CLAUSE 37.—(Power during war period to give under planning schemes consent to development with effect for a limited period.) (Hansard, 6 October 1944)

Mr. Morrison

I beg to move, in page 43, line 19, at end, insert: (3) Where, in exercise of any such power as aforesaid, the responsible authority have, at any time after the commencement of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, and before the commencement of this Act, purported to grant permission for any development so as to remain in force for a specified period, the provisions of the last preceding subsection shall apply as if the permission had been granted under this section. This Clause enables the responsible authorities under operative planning schemes to grant temporary permissions where a permanent condition would be contrary to the scheme, but where development is necessary by reason of war circumstances. There are some areas in this country in which planning schemes are in statutory operation and the exigencies of war have necessitated the erection of buildings, for the conduct of the war, and other uses of the building which are contrary to the scheme itself. That, from the planning point of view, we must all deplore. The war has brought great ravages upon the beauty of the country as well as in other respects, but no price is too great for victory and we have had to acquiesce reluctantly in local authorities being forced to depart from the strict provisions of the scheme for war purposes. The Urban District Councils Association represented to us that we ought also to validate temporary conditions which responsible authorities have purported to give, and that is the purpose of the Amendment. If an authority has acted in good faith, even contrary to its own statutory scheme, and has done that for reasons of war purposes, this provision ought to be put in, putting the matter on a strict legal basis.