Clause 21

The Minister may give directions to the competent authority requiring that all or any applications under section 13 or any class of applications specified in the direction shall be referred to him for determination instead of the competent authority, and every such application shall then be so referred to the Minister.

The decision of the Minister on such an application shall be communicated to the competent authority, who shall grant or refuse written permission in accordance with the decision, and, if written permission is granted, impose such conditions as the Minister may direct and such other conditions as the competent authority thinks fit.

The Minister shall, in determining any such application, have all the functions of the competent authority under this Act, and references to the competent authority shall accordingly be construed as references to the Minister.

Any decision by the Minister under this section shall be final, and shall not be subject to appeal under section 22 or challenged or questioned in any court; but any decision by the competent authority to impose conditions other than as directed by the Minister shall be subject to appeal under section 22 as if the conditions had been imposed by the competent authority under section 14(4).

Where the competent authority intends to develop or to carry out works within a conservation area on any land belonging to him, he may be directed by the Minister to furnish to the Minister particulars relating to the development or works and the Minister may give such further directions as he considers fit in relation thereto.

The Minister may authorise, by notification in the Gazette, either generally or in relation to any specified area, any development of land or works within a conservation area subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notification.