1. The title of these Regulations is the Town and Country Planning (Referrals and Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2015 and they come into force on 22 June 2015.
2.—(1) In these Regulations—
“the Act” (“y Ddeddf”) means the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
“advertisement application” (“cais hysbyseb”) means an application for express consent to display an advertisement made under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992(1);
“advertisement consent appeal” (“apêl caniatâd hysbyseb”) means an appeal under section 78(1) of the Act (as applied by regulations made under section 220 of the Act) in relation to an advertisement application, except an appeal against the grant of any consent which is granted subject to conditions;
“appeal” (“apêl”) means, in relation to—
section 77 of the Act(2) or section 12 or 19 of the Listed Buildings Act(3), the determination of an application which has been referred to the Welsh Ministers, but does not include an application which is deemed to have been referred to the Welsh Ministers by virtue of regulation 9(3) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Wales) Regulations 2012(4); and
“appellant” (“apelydd”) means, in the case of—
an application referred to the Welsh Ministers under section 77 of the Act or section 12 or 19 of the Listed Buildings Act, the person who made that application to the local planning authority;
an appeal under section 78 of the Act or section 20 of the Listed Buildings Act, the person whose application was refused, granted subject to conditions or not determined, by the local planning authority; and
an appeal under section 208 of the Act, the person on whom a notice has been served under section 207(1) of that Act;
“application” (“cais”) means, in relation to—
section 77 of the Act or section 12 or 19 of the Listed Buildings Act, the application which has been referred to the Welsh Ministers;
section 78 of the Act or section 20 of the Listed Buildings Act, the application which is the subject of the appeal; and
section 208 of the Act, the notice served by the local planning authority under section 207(1) of that Act;
“document” (“dogfen”) includes a photograph, map or plan;
“dwellinghouse” (“tŷ annedd”) does not include a building containing one or more flats, or a flat contained within such a building;
“electronic communication” (“cyfathrebiad electronig”) has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(7);
“householder appeal” (“apêl deiliad tŷ”) means an appeal under section 78(1)(a) of the Act in relation to a householder application but does not include—
an appeal against the grant of any planning permission which is granted subject to conditions; or
an appeal which is accompanied by an appeal under section 174 of the Act or under section 20 of the Listed Buildings Act;
“householder application” (“cais deiliad tŷ”) means an application for—
planning permission for the enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse, or development within the curtilage of such a dwellinghouse, or
change of use to enlarge the curtilage of a dwelling house,
for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse but does not include—
any other application for change of use,
an application for erection of a dwellinghouse, or
an application to change the number of dwellings in a building;
“the Listed Buildings Act” (“y Ddeddf Adeiladau Rhestredig”) means the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;
“local planning authority” (“awdurdod cynllunio lleol”) means, in relation to—
an application under section 77 of the Act or section 12 or 19 of the Listed Buildings Act, the body which would have dealt with the application had it not been referred to the Welsh Ministers;
an appeal under section 78 of the Act or section 20 of the Listed Buildings Act, the body which was responsible for determining the application occasioning the appeal; and
an appeal under section 208 of the Act, the body which served the notice under section 207(1) of that Act;
“minor commercial appeal” (“apêl fasnachol fach”) means an appeal under section 78(1)(a) of the Act in relation to a minor commercial application but does not include—
an appeal against the grant of any planning permission which is granted subject to conditions; or
an appeal which is accompanied by an appeal under section 174 of the Act or under section 20 of the Listed Buildings Act;
“minor commercial application” (“cais masnachol bach”) means an application for planning permission for the enlargement, improvement or other alteration of an existing building of no more than 250 square metres gross external floor space at ground floor level, or part of that building, currently in use for any of the purposes set out in the Schedule to these Regulations which is an application for—
the change of use from any of the purposes set out at paragraph 1 in the Schedule to these Regulations to any of the purposes set out in either paragraph 2 or paragraph 3 of that Schedule;
the change of use from any of the purposes set out at paragraph 2 in the Schedule to these Regulations to any of the purposes set out in paragraph 3 of the Schedule; or
the carrying out of building or other operations to a shop front;
“questionnaire” (“holiadur”) means a document in the form supplied by the Welsh Ministers to a local planning authority for the purpose of proceedings under these Regulations, and for this purpose a form is taken to be supplied where the Welsh Ministers have published it on a website and have notified the local planning authority 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;
“relevant notice” (“hysbysiad perthnasol”) means, in relation to an—
application referred to the Welsh Ministers under section 77 of the Act or section 12 or 19 of the Listed Buildings Act, the application which has been referred to the Welsh Ministers; and
appeal brought under section 78 or 208 of the Act or section 20 of the Listed Buildings Act a notice of appeal under section 78 or 208 of the Act or section 21 of the Listed Buildings Act(8);
“starting date” (“dyddiad dechrau”) means the date of the written notification of receipt of appeal under regulation 4 or 12 as the case may be;
“working day” (“diwrnod gwaith”) means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday or other public holiday; and
“written representations” (“sylwadau ysgrifenedig”) includes supporting documents.
(2) In these Regulations references to—
(a)section 78 of the Act include references to that section as applied to applications for tree preservation orders made under that Act;
(b)section 12, 19 or 20 of the Listed Buildings Act include references to those sections as applied by section 74(3) of that Act(9).
(3) In relation to the use of electronic communications for any purpose of these Regulations which is capable of being effected electronically—
(a)the expression “address” (“cyfeiriad”) includes any number or address used for the purposes of such communications, except that where these Regulations impose an obligation on any person to provide a name and address to any other person, the obligation is not fulfilled unless the person on whom it is imposed provides a postal address;
(b)references to notices, representations or other documents, or to copies of such documents, include references to such documents or copies of them in electronic form.
(4) Paragraphs (5) to (8) apply where an electronic communication is used by a person for the purpose of fulfilling any requirement in these Regulations to give or send any statement, notice or other document to any other person (“the recipient”).
(5) The requirement is taken to be fulfilled where the notice or other 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.
(6) In paragraph (5), “legible in all material respects” (“darllenadwy ym mhob modd perthnasol”) means that the information contained in the notice or other 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.
(7) Where the electronic communication is received by the recipient outside the recipient’s business hours, it is taken to have been received on the next working day.
(8) A requirement in these Regulations that any document must be in writing is fulfilled where that document meets the criteria in paragraph (5), and “written” (“ysgrifenedig”) and cognate expressions are to be construed accordingly.
3.—(1) These Regulations apply in relation to Wales.
(2) Part 1 of these Regulations only applies where—
(a)a householder, advertisement consent or minor commercial appeal is made in relation to an application which is made after these Regulations come into force; and
(b)the Welsh Ministers have determined under section 319B of the Act (determination of procedure of certain proceedings: Wales)(10) that it is a matter which is to be determined on the basis of representations in writing.
(3) Part 2 of these Regulations only applies where—
(a)an appeal which is not a householder, advertisement consent or minor commercial appeal is made in relation to an application which is made after these Regulations come into force; and
(b)the Welsh Ministers have determined under section 319B of the Act or section 88E of the Listed Buildings Act (determination of procedure of certain proceedings: Wales)(11) that it is a matter which is to be determined on the basis of representations in writing.
(4) Where the Welsh Ministers vary a determination under section 319B(4) of the Act or under section 88E(4) of the Listed Buildings Act so that an appeal proceeding at a local inquiry or at a hearing is to continue on the basis of representations in writing, in accordance with Part 1 or Part 2 of these Regulations, as the case may be, these Regulations apply in relation to the proceedings to such extent as the Welsh Ministers may specify having regard to any steps already taken in relation to those proceedings.
(5) Where the Welsh Ministers vary a determination under section 319B(4) of the Act or under section 88E(4) of the Listed Buildings Act so that an appeal proceeding on the basis of representations in writing is to continue at a local inquiry or at a hearing, these Regulations will cease to apply.
4. The Welsh Ministers must, as soon as practicable after a determination has been made under section 319B of the Act, advise the appellant and the local planning authority in writing—
(a)of the starting date;
(b)of the reference number allocated to the appeal;
(c)that the appeal will follow the procedures set out in Part 1 of these Regulations; and
(d)of the address to which written communications to the Welsh Ministers about the appeal are to be sent.
5. The local planning authority must send to the Welsh Ministers, and copy to the appellant, so as to be received within 5 working days of the starting date—
(a)a completed questionnaire; and
(b)a copy of each of the documents referred to in it.
6.—(1) The local planning authority must give written notice of the appeal within 5 working days of the starting date to—
(a)any person notified or consulted in accordance with the Act or a development order about the application; and
(b)any other person who made representations to the local planning authority about that application.
(2) A notice under paragraph (1) must—
(a)state the name of the appellant and the address of the site to which the appeal relates;
(b)describe the development to which the application relates;
(c)set out the matters notified to the appellant and the local planning authority under regulation 4; and
(d)state that any representations made to the local planning authority in relation to the application, before it was determined, will be sent to the Welsh Ministers and the appellant by the local planning authority and will be considered by the Welsh Ministers when determining the appeal unless they are withdrawn in writing within 4 weeks of the starting date.
7.—(1) The relevant notice and the documents accompanying it comprise the appellant’s representations in relation to the appeal.
(2) The completed questionnaire and documents sent with it comprise the local planning authority’s representations in relation to the appeal.
(3) The Welsh Ministers must, as soon as practicable after receipt, send a copy of the representations made by the local planning authority to the appellant and must send a copy of the representations made by the appellant to the local planning authority.
8.—(1) The Welsh Ministers may in writing require the appellant, local planning authority and other interested persons, to provide such further information relevant to the appeal as may be specified.
(2) Such information must be provided in writing within such period as the Welsh Ministers may specify.
(3) The Welsh Ministers may disregard any further information unless that information has been provided pursuant to paragraph (1).
9.—(1) At any time before an appeal is determined, the Welsh Ministers may determine that the procedures set out in this Part are no longer suitable for that appeal.
(2) Where such a determination is made the Welsh Ministers must notify the appellant and the local planning authority in writing that—
(a)the appeal is to be transferred from the procedures set out in Part 1 of these Regulations; and
(b)the appeal will proceed in accordance with Part 2 of these Regulations to such extent as the Welsh Ministers may specify having regard to any steps already taken in relation to those proceedings.
10.—(1) The Welsh Ministers may, after giving the appellant and the local planning authority written notice of the intention to do so, proceed to a decision on an appeal taking into account only those representations which have been sent within the relevant time limits, where it appears that there is sufficient material to enable a decision to be reached.
(2) In paragraph (1) “relevant time limits” (“terfynau amser perthnasol”) means the time limits prescribed by these Regulations, or where the Welsh Ministers have exercised the power under regulation 19, any later time limit.
11. The Welsh Ministers must notify the decision on an appeal, and their reasons for reaching that decision, in writing to—
(a)the appellant;
(b)the local planning authority;
(c)any interested person who has asked to be notified of the decision; and
(d)any other person who has asked to be notified of the decision whom the Welsh Ministers consider it reasonable to notify.
12. The Welsh Ministers must, as soon as practicable after a determination has been made under section 319B of the Act or section 88E of the Listed Buildings Act, advise the appellant and the local planning authority in writing—
(a)of the starting date;
(b)of the reference number allocated to the appeal;
(c)that the appeal will follow the procedures set out in Part 2 of these Regulations; and
(d)of the address to which written communications to the Welsh Ministers about the appeal are to be sent.
13. The local planning authority must send to the Welsh Ministers, and copy to the appellant, so as to be received within 2 weeks of the starting date—
(a)a completed questionnaire; and
(b)a copy of each of the documents referred to in it.
14.—(1) The local planning authority must give written notice of the appeal, so as to be received within 2 weeks of the starting date, to—
(a)any person notified or consulted in accordance with the Act, the Listed Buildings Act or a development order, as the case may be, about the application; and
(b)any other person who made representations to the local planning authority about that application.
(2) A notice under paragraph (1) must—
(a)state the name of the appellant and the address of the site to which the appeal relates;
(b)describe the development to which the application relates;
(c)set out the matters notified to the appellant and local planning authority under regulation 12;
(d)state that copies of any representations made by any person mentioned in paragraph (1) will be sent to the Welsh Ministers and the appellant;
(e)state that any such representations will be considered by the Welsh Ministers when determining the appeal unless any person mentioned in paragraph (1) withdraws them within 6 weeks of the starting date; and
(f)state that further written representations may be sent to the Welsh Ministers so as to be received within 6 weeks of the starting date.
15.—(1) The relevant notice, and the documents accompanying it, will be deemed to comprise the appellant’s representations in relation to the appeal.
(2) The local planning authority may elect to treat the questionnaire, and the documents sent with it, as its representations in relation to the appeal and, where they do so, they must notify the Welsh Ministers and the appellant accordingly when they send to the Welsh Ministers, and copy to the appellant, the questionnaire in accordance with regulation 13.
(3) Where the local planning authority does not elect as described in paragraph (2), they must ensure that 2 copies of any further written representations are received by the Welsh Ministers within 6 weeks of the starting date.
(4) An appellant who wishes to make any further representations to those in paragraph (1) must send 2 copies of those further representations to the Welsh Ministers so as to be received within 6 weeks of the starting date.
(5) The Welsh Ministers must, as soon as practicable after receipt, send to the appellant a copy of any representations sent to them by the local planning authority and must send to the local planning authority a copy of any representations sent to them by the appellant.
(6) The appellant and the local planning authority must send to the Welsh Ministers 2 copies of any written comments they have on each other’s representations so as to be received within 9 weeks of the starting date and the Welsh Ministers must, as soon as practicable after receipt, send a copy of those further comments to the other party.
(7) The Welsh Ministers may disregard further information from the appellant and the local planning authority which is not received within 9 weeks of the starting date unless that further information has been requested by them.
(8) Where a party to which this regulation applies elects to use electronic communications for submitting, sending, copying, or sending a copy of any representations, questionnaire or other document, this regulation has effect subject to the following modifications—
(a)where the party so electing is the local planning authority, the words “2 copies of” in paragraphs (3) and (6) are omitted;
(b)where the party so electing is the appellant, the words “2 copies of” in paragraphs (4) and (6) are omitted.
16.—(1) A person who has been notified under regulation 14(1), and who wishes to send representations to the Welsh Ministers, may do so provided they are received by the Welsh Ministers within 6 weeks of the starting date.
(2) The Welsh Ministers must—
(a)send to the appellant and the local planning authority, as soon as practicable after receipt, a copy of any representations received by the Welsh Ministers from any other person in relation to the appeal; and
(b)specify a period of not less than 2 weeks within which any written comments on the representations must be received by the Welsh Ministers.
(3) The Welsh Ministers may disregard comments made by the local planning authority under paragraph (2)(b) if the authority has failed to give the notice required by regulation 14.
17.—(1) The Welsh Ministers 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 Welsh Ministers 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 Welsh Ministers that they have sufficient material before them to enable them to reach a decision on the merits of the case.
(3) In this regulation, “relevant time limits” (“terfynau amser perthnasol”) means the time limits prescribed by these Regulations or where the Welsh Ministers have exercised the power under regulation 19, any later time limit.
18. The Welsh Ministers must notify the decision on an appeal, and their reasons for reaching that decision, in writing to—
(a)the appellant;
(b)the local planning authority;
(c)any interested person who has asked to be notified of the decision; and
(d)any other person who has asked to be notified of the decision whom the Welsh Ministers consider it reasonable to notify.
19. The Welsh Ministers may in a particular case give directions which extend the time limits prescribed by these Regulations.
20. Notices or documents required or authorised to be sent or supplied under these Regulations may be sent or supplied by—
(a)post; or
(b)using electronic communications to transmit the notice or document (as the case may be) to a person at such address as may for the time being be specified by that person for such purpose.
21. Where a person is no longer willing to accept the use of electronic communications for any purpose of these Regulations which is capable of being effected electronically, the person must give notice in writing—
(a)withdrawing any address notified to the Welsh Ministers or to a local planning authority for that purpose, or
(b)revoking any agreement entered into with the Welsh Ministers or with a local planning authority for that purpose,
and such withdrawal or revocation is final and takes effect on a date specified by the person in the notice but not less than 1 week after the date on which the notice is given.
22.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Town and Country Planning (Referrals and Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2003(12) (“the 2003 Regulations”) are revoked.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), an appeal, including a householder appeal, advertisement consent appeal or a minor commercial appeal, will be determined under the 2003 Regulations where the appeal is—
(a)to be considered on the basis of representations in writing; and
(b)made in relation to an application, including a householder application, advertisement consent application or a minor commercial application, which was made before these Regulations come into force.
(3) Where a decision of the Welsh Ministers on an appeal to which the 2003 Regulations applied is subsequently quashed in proceedings before any court, the decision will be re-determined in accordance with Part 2 of these Regulations.
Carl Sargeant
Minister for Natural Resources, one of the Welsh Ministers
20 May 2015