[F155AProposals relating to the English coastal routeE+W
(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.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 55A-55J inserted (12.11.2009 for specified purposes, 12.1.2010 in so far as not already in force) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), ss. 302(1), 324(1)(c), 324(1)(d), 324(2)(d) (with s. 308)