Section 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 must be referred to the Minister for determination instead of the competent authority, and every such application must then be so referred to the Minister.

The decision of the Minister on such an application must be communicated to the competent authority, who must 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, in determining any such application, has all the functions of the competent authority under this Act, and references to the competent authority are to be accordingly construed as references to the Minister.

Any decision by the Minister under this section is final, and is not subject to appeal under section 22 or to be challenged or questioned in any court; but any decision by the competent authority to impose conditions other than as directed by the Minister is 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 the competent authority, the competent authority may be directed by the Minister to provide to the Minister particulars relating to the development or works and the Minister may give such further directions as the Minister considers fit in relation thereto.

Despite section 12, the Minister may authorise, by notification in the Gazette, either generally or in relation to any specified area —