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PART 2DETERMINING WHETHER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IS REQUIRED

Requests for screening directions of the Scottish Ministers

10.—(1) A developer who pursuant to regulation 9(5) requests the Scottish Ministers to make a screening direction must submit with that request—

(a)a copy of the request to the planning authority under regulation 8(1) and the information provided in accordance with regulation 8(2) and any other documents which accompanied the request;

(b)a copy of any notification under regulation 9(4) which has been received and of any response;

(c)a copy of any screening opinion received from the planning authority and of any accompanying statement of reasons; and

(d)any representations the developer wishes to make.

(2) The developer must send to the planning authority a copy of the request and of any representations made to the Scottish Ministers, and the planning authority may, within 14 days of receiving those documents, provide the Scottish Ministers with their comments on the request and representations.

(3) Where the Scottish Ministers consider that they have not been provided with sufficient information to make a screening direction they—

(a)must notify the developer of the points on which they require further information; and

(b)may request the planning authority to provide such information as they can on any of those points.

(4) The Scottish Ministers must make a screening direction within—

(a)the period of 21 days beginning with the date of receipt of the request or such longer period, not exceeding 90 days beginning with the date of the request as they may reasonably require; or

(b)where notice is given under paragraph (5), within the period beginning with the date of receipt of the request and ending on the date specified in the notice as the date by which the Scottish Ministers are to make a screening direction.

(5) Where the Scottish Ministers consider that due to exceptional circumstances relating to the nature, complexity, location or size of the proposed development that it is not practicable for them to adopt a screening direction within the period of 90 days beginning with the date of receipt of the request, they may extend that period by notice in writing given to the developer.

(6) Notice under paragraph (5) must state the Scottish Ministers’ justification for the extension and specify the date by which the Scottish Ministers are to make the screening direction.

(7) For the purposes of paragraphs (4) and (5), the date on which a request for a screening direction is to be taken to have been received is the date on which the last of the items or information required to be contained in or accompany a request for a screening direction in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) to (c) is received by the Scottish Ministers.