Article 12(2)
1. The existing provisions of rule 2 (interpretation) shall become paragraph (1) of that rule, and in that paragraph—
(a)after the definition of “document” insert the following definition—
““electronic communication” has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(1);”;
(b)in the definition of “questionnaire” after the word “Rules” insert—
“, and for this purpose a form is taken to be supplied where the Secretary of State has published it on a website and has notified the local planning authority, in a manner for the time being agreed between the Secretary of State and the authority for that purpose, of—
publication of the form on the website,
the address of the website, and
the place on the website where the form may be accessed, and how it may be accessed;”.
2. After rule 2(1), add—
“(2) In these Rules, and in relation to the use of electronic communications for any purpose of these Rules which is capable of being carried out electronically—
(a)the expression “address” includes any number or address used for the purposes of such communications, except that where these Rules impose an obligation on any person to provide a name and address to any other person, the obligation shall not be fulfilled unless the person on whom it is imposed provides a postal address;
(b)references to statements, notices or other documents, or to copies of such documents, include references to such documents or copies of them in electronic form.
(3) Paragraphs (4) to (8) apply where an electronic communication is used by a person for the purpose of fulfilling any requirement in these Rules to give or send any statement, notice or other document to any other person (“the recipient”).
(4) The requirement shall be taken to be fulfilled where the document transmitted by means of the electronic communication is—
(a)capable of being accessed by the recipient,
(b)legible in all material respects, and
(c)sufficiently permanent to be used for subsequent reference.
(5) In paragraph (4), “legible in all material respects” means that the information contained in the document is available to the recipient to no lesser extent than it would be if sent or given by means of a document in printed form.
(6) Where the electronic communication is received by the recipient outside the recipient’s business hours, it shall be taken to have been received on the next working day; and for this purpose, “working day” means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday or other public holiday.
(7) A requirement in these Rules that any document should be in writing is fulfilled where that document meets the criteria in paragraph (4), and “written” and cognate expressions are to be construed accordingly.
(8) A requirement in these Rules to send more than one copy of a statement or other document may be complied with by sending one copy only of the statement or other document in question.”.
3. In rule 6 (receipt of statements of case etc.)—
(a)for sub-paragraph (a)(i) of paragraph (2), substitute—
“(i)details of the time and place where the opportunity to inspect and take copies described in paragraph 13 below shall be afforded (including, in any case in which the local planning authority rely on paragraph 13A, the details mentioned in that paragraph);”;
(b)after paragraph (13), insert—
“(13A) For the purposes of the previous paragraph an opportunity shall be taken to have been afforded to a person where the person is notified of—
(a)publication on a website of the documents mentioned in that paragraph;
(b)the address of the website;
(c)the place on the website where the documents may be accessed, and how they may be accessed.”.
4. In rule 10 (date and notification of inquiry)—
(a)after paragraph (2), insert—
“(2A) A written notice shall be taken to have been given by the Secretary of State for the purposes of paragraph (2) where he and any person entitled to appear at the inquiry have agreed that notice of the matters mentioned in that paragraph may instead be accessed by that person on a website, and —
(a)the notice is a notice to which that agreement applies;
(b)the Secretary of State has published that notice on a website;
(c)not less than 4 weeks before the date fixed by the Secretary of State for the holding of the inquiry, the person is notified of—
(i)the publication of the notice on a website,
(ii)the address of the website, and
(iii)the place on the website where the notice may be accessed, and how it may be accessed.”;
(b)in paragraph (3), for the words “paragraph (2)” substitute “paragraphs (2) to (2A)”.
5. In rule 14 (proofs of evidence), at the end add—
“(8) For the purposes of the previous paragraph an opportunity shall be taken to have been afforded to a person where the person is notified, in a manner for the time being agreed between him and the local planning authority for that purpose, of—
(a)publication of the relevant document on a website,
(b)the address of the website,
(c)the place on the website where the document may be accessed, and how it may be accessed.”.
6. In rule 15 (statement of common ground), at the end add—
“(3) For the purposes of the previous paragraph an opportunity shall be taken to have been afforded to a person where the person is notified, in a manner for the time being agreed between him and the local planning authority for that purpose, of—
(a)publication of the statement of common ground on a website,
(b)the address of the website,
(c)the place on the website where the document may be accessed, and how it may be accessed.”.
7. In rule 19 (notification of decision)—
(a)after paragraph (1), insert—
“(1A) Notification in writing of a decision and reasons shall be taken to have been given to a person for the purposes of this rule where—
(a)the Secretary of State and the person have agreed that decisions and reasons required under this rule to be given in writing may instead be accessed by that person via a website;
(b)the decision and reasons are a decision and reasons to which that agreement applies;
(c)the Secretary of State has published the decision and reasons on a website;
(d)the person is notified, in a manner for the time being agreed between him and the Secretary of State, of—
(i)the publication of the decision and reasons on a website;
(ii)the address of the website;
(iii)the place on the website where the decision and reasons may be accessed, and how they may be accessed.”;
(b)after paragraph (2), insert—
“(2A) For the purposes of the previous paragraph an opportunity shall be taken to have been afforded to a person where that person is notified of—
(a)publication of the relevant documents on a website;
(b)the address of the website;
(c)the place on the website where the documents may be accessed, and how they may be accessed.”.
8. For rule 23 (notices by post) substitute—
23. Notices or documents required or authorised to be sent or supplied under these Rules may be sent or supplied—
(a)by post; or
(b)by using electronic communications to send or supply the notice or document (as the case may be) to a person at such address as may for the time being be specified by the person for that purpose.”.
9. After rule 23, insert—
23A. Where a person is no longer willing to accept the use of electronic communications for any purpose which, under these Rules, is capable of being carried out using such communications, he shall give notice in writing—
(a)withdrawing any address notified to the Secretary of State or (as the case may be) to a local planning authority for that purpose, or
(b)revoking any agreement entered into with the Secretary of State or (as the case may be) with a local planning authority for that purpose,
and such withdrawal or revocation shall be final and shall take effect on a date specified by the person in the notice but not less than seven days after the date on which the notice is given.”.