Part 13: General Schedule 7: Plan making Section 15I: Joint local plans by agreement or direction Effect
Subsections (1) and (2) enable two or more local planning authorities to prepare a joint local plan together for their combined areas, either voluntarily (by agreement), or when directed by the Secretary of State to do so (a "joint local plan direction") under subsection (3).
	Subsection (4) sets out that the Secretary of State may direct the preparation of a joint local plan, even in the case where a local planning authority’s local plan timetable specifies otherwise.
	Subsection (5) provides that the Secretary of State may only give a joint local plan direction if the Secretary of State considers that it will result in the more effective planning of development and use of land in the area of at least one of the local planning authorities to whom the direction is to be given.
	Subsection (6) says that the direction may specify the timetable for the preparation of a joint local plan.
	Subsection (7) provides that where a joint local plan direction is given, the Secretary of State must notify the authorities to which it applies of the reasons for doing so.
	Subsection (8) enables the Secretary of State to direct the relevant authorities to amend their local plan timetable to reflect the joint local plan direction.
	Subsection (9) enables the Secretary of State to modify or withdraw a joint local plan direction by notifying the relevant local planning authorities in writing. Where the Secretary of State modifies or withdraws a joint local plan direction, they must provide the relevant local planning authorities with reasons for doing so under subsection (10).