OpenLegislation

Section 171 Interpretation: general.

England, Wales and Scotland

Changes not yet applied. Later legislation changes this provision in ways not yet written into the text below:

F1(1)

In this Part of this Act, except in so far as the context otherwise requires—

  • “ecclesiastical property” means land belonging to an ecclesiastical benefice F2of the Church of England, or being or forming part of a church subject to the jurisdiction of a bishop, of any diocese of the Church of England or the site of such a church, or being or forming part of a burial ground subject to such jurisdiction;

  • F3“the 1981 Act” means the M1Acquisition of Land Act 1981

  • “the 1947 Act” means the M2Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947;

  • “the F41990 Act” means the Town and Country Planning Act 1990

  • “the F51997 Act” means the M3Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;

  • F6“heat networks” has the meaning given by section 216 of the Energy Act 2023;

  • F7“urban development area” means so much of an area designated by an order under subsection (1) of section 134 above as is not excluded from it by an order under subsection (3A) of that section;

  • “urban development corporation” means a corporation established by an order under section 135 above.

F8(2)

In this Part as it applies in relation to England, references to the regeneration of an area are to be read as references to the regeneration or development of the area.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

Words in s. 171 renumbered as s. 171(1) (18.2.2026) by Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34), ss. 100(6)(a), 118(4) (with s. 116); S.I. 2025/1370, reg. 4(1)(d)

F2

Words in s. 171 inserted (E.) (1.10.2006) by Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2006 (No. 1), s. 16(2), Sch. 5 para. 21(2); 2006 No. 2, Instrument made by Archbishops

F3

Words susbtituted by Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67, SIF 28:1), s. 34, Sch. 4 para. 30(9)

F4

Word substituted by Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c. 11, SIF 123:1, 2), s. 4, Sch. 2 para. 44(8)

F5

Words in s. 171 substituted (27.5.1997) by 1997 c. 11, ss. 4, 6(2), Sch. 2 para. 31(8)

F6

Words in s. 171 inserted (18.2.2026) by Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34), ss. 103(9), 118(4) (with s. 116); S.I. 2025/1370, reg. 4(1)(g)

F7

Definition in s. 171 substituted (11.10.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 179(5); S.I. 1993/2134, art. 4(a)

F8

S. 171(2) inserted (18.2.2026) by Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34), ss. 100(6)(b), 118(4) (with s. 116); S.I. 2025/1370, reg. 4(1)(d)

Marginal citations

M1

1981 c. 67 (28:1).

M2

1947 c. 42 (28:2).

M3

1972 c. 52 (123:2).

Notes on Part XVI

Modifications

C1

Pt. 16: power to amend conferred (26.12.2023) by Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 132, 255(3)(a) (with s. 247)

C2

Pt. 16 (ss. 134-172) extended (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)(xxviii); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2

Pt. 16 (ss. 134-172) applied (27.5.1997) by 1997 c. 8, ss. 116(3)(a), 278(2)

C3

Pt. 16 (ss. 134–172) extended (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190(1), Sch. 25 para. 1(2)(xxiv) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58)

C4

Pt. 16 (ss. 134–172) extended by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1), Sch. 16 para. 1(1)(xxxiv) (with s. 112(3), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35)

C5

Pt. 16 extended by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44), s. 67(1)(3), Sch. 7 para. 2(1)(xxxix), Sch. 8 para. 33

C6

Pt. 16 amended by S.I. 1988/900, art. 2

C7

Pt. 12 (ss. 102–111), Pt. 16 (ss. 134–172) extended by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1), Sch. 16 para. 1(1)(xxxiv) (with s. 112(3), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1))