Part 6: Planning in England Planning in Greater London Section 149: Planning powers of the Mayor of London
The Mayor of London has existing powers under the 1990 Act to ‘call in’ for his own decision certain planning applications of potential strategic importance for Greater London or to direct a local planning authority to refuse planning permission. The Secretary of State prescribes in secondary legislation which applications are subject to these powers (see the Mayor of London Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/580), as amended by the Mayor of London (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/550)).
	Section 149 amends sections 2A and 74(1B) of the 1990 Act to enable the Secretary of State to prescribe these applications by reference to the Mayor’s spatial development strategy under Part 8 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 or London borough development plan documents adopted or approved under Part 2 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
	Section 149 also enables the Secretary of State, by development order, to enable the Mayor to direct a London borough to consult the Mayor before granting planning permission for development described in the direction. Similar directions are currently given by the Secretary of State under existing powers and are used, in conjunction with the Mayor’s power to direct refusal of planning applications in prescribed circumstances, to restrict development that might have an impact on wharves on the River Thames or key London ‘sightlines’.