Part 8: Development Corporations Planning functions Section 174: Planning functions of urban development corporations Background
Development corporation models had access to varying planning powers. Section 149 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (the ‘1980 Act’) makes provision for the Secretary of State to transfer by order the power for Urban Development Corporations to become the local planning authority for the purposes of development management – the process of deciding planning applications.
	The provisions set out in section 174 which apply to England only, allow for Urban Development Corporations to have access to planning powers that are equivalent to those available to Mayoral Development Corporations. This includes the ability for Urban Development Corporations to become the local planning authority for the purposes of plan-making and neighbourhood planning in addition to development management purposes that can already be given to an Urban Development Corporation.