204.—(1) A planning authority may, by order, for the purposes of the preservation of the landscape, designate any area or place within the functional area of the authority as a landscape conservation area.

(2) (a) Notwithstanding any exemption granted under section 4 or under any regulations made under that section, the Minister may prescribe development for the purpose of this section, which shall not be exempted development.

(b) Development prescribed under paragraph (a) may be subject to any conditions or restrictions that the Minister may prescribe.

(3) An order made by a planning authority under this section may specify, in relation to all or any part of the landscape conservation area, that any development prescribed by the Minister under subsection (2) shall be considered not to be exempted development in that area.

(4) Where a planning authority proposes to make an order under this section, it shall cause notice of the proposed order to be published in one or more newspapers circulating in the area of the proposed landscape conservation area.

(5) A notice under subsection (4) shall state that—

(a) the planning authority proposes to make an order designating a landscape conservation area, indicating the place or places and times at which a map outlining the area may be inspected, and shall give details of the location of the area and any prescribed development which it proposes to specify in the order, and

(b) submissions or observations regarding the proposed order may be made to the planning authority within a stated period of not less than 6 weeks, and that the submissions or observations will be taken into consideration by the planning authority.

(6) The members of a planning authority, having considered the proposed order and any submissions or observations made in respect of it, may, as they consider appropriate, by resolution, make the order, with or without modifications, or refuse to make the order.

(7) Where a planning authority wishes to amend or revoke an order made under this section, the planning authority shall give notice of its intention to amend or revoke the order, as the case may be.

(8) A notice under subsection (7) (which shall include particulars of the proposed amendment or revocation of the order) shall be published in one or more newspapers circulating in the landscape conservation area.

(9) A notice under subsection (7) shall state that—

(a) the planning authority proposes to amend or revoke the order, and

(b) submissions or observations regarding the proposed amendment or revocation of the order may be made to the planning authority within a stated period of not less than 6 weeks, and that the submissions or observations will be taken into consideration by the planning authority.

(10) The planning authority, having considered the proposed amendment or revocation of the order and any submissions or observations made in respect of it, may by resolution, as it considers appropriate, revoke the order or amend the order, with or without modifications, or refuse to make the order, as the case may be.

(11) Before making an order under this section, the planning authority shall consult with any State authority where it considers that any order relates to the functions of that State authority.

(12) (a) A planning authority shall give notice of any order made under this section in at least one newspaper circulating in its functional area, and the notice shall give details of any prescribed development which is specified in the order.

(b) Notice under this subsection shall also be given to the Board and to any other prescribed body which in the opinion of the planning authority has an interest in such notice.

(13) Where 2 or more planning authorities propose to jointly designate any area or place, which is situated within the combined functional area of the planning authorities concerned, as a landscape conservation area, the functions conferred on a planning authority under this section shall be performed jointly by the planning authorities concerned, and any reference to “planning authority” shall be construed accordingly.

(14) Particulars of an order under this section shall be entered in the register.