10.—(1) The National Assembly may proceed to a decision on an appeal taking into account only such written representations as have been received within the relevant time limits.
(2) The National Assembly may, after giving the appellant and the local planning authority written notice of its intention to do so, proceed to a decision on an appeal notwithstanding that no written representations have been made within the relevant time limits if it appears to the National Assembly that it has sufficient material before it to enable it to reach a decision on the merits of the case.
(3) In this regulation, “relevant time limits” means the time limits prescribed by these Regulations or by any direction given under regulation 9.