Section 22 Reference of planning applications to Minister
The Minister may give directions requiring applications for planning permission to be referred to him instead of being dealt with by local planning authorities.
A direction under this section—
may be given either to a particular local planning authority or to local planning authorities generally, and
may relate either to a particular application or to applications of a class specified in the direction.
Any application in respect of which a direction under this section has effect shall be referred to the Minister accordingly.
Subject to the next following subsection, where an application for planning permission is referred to the Minister under this section, the following provisions of this Act, that is to say, subsection (1) of section fifteen, section sixteen, subsections (1) to (3) of section seventeen and subsection (1) of section eighteen, shall apply, with any necessary modifications, as they apply to an application for planning permission which falls to be determined by the local planning authority.
Before determining an application referred to him under this section the Minister shall, if either the applicant or the local planning authority so desire, afford to each of them an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Minister for the purpose.
The decision of the Minister on any application referred to him under this section shall be final.