Time limits on Permit Authority
16.—(1) A permit scheme must set time limits within which the Permit Authority must respond to applications for permits, provisional advance authorisations, variations of permits and variations to permit conditions.
(2) Different time limits may be set for different cases.
(3) If a Permit authority does not grant or refuse a duly completed application within the applicable time limit, the application will be deemed to have been granted, and any estimate of the likely duration of the works which are the subject of the application for a permit or variation of a permit provided in that application, will be taken to be a reasonable period for the purposes of section 74(1) of the 1991 Act (charge for occupation of the highway where works unreasonably prolonged).