(1)The court may not hear an application for an adoption order in relation to a child, where a previous application to which subsection (2) applies made in relation to the child by the same persons was refused by any court, unless it appears to the court that, because of a change in circumstances or for any other reason, it is proper to hear the application.
(2)This subsection applies to any application—
(a)for an adoption order or a Scottish or Northern Irish adoption order, or
(b)for an order for adoption made in the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands.