Regulation 2
1.—(1) Where the appointed person has determined that a hearing session should be held the appointed person is to give written notice to that effect to–
(a)the appellant;
(b)the planning authority;
(c)any interested party who made representations in relation to specified matters; and
(d)any body or person who the appointed person wishes to make further representations or to provide further information on specified matters at the hearing session.
(2) The notice given under paragraph (1) is to set out the matters to be considered at the hearing session.
(3) Only specified matters are to be considered at the hearing session.
(4) A person or body given notice under paragraph (1) and who intends to appear at the hearing session must within 14 days of the date of such notice inform the appointed person in writing of that intention.
2. The persons entitled to appear at a hearing session are–
(a)the appellant;
(b)the planning authority; and
(c)any other person or body who, in response to a procedure notice, has informed the appointed person of their intention to appear at the hearing session in accordance with rule 1(4).
3.—(1) The date, time and place at which the hearing session is to be held is to be determined (and may subsequently be varied) by the appointed person.
(2) The appointed person is to give to those persons entitled to appear at the hearing session such notice of the date, time and place fixed for the holding of a hearing session (and any subsequent variation thereof) as may appear to the appointed person to be reasonable in the circumstances.
4.—(1) Where required to do so by notice given by the appointed person, a person entitled to appear at the hearing session must, by such date as is specified in the notice, send to–
(a)the appointed person–
(i)a hearing statement; and
(ii)where that person intends to refer to or rely on any documents when presenting their case a copy of every document (or the relevant part of a document) on the list of such documents comprised in that hearing statement; and
(b)the appellant and the planning authority and to such other persons entitled to appear at the hearing session as the appointed person may specify in such notice–
(i)a hearing statement; and
(ii)where that person intends to refer to or rely on any documents when presenting their case a copy of every document (or the relevant part of a document) on the list comprised in that hearing statement which is not already available for inspection under regulation 6 or 19(2) or paragraph (2) of this rule.
(2) The planning authority are, until such time as the appeal is determined, to afford to any person who so requests a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, where practicable, take copies of any hearing statement or other document (or any part thereof) which, or a copy of which, has been sent to them in accordance with this rule.
(3) Any person who has served a hearing statement in accordance with this rule must–
(a)when required by notice in writing from the appointed person provide such further information about the matters contained in the statement as the appointed person may specify; and
(b)at the same time send a copy of such further information to any other person on whom the hearing statement has been served.
(4) Different dates and different persons may be specified for the purposes of paragraph (1).
(5) In this rule, “hearing statement” means, and is comprised of a written statement which outlines the case relating to the specified matters which a person proposes to put forward to a hearing session and–
(a)a list of documents (if any) which the person putting forward such case intends to refer to or rely on; and
(b)a list of any other persons who are to speak at the hearing session in respect of such case, any matters which such persons are particularly to address and any relevant qualifications of such persons to do so.
5.—(1) Except as otherwise provided in these Hearing Session Rules, the appointed person is to determine the procedure at a hearing session.
(2) The appointed person is, having considered any submission by the persons entitled to appear at the hearing session, to state at the commencement of the hearing session the procedure the appointed person proposes to adopt.
(3) Any person entitled to appear may do so on that person’s own behalf or be represented by another person.
(4) Where there are two or more persons having a similar interest in the issues being considered at the hearing session, the appointed person may allow one or more persons to appear on behalf of some or all of any persons so interested.
(5) A hearing is to take the form of a discussion led by the appointed person and cross examination shall not be permitted.
(6) The appointed person may proceed with a hearing session in the absence of any person entitled to appear at the hearing session.
(7) The appointed person may from time to time adjourn the hearing session and, if the date, time and place of the adjourned hearing session are announced before the adjournment, no further notice is required otherwise rule 3 shall apply as it applies to the variation of the date, time or place at which a hearing session is to be held.