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

Date, place and notification of inquiry

42.—(1) The Welsh Ministers must fix the date for the inquiry which must be no later than—

(a) 12 weeks after the end of the representation period; or

(b) (if later) in a case where a pre-inquiry meeting is held under regulation 40(1), 4 weeks after the conclusion of that meeting (or such shorter period after the conclusion of that meeting as the appellant, the local planning authority and the appointed person may agree).

(2) Where the Welsh Ministers consider it impracticable for the inquiry to be held on a date fixed in accordance with paragraph (1), the date for the inquiry 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 application, that it is reasonable to do so, the Welsh Ministers may direct that different parts of an inquiry are held at different locations.

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

(a) the appellant;

(b) the local planning authority; and

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

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

(6) The Welsh Ministers may vary the date fixed for the inquiry, whether or not the date as varied is within the period of 12 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 inquiry 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(8) Where an appeal is withdrawn after notice of the inquiry has been given, the Welsh Ministers must give such notice of the cancellation of the inquiry as appears to them to be reasonable.