Part IV Public Rights of Way
Long-Distance Routes
55AF1Proposals relating to the English coastal route
1
Pursuant to the coastal access duty, Natural England may prepare and submit a report under section 51 containing proposals for a route (whether or not the requirements of section 51(1) are satisfied).
2
For the purposes of subsection (1) it is immaterial whether the route or any part of it is already a route in approved proposals relating to a long-distance route.
3
In subsections (4) and (5) “preliminary activity” means activity which Natural England considers would facilitate the preparation by it of a report under section 51 pursuant to the coastal access duty.
4
Where Natural England considers it necessary or expedient for preliminary activity to be carried out as respects any land, it must—
a
consider whether it would be appropriate for the access authority in relation to that land to carry out any of the preliminary activity, and
b
if it concludes that it would be so appropriate, take all reasonable steps to enter into an agreement with the access authority for that purpose.
5
An access authority may, as respects any land in its area, enter into an agreement with Natural England under which the access authority undertakes to carry out preliminary activity.
6
In this section “the coastal access duty” means the duty imposed on Natural England and the Secretary of State by section 296(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.