1.—(1) Where an application has been made to the discharging authority for any consent, agreement or approval required under a requirement the discharging authority must give notice to the undertaker of its decision on the application including the reasons before the end of the decision period.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the decision period is—
(a)where no further information is requested under paragraph (2), 8 weeks from the first business day immediately following that on which the application is received by the discharging authority or the day on which the fee under paragraph 3(1) is received, whichever is the later;
(b)where further information is requested under paragraph (2), 8 weeks from the first business day immediately following that on which further information has been supplied by the undertaker under paragraph (2);
(c)such longer period as may be agreed by the undertaker and the discharging authority in writing before the end of the period in sub-paragraph (a) or (b).