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Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database

New Towns (Scotland) Act 1968 (c. 16)

This version of this statute is extracted from the UK Statute Law Database (SLD). It is not necessarily in the form in which it was originally enacted but is a revised version, which means that any subsequent amendments to the text and other effects are incorporated with annotations.

There are effects on this legislation that have not yet been applied to SLD for the following years: 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008. See the Tables of Legislative effects and the Update status of legislation page on the SLD website.

Royal arms

New Towns (Scotland) Act 1968

1968 CHAPTER 16

Contents

Go to Preamble

  1. New towns and their development corporations

    1. 1. Designation of site of new town

    2. 1A. Reduction of designated areas

    3. 2. Establishment of development corporation for new town

    4. 3. Objects and general powers of development corporation

    5. 4. Restrictions on powers of development corporation

    6. 5. Allocation or transfer of new town functions to existing or new development corporation

  2. Planning control in new towns

    1. 6. Planning control in new town

  3. Acquisition of land by development corporations and highway authorities

    1. 7. Acquisition of land by development corporation

    2. 8. Acquisition of land for highways in connection with new towns

    3. 9. Recording of compulsory purchase orders

    4. 10. Special procedure for acquisition of statutory undertakers’ operational land

    5. 11.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    6. 12. Application of Lands Clauses Acts etc. and modification of Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1963, for purposes of this Act

    7. 13. Measure of compensation for acquisition of statutory undertakers’ operational land

    8. 14. Extinguishment of rights over land compulsorily acquired

  4. Expedited completion of compulsory acquisition

    1. 15—17... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  5. Disposal of land by development corporations

    1. 18. Disposal of land by development corporation

    2. 18AA. Power of development corporation to dispose of housing land

    3. 18A. Secretary of State’s general power

    4. 18B. Disposal of land to comply with direction under s. 18A

    5. 18C. Payments under s. 18A treated as repayments

  6. Powers exercisable in relation to land acquired by development corporations or highway authorities

    1. 19. Power to override servitudes and other rights

    2. 20. Use and development of churches and burial grounds

    3. 21. Use and development of open spaces

    4. 22. Displacement of persons from land acquired

    5. 23. Extinguishment of public rights of way over land acquired

    6. 24. Provisions as to telegraphic lines

    7. 25.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  7. Statutory undertakers

    1. 26. Extinguishment of rights of way, and rights as to apparatus, of statutory undertakers

    2. 27. Orders under s. 26

    3. 28. Extension or modification of functions of statutory undertakers

    4. 29. Procedure in relation to orders under s. 28

    5. 30. Relief of statutory undertakers from obligations rendered impracticable

    6. 31. Objections to orders under ss. 28 and 30

  8. Provision of trolley vehicle services by development corporations

    1. 32. Power to authorise provision of trolley vehicle services by development corporation

  9. Public services

    1. 33.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. 34. Power to authorise provision of services by development corporation

  10. Transfer of property and undertakings of development corporations, and their dissolution

    1. 35. Power of development corporation to transfer their undertakings

    2. 36. Winding up of development corporation

    3. 36A. Application of sections 35 etc. to operators of telecommunication systems

    4. 36B. Additional power to dispose of property etc

    5. 36C. Direction and order making powers of Secretary of State

    6. 36D. Transfer orders

    7. 36E. Reduction of liability of development corporation

    8. 36F. Grants by Secretary of State

    9. 36G. Dissolution of development corporation

    10. 36H. Financial consequences of winding up

  11. Financial and related provisions

    1. 37. Advances and grants by Secretary of State to development corporation

    2. 37AA. Grants by Secretary of State to development corporation

    3. 37A. Other borrowing powers of development corporations

    4. 38. Provisions supplementary to s. 37

    5. 38A. Treasury guarantees

  12. Financial reconstruction

    1. 38AB. Power to extinguish loan obligations of development corporation

    2. 38B. Disposal of surplus funds of development corporations

    3. 39. Accounts, audit, annual reports etc

    4. 40. General provision as to expenses

  13. Miscellaneous and supplementary

    1. 41. Application of certain enactments

    2. 42. Rights of entry

    3. 43. Local inquiries

    4. 44. Inquiries under Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936

    5. 45. Service of notices

    6. 46. Regulations and orders

    7. 47. Interpretation

    8. 48. Saving and transitional provisions, consequential amendments and repeals

    9. 49. Short title, commencement and extent

  14. SCHEDULE 1

    Procedure for designating site of new town

  15. SCHEDULE 1A

    Effect of order for reduction of designated area

  16. SCHEDULE 2

    Constitution and proceedings of development corporations

  17. SCHEDULE 3

    Procedure for authorising compulsory acquisitions

  18. SCHEDULE 4

    Procedure for authorising compulsory acquisition of statutory undertakers’ operational land

  19. SCHEDULE 5

    Assessment of compensation to statutory undertakers

  20. SCHEDULE 6

    Modifications of enactments for purposes of this act

  21. SCHEDULE 7

  22. SCHEDULE 8

    Procedure for dealing with objections to orders under ss 23, 28 and 30

  23. SCHEDULE 9

    Saving and transitional provisions

  24. SCHEDULE 10

    Consequential Amendments of Enactments

  25. SCHEDULE 11

    Repeals

An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to new towns and to matters connected therewith, being those enactments in their application to Scotland; with corrections and improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949.

[28th March 1968]

Annotations:

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Act amended with the substitution of references to Lands Tribunal for Scotland or member of that Tribunal for references to arbiter or official arbiter and of references to Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1963 (c. 51, SIF 28:2), ss. 8, 9 or 11 for references to ss. 2, 3 or 5 of that Act by s. 47(5) of this Act

C2Act excluded by New Towns Act 1981 (c. 64, SIF 123:3), s. 64(2)

C3Act extended by Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48, SIF 96), s. 76, Sch. 4 para. 93(1)(4); Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16, SIF 9), s. 2, Sch. 2 paras. 4, 5; Airports Act 1986 (c. 31, SIF 9), s. 58, Sch. 2 para. 1(1) and Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1)(3), Sch. 7 para. 2(1)(xxi), Sch. 8 para. 33

Act extended (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)(xvi); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2

C4Act modified by Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16, SIF 9), s. 2, Sch. 2 para. 5 and Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1)(3), Sch. 7 para. 2(9)(d) Sch. 8 para. 33

Act modified (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(10)(c); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2

Act modified (1.4.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 37, Sch. 5 para. 1(2)(l) (with s. 106); S.I. 2001/869, art.2

C5Act modified by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1), Sch. 16 para. 3(2)(d) (with s. 112(3), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1))

C6Act amended by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1), Sch. 16 para. 2(2)(9)(b) (with s. 112(3), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1))

C7Act applied (27.5.1997) by 1997 c. 8, ss. 116(3)(a), 278(2)

New towns and their development corporations

1 Designation of site of new town

(1)If the Secretary of State is satisfied, after consultation with any local authorities who appear to him to be concerned, that it is expedient in the national interest that any area of land should be developed as a new town by a corporation established under this Act, he may make an order designating that area as the site of the proposed new town.

(2)An order under this section may include in the area designated as the site of the proposed new town any existing town or other centre of population; and references in this Act to a new town or proposed new town shall be construed accordingly.

(3)The provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the procedure to be followed in connection with the making of orders under this section and with respect to the validity and date of operation of such orders.

(4)As soon as may be after an order under this section becomes operative, the Secretary of State shall record it in the Register of Sasines.

(5)Section 10(4) of this Act applies where it is proposed to make an order under this section.

(6)Section 46(5) of this Act applies to any order under this section which designates an area as the site of a proposed new town, and to certain orders for extending the area of a new town.

Annotations:

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 1. modified by Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 56, SIF 28:2), s. 47(1)

[F11A Reduction of designated areas

(1)The Secretary of State may make an order excluding any land specified in the order from the area of a new town if, after consulting—

(a)the development corporation for the town, and

(b)[F2the local authority]in whose area the land is situated,

he is satisfied that it is expedient to make the order.

(2)Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, on the coming into force of an order under subsection (1) above—

(a)the land specified in the order shall cease to be contained in the area of the new town; and

(b)the order made under section 1 above designating the land shall cease to operate as regards that land.

(3)The Secretary of State may in an order under this section make such provision by way of savings and transitional provisions (including provisions amending provisions made by or under an enactment) as he thinks fit, and subsection (2) above applies subject to any such savings and transitional provisions.

(4)Schedule 1A to this Act applies with respect to the effect of an order under this section.

(5)As soon as may be after an order under this section becomes operative, the Secretary of State shall record it in the Register of Sasines or the Land Register of Scotland, as the case may be.

(6)The power to make an order under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1S. 1A inserted by new Towns and Urban Development corporation Act 1985 (c. 5, SIF 123:3, 4), s. 10(1)

F2Words in s. 1A(1)(b) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 73(2); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

2 Establishment of development corporation for new town

(1)For the purposes of the development of each new town the site of which is designated under section 1 of this Act, the Secretary of State shall by order establish a corporation (in this Act called a development corporation) consisting of a chairman, a deputy chairman and such number of other members, not exceeding seven, as may be prescribed by the order; and every such corporation shall be a body corporate by such name as may be prescribed by the order, with perpetual succession and a common seal.

(2)The provisions of Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the constitution and proceedings of any development corporation established under this Act.

(3)Nothing in this Act shall be construed as exempting a development corporation from liability for any tax, duty, rate, levy or other charge whatsoever, whether general or local.

3 Objects and general powers of development corporation

(1)The objects of a development corporation established for the purposes of a new town shall be to secure the laying out and development of the new town in accordance with proposals approved in that behalf under the following provisions of this Act.

(2)Subject to section 4 of this Act, every such corporation shall, for the purpose of securing the laying out and development of the new town as aforesaid, have power—

(a)to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of land and other property;

(b)to carry out building and other operations;

(c)to provide water, electricity, gas, sewerage and other services;

(d)to carry on any business or undertaking in or for the purposes of the new town,

and generally to do anything necessary or expedient for the purposes of the new town or for purposes incidental thereto.

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred on development corporations by this Act, a development corporation—

(a)may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, contribute such sums as the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Treasury, may determine towards expenditure incurred or to be incurred by any local authority or statutory undertakers in the performance, in relation to the new town, of any of their statutory functions, including expenditure so incurred in the acquisition of land; and

(b)may, with the like consent, contribute such sums as the Secretary of State, with the like concurrence, may determine by way of assistance towards the provision of amenities for the new town.

(4)For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that subsection (2) above relates only to the capacity of a development corporation as a statutory corporation; and nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising the disregard by a development corporation of any enactment or rule of law.

(5)For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby also declared—

(a)that the power of acquiring land conferred by subsection (2) above on a development corporation established for the purposes of a new town includes power to acquire any land within the area of the new town, whether or not it is proposed to develop that particular land; and

(b)that the power of disposing of land conferred by that subsection on such a development corporation includes, in relation to any land within the area of the new town, power to dispose of that land whether or not the development of that particular land has been proposed or approved under section 6(1) of this Act.

4 Restrictions on powers of development corporation

(1)A development corporation shall not have power to borrow money except [F1in accordance with sections 37 and 37A of] this Act.

(2)Without prejudice to any provision of this Act requiring the consent of the Secretary of State to be obtained for anything to be done by a development corporation, the Secretary of State may give directions to any such corporation for restricting the exercise by them of any of their powers under this Act or for requiring them to exercise those powers in any manner specified in the directions.

(3)Before giving any directions to a development corporation under subsection (2) above the Secretary of State shall consult with the chairman of the corporation, or, if the chairman is not available, with the deputy chairman, unless he is satisfied that , on account of urgency, such consultation is impracticable.

(4)A transaction between a person and a development corporation acting in purported exercise of their powers under this Act shall not be void by reason only that it was carried out in contravention of a direction given by the Secretary of State under subsection (2) above unless that person had actual notice of that direction.

(5)Without prejudice to section 3(4) of this Act, nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorising a development corporation to carry on any undertaking for the supply of water, electricity or gas, or any railway, light railway, tramway or trolley vehicle undertaking except under the authority of an enactment not contained in this Act specifically authorising them to do so or, in the case of a trolley vehicle undertaking, under the authority of such an enactment or of an order under section 32 of this Act.

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1Words substituted by Statutory Corporations (Financial Provisions) Act 1974 (c. 8, SIF 99:6), Sch. 3 para. 5

5 Allocation or transfer of new town functions to existing or new development corporation

(1)If it appears to the Secretary of State, in the case of the area of any new town, that there are exceptional circumstances which render it expedient that the functions of a development corporation under this Act should be performed by the development corporation established for the purposes of any other new town instead of by a separate corporation established for the purpose, he may instead of establishing such a separate corporation, by order direct that the said functions shall be performed by the development corporation established for the said other new town.

(2)If it appears to the Secretary of State that there are exceptional circumstances which render it expedient that the functions of a development corporation established for the purposes of a new town should be transferred to the development corporation established for the purposes of any other new town, or to a new development corporation to be established for the purposes of the first-mentioned new town, he may by order provide for the dissolution of the first-mentioned corporation and for the transfer of its functions, property, rights and liabilities to the development corporation established for the purposes of the said other new town, or, as the case may be, to a new corporation established for the purposes of the first-mentioned new town by the order.

(3)Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act with respect to the variation of orders made thereunder, an order under this section providing for the exercise of functions in relation to a new town by the development corporation established for the purposes of another new town, or for the transfer of such functions to such a corporation, may modify the name and constitution of that corporation in such manner as appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient, and for the purposes of this Act that corporation shall be treated as having been established for the purposes of each of those new towns.

(4)Before making an order under this section providing for the transfer of functions from or to a development corporation or for the exercise of any functions by such a corporation, the Secretary of State shall consult with that corporation.

Planning control in new towns

6 Planning control in new town

(1)The development corporation established for the purposes of a new town shall from time to time submit to the Secretary of State, in accordance with any directions given by him in that behalf, their proposals for the development of land within the area of the new town, and the Secretary of State, after consultation with the . . . [F2F1district planning] authority within whose district the land is situated, and with any other local authority who appear to him to be concerned, may approve any such proposals either with or without modification.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by section 11 of the M1Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1947, a special development order made by the Secretary of State under that section with respect to the area of a new town may grant permission for any development of land in accordance with proposals approved under subsection (1) above, subject to such conditions, if any (including conditions requiring details of any proposed development to be submitted to the local planning authority), as may be specified in the order.

(3)It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to give to a development corporation established under this Act such directions with respect to the disposal of land acquired by them thereunder and with respect to the development by them of such land, as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for securing, so far as practicable, the preservation of any features of special architectural or historic interest, and in particular of buildings included in any list compiled or approved under section 28 of the M2Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1947 (which relates to the compilation or approval by the Secretary of State of lists of buildings of special architectural or historical interest).

(4)In the case of land which forms a frontage to a road, or abuts on or is adjacent to a road, a [F3roads authority] may enter into an agreement with any owner of the land imposing on the land, so far as that owner’s interest in the land enables him to bind it, restrictions for controlling the development of the land.

(5)Any agreement under subsection (4) above may, within three months after the date on which it was entered into [F4be registered in the Land Register of Scotland or, as the case may], be recorded in the Register of Sasines, and on being so [F5registered or] recorded shall be enforceable by the [F6roads authority] against the said owner and against any person deriving title from him.

(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1Words substituted by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65, SIF 81:2), s. 184, Sch. 23 para. 7

F2Word repealed by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65, SIF 81:2), s. 172(2)

F3Words substituted by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 156(1), Sch. 9 para. 61(2)(a)

F4Words inserted by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 156(1), Sch. 9 para. 61(2)(b)(i)

F5Words inserted by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 156(1), Sch. 9 para. 61(2)(b)(ii)

F6Words substituted by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 156(1), Sch. 9 para. 61(2)(b)(iii)

F7S. 6(6) repealed by Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (c. 26, SIF 61), s. 339, Sch. 23 para. 13(1), Sch. 24

Marginal Citations

M11947 c. 53(123:2).

M21947 c. 53(123:2).

Acquisition of land by development corporations and highway authorities

7 Acquisition of land by development corporation

(1)The development corporation established for the purposes of a new town may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, acquire by agreement, or may, by means of an order made by the corporation and submitted to and confirmed by the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of Part I of Schedule 3 to this Act, be authorised to acquire compulsorily—

(a)any land within the area of the new town, whether or not it is proposed to develop that particular land;

(b)any land adjacent to that area which they require for purposes connected with the development of the new town;

(c)any land, whether adjacent to that area or not, which they require for the provision of services for the purposes of the new town.

(2)A compulsory purchase order under this section shall, in so far as it relates to land—

(a)which is the property of a local authority, or which is held inalienably by the National Trust, or

(b)which forms part of a common or open space,

be subject to the special provisions of Part IV of the said Schedule 3.

(3)Where a development corporation have been authorised under subsection (1) above to acquire compulsorily land forming part of a common or open space, they may be authorised under that subsection to acquire compulsorily, or may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, acquire by agreement, land for giving in exchange for the land acquired.

(4)The provisions of Part V of the said Schedule 3 shall have effect with respect to the validity and date of operation of compulsory purchase orders under this section.

(5)In relation to operational land of statutory undertakers the foregoing provisions of this section shall have effect subject to section 10 of this Act.

Annotations:

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 7 extended by Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 (c. 34, SIF 2:1), s. 14(2)

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