The Town and Country Planning (Referred Applications and Appeals Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2017

Date, place and notification of hearing

29.—(1) The Welsh Ministers must fix the date for the hearing which must be no later than 4 weeks after the end of the representation period.

(2) 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.

(3) Where the Welsh Ministers are satisfied, having regard to the nature of the appeal, that it is reasonable to do so, the Welsh Ministers may direct that different parts of a hearing are held at different locations.

(4) The Welsh Ministers must give at least 4 weeks’ written notice of the date, time and place fixed for the hearing to—

(a) the appellant;

(b) the local planning authority; and

(c) any person invited to take part in the hearing.

(5) The written notice under paragraph (4) must identify the matters to be determined at the hearing and name the appointed person.

(6) The Welsh Ministers may vary the date fixed for the hearing, whether or not the date as varied is within the period of 4 weeks mentioned in paragraph (1), and paragraph (4) applies to a variation of a date as it applies to the date originally fixed.

(7) The Welsh Ministers may vary the time or place for the hearing and must give such notice of any variation as appears to them to be reasonable.

(8) Where an appeal is withdrawn after notice of the hearing has been given, the Welsh Ministers must give such notice of the cancellation of the hearing as appears to them to be reasonable.