25.— Section 37A (inserted by section 3 of the Act of 2006) of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3):

“(4) (a) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where an application for permission is being made in relation to a development specified in the Seventh Schedule that is located in a strategic development zone, the applicant may elect to make the application to the planning authority under section 34 and regulations made thereunder.

(b) Section 170 shall apply to an application made under paragraph (a).

(c) Section 37B shall not apply to an application made under paragraph (a).”.