Date and place of hearing
21.—(1) The Welsh Ministers must fix the date for the hearing.
(2) Subject to paragraph (2), the date for the hearing must be—
(a)no later than ten weeks after the end of the representation period; and
(b)at least one week after the end of the period allowed for further representations requested in accordance with regulation 15.
(3) Where the Welsh Ministers consider it impracticable for the hearing to be held on a date fixed in accordance with paragraph (1), the date for the hearing must be the earliest date which the Welsh Ministers consider is practicable.
(4) The place at which a hearing is to be held must be determined by the Welsh Ministers.
(5) Where the Welsh Ministers are satisfied, having regard to the nature of the application, that it is reasonable to do so, the Welsh Ministers may direct that different parts of a hearing are held at different locations.
(6) Unless the Welsh Ministers agree a shorter period of notice with the applicant and the local planning authority, the Welsh Ministers must give at least four weeks’ written notice of the date, time and place fixed by them for the holding of the hearing to the applicant, the local planning authority and any person invited to take part in the hearing.
(7) The Welsh Ministers may vary the date fixed for the hearing, whether or not the date as varied is within the period of ten weeks mentioned in paragraph (1)(a); and paragraph (5) applies to a variation of a date as it applies to the date originally fixed.
(8) The Welsh Ministers may vary the time or place for the holding of a hearing and must give such notice of any variation as appears to them to be reasonable.