7.— Section 19 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting for subsection (1) the following:

“(1) The Authority may, in relation to national roads or proposed national roads, do all or any of the following:

(a) prepare, or arrange for the preparation of—

(i) designs for construction or improvement works,

(ii) programmes of maintenance works, or

(iii) schemes for the provision of traffic signs;

(b) secure the carrying out of construction or maintenance works, or the provision of traffic signs;

(c) secure the provision of facilities for the parking of vehicles;

(d) allocate moneys and make payments in relation to construction or maintenance works, or in relation to any other function assigned to it by or under this Act;

(e) specify standards in relation to construction or maintenance works;

(f) carry out, arrange to have carried out or assist the carrying out of, training, research or testing activities in relation to any of its functions;

(g) provide any amenity, structure or thing (including, without limitation, service areas, rest areas or lay-bys) for the safety and convenience of road users;

(h) undertake landscaping, planting or any similar activities in the interests of amenity and the environment; or

(i) provide artistic features.”,

(b) by substituting for subsection (6) the following:

“(6) Development consisting of the carrying out of any works by or at the direction of, or on behalf of, the Authority under this Act in relation to the construction or maintenance of a national or other public road or anything related or incidental to such is exempted development for the purposes of the Act of 2000.”,

and

(c) by inserting after subsection (10) the following:

“(11) The Landlord and Tenant Acts 1967 to 2005 do not apply to any lettings effected by the Authority or any road authority, in each case, in performing the functions conferred on it by this Act.”.