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Lords amendment: No. 116, after clause 134, in page 112, line 26, at end insert—
P.—(1) The reference to the local planning authority in paragraph 17 of Schedule 16 to the Local Government Act 1972 (duty to include in a development order under section 24 of the 1971 Act provision enabling a local highway authority to impose restrictions on the grant by the local planning authority of planning permission for certain descriptions of development) shall not be construed as including a reference to an urban development corporation who are the local planning authority by virtue of an order under section 134 above, and no provision of a development order which is included in it by virtue of that paragraph is to be construed as applying to such a corporation.
(2) The Secretary of State may include in a development order under section 24 of the 1971 Act provision enabling a local highway authority to impose restrictions on the grant by an urban development corporation who are the local planning authority of planning permission under the 1971 Act for such descriptions of development as may be specified in the order.
§ Mr. FoxI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.
This amendment introduces a new clause which would enable the Secretary of State to limit the powers of restriction by the local highway authority over an urban development corporation acting as a local planning authority to those kinds of development that are specified in a development order.
§ Mr. SpearingDuring the consultative process, I understood that there was to be no exemption for the urban development corporation. If that is so, will the Minister tell us why the Government have changed their mind? They have every right to change their mind, but we should like to know why.
§ Mr. FoxThe hon. Gentleman is right. I should make plain that the Government accept that highway safeguards are important in urban development areas. However, the central position of the urban development corporation, and the process of renewal that it will carry forward, means that the local highway authority's power should be tailored more precisely to the circumstances of an urban development authority. We have thought about the matter carefully, and believe that this is the only way forward.
§ Question put and agreed to.