112Adoption and withdrawal of development plan documents
(1)The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 is amended as follows.
(2)For section 20(7) (independent examiner must make recommendations with reasons) substitute—
“(7)Where the person appointed to carry out the examination—
(a)has carried it out, and
(b)considers that, in all the circumstances, it would be reasonable to conclude—
(i)that the document satisfies the requirements mentioned in subsection (5)(a) and is sound, and
(ii)that the local planning authority complied with any duty imposed on the authority by section 33A in relation to the document’s preparation,
the person must recommend that the document is adopted and give reasons for the recommendation.
(7A)Where the person appointed to carry out the examination—
(a)has carried it out, and
(b)is not required by subsection (7) to recommend that the document is adopted,
the person must recommend non-adoption of the document and give reasons for the recommendation.
(7B)Subsection (7C) applies where the person appointed to carry out the examination—
(a)does not consider that, in all the circumstances, it would be reasonable to conclude that the document satisfies the requirements mentioned in subsection (5)(a) and is sound, but
(b)does consider that, in all the circumstances, it would be reasonable to conclude that the local planning authority complied with any duty imposed on the authority by section 33A in relation to the document’s preparation.
(7C)If asked to do so by the local planning authority, the person appointed to carry out the examination must recommend modifications of the document that would make it one that—
(a)satisfies the requirements mentioned in subsection (5)(a), and
(b)is sound.”
(3)For section 23(2) and (3) (adoption of development plan documents, whether as prepared or with modifications, must be in accordance with independent examiner’s recommendations) substitute—
“(2)If the person appointed to carry out the independent examination of a development plan document recommends that it is adopted, the authority may adopt the document—
(a)as it is, or
(b)with modifications that (taken together) do not materially affect the policies set out in it.
(2A)Subsection (3) applies if the person appointed to carry out the independent examination of a development plan document—
(a)recommends non-adoption, and
(b)under section 20(7C) recommends modifications (“the main modifications”).
(3)The authority may adopt the document—
(a)with the main modifications, or
(b)with the main modifications and additional modifications if the additional modifications (taken together) do not materially affect the policies that would be set out in the document if it was adopted with the main modifications but no other modifications.”
(4)Omit section 22(2) (development plan document not to be withdrawn once submitted for independent examination unless examiner or Secretary of State directs that it be withdrawn).
(5)In section 21 (intervention by Secretary of State) after subsection (9) insert—
“(9A)The Secretary of State may at any time—
(a)after a development plan document has been submitted for independent examination under section 20, but
(b)before it is adopted under section 23,
direct the local planning authority to withdraw the document.”
(6)The amendments made by subsections (2) and (3) apply in relation to all adoptions of development plan documents that take place after the coming into force of those subsections, including an adoption where steps in relation to the document have taken place before then.