50Dismissal of appeals in cases of undue delay
(1)After section 33(7) of the 1972 Act (appeals against planning decisions) there is inserted—
“(7A)If at any time before or during the determination of an appeal under this section it appears to the Secretary of State that the appellant is responsible for undue delay in the progress of the appeal, he may—
(a)give the appellant notice that the appeal will be dismissed unless the appellant takes, within the period specified in the notice, such steps as are specified in the notice for the expedition of the appeal; and
(b)if the appellant fails to take those steps within that period, dismiss the appeal accordingly.”
(2)In paragraph 2(1)(a) of Schedule 7 to that Act (powers and duties of person determining appeals) for “subsections (3) and (5)” there is substituted “subsections (3), (5), and (7A)”.