ABSTRACT

The real practical distinction is that local planning authorities cannot avoid making decisions on a vast number of planning applications each year, many of which must inevitably be refused (or granted subject to burdensome conditions), but they can certainly avoid making more than a very few decisions to revoke planning permissions already granted (though the Secretary of State can do it for them and saddle them with the consequences). The initiative lies with them in revocation cases but most certainly not in cases of refusal. The former continue to involve a heavy burden of compensation; the latter none.