11.—(1) Following a request for a screening opinion under regulation 10(1), the Scottish Ministers must adopt a screening opinion—
(a)within 3 weeks of the latest of—
(i)the date of receipt of the request by the Scottish Ministers;
(ii)where the Scottish Ministers have consulted a consultation body or bodies by virtue of regulation 10(5), the date by which the consultation body or bodies must give views under regulation 10(6), (or, if earlier, the date by which the Scottish Ministers have received the views of each body which was consulted); or
(iii)the expiry of such longer period, not exceeding the period of 90 days beginning with the date of receipt of the request, as may be agreed in writing between the Scottish Ministers and the applicant; or
(b)where notice is given under paragraph (2), 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 adopt a screening opinion.
(2) Where the Scottish Ministers consider that due to exceptional circumstances relating to the nature, complexity, location or size of the proposed works it is not practicable for them to adopt a screening opinion within the period of 90 days beginning with the date of the request, they may extend that period by notice, in writing, given to the applicant.
(3) Notice under paragraph (2) must state the Scottish Ministers’ justification for the extension and specify the date by which the Scottish Ministers are to adopt a screening opinion pursuant to the request.
(4) The date on which a request for a screening opinion under regulation 10(1) 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 opinion in accordance with regulation 10(2) and, as the case may be, regulation 10(3) is received by the Scottish Ministers.