The Compulsory Purchase (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 2007

Date of inquiry

10.—(1) The date fixed by the authorising authority for the holding of an inquiry shall be—

(a) in a case where there is no pre-inquiry meeting, not later than 22 weeks after the relevant date;

(b) in a case where a pre-inquiry meeting (or where there is more than one, the final pre-inquiry meeting) is held pursuant to rule 4 or 6, not later than 8 weeks after the conclusion of that meeting; or

(c) where the authorising authority is satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case it is impracticable to hold the inquiry within the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) (as the case may be), the earliest practicable date after the end of that period.

(2) Unless the authorising authority agrees a lesser period of notice with the acquiring authority (where it is not that authority) and with each remaining objector, the authorising authority shall give not less than 6 weeks’ written notice of the date, time and place fixed by it for the holding of an inquiry to —

(a) every remaining objector; and

(b) every person who has sent an outline statement under rule 5 or a statement of case under rule 7.

(3) The authorising authority may vary the date fixed for the holding of an inquiry (whether or not the date as varied complies with the requirements of paragraph (1)), and paragraph (2) shall apply in relation to the varied date as it applied in relation to the date originally fixed.

(4) The authorising authority may also vary the time or place for the holding of an inquiry and shall give such notice of the variation as appears to it to be reasonable.

(5) Where it is satisfied that it is reasonable to do so and having regard to the nature of the order or the draft order, the authorising authority may direct that the inquiry shall be held partly in one place and partly in another place.