Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Town and Country Planning (British Coal Corporation) Regulations 1974 (formerly the Town and Country Planning (National Coal Board) Regulations 1974).

Under the Opencast Coal Act 1958 (c. 69) opencast working by the British Coal Corporation required Ministerial authorisation and the Minister had power to grant deemed planning permission for the working. Section 2(5) of that Act excluded compensation under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 in respect of various orders and decisions including orders revoking or modifying planning permission for opencast working, and the refusal of such planning permission or its grant subject to conditions.

The Housing and Planning Act 1986 (c. 63) brings opencast working within general planning procedures by abolishing the authorisation requirement and deemed permission. It also repeals section 2(5). These repeals are brought into force by the Housing and Planning Act 1986 (Commencement No. 9) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/1939) on 11th December 1987.

The repeal of section 2(5) would make the Corporation eligible for compensation on the same basis as statutory undertakers by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (British Coal Corporation) Regulations 1974 which apply section 237 of the 1971 Act to the Corporation.

These Regulations have the effect of amending the 1971 Act to prevent the British Coal Corporation from being eligible for compensation in respect of the refusal of planning permission for opencast working or its grant subject to conditions. They will be entitled to compensation for revocation or modification of planning permission. Where the Corporation are entitled to compensation, the amount of compensation is calculated on the same basis as the compensation for statutory undertakers.