purposes of this subsection an authority which was a party to the agreement requests the Assembly to do so it may direct that—
(a)the examination is resumed in relation to the corresponding plan;
(b)any step taken for the purposes of the suspended examination has effect for the purposes of the resumed examination.
(8)A joint local development plan is a local development plan prepared jointly by two or more local planning authorities.