Summary and Background The coastal access duty Section 298: The coastal access scheme
744.This section requires Natural England to draw up a scheme setting out the approach it will take when discharging its coastal access duty, and makes provision regarding this scheme, including provision for its approval by the Secretary of State. Subsection (5) requires Natural England to set out in the scheme (and any revised scheme) the approach it will take when deciding whether it would be appropriate for an access authority to carry out any preliminary activity, which is defined in section 302. Subsection (6) requires the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament a copy of the scheme or a revised scheme. The section also makes provision for Natural England to revise the scheme, with the approval of the Secretary of State, and to publish the scheme or a revised scheme as soon as is reasonably practicable and in such manner as it considers appropriate. Subsection (9) provides that Natural England must act in accordance with an approved scheme in discharging its coastal access duty. Subsection (10) provides that Natural England cannot prepare or submit proposals for a long-distance route pursuant to the coastal access duty until there is an approved scheme. Subsection (11) enables Natural England to survey land in preparation for preparing or submitting a report before there is an approved scheme, which means that Natural England may do some preparatory work in advance of the scheme being finalised and approved.