Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which apply in relation to England only, make provision for the local oversight of new town development corporations. The Regulations apply where the Secretary of State, pursuant to section 1A(2) of the New Towns Act 1981 (“the Act”), makes an order under section 1 of the Act appointing one or more local authorities to oversee (“an oversight authority”) the development of the area as a new town (“locally-led new town”).
Regulations 3 and 4 specify the functions of the Secretary of State under the Act which are to be exercised by the oversight authority instead of the Secretary of State.
Those include:
where the oversight authority is the local planning authority for the area, approval of new town development corporations’ plans for development of the new town;
the appointment of the Board members of the new town development corporation;
approval of land acquisitions or disposals by the new town development corporation; and,
consenting to the development corporation’s borrowing.
Regulation 5 specifies the functions of the Secretary of State which can only be exercised by him with the consent of the oversight authority.
Those include: making an Order to reduce the size of the area designated for the new town; and, making an Order for the dissolution of the new town development corporation.
Regulation 6 provides that where the Secretary of State has designated an area as a locally-led new town the Act applies with the modifications set out in Schedule 1.
Regulation 7 and Schedule 2 make provision for consequential amendments in relation to locally-led new towns.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.