(1)The examining authority or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be) must decide an application for infrastructure consent before the end of—
(a)52 weeks beginning with the day on which the application is accepted as a valid application, or
(b)such other period as the applicant and the Welsh Ministers may agree.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may, by direction, extend the periods mentioned in subsection (1).
(3)A direction may be given—
(a)more than once in relation to the same application;
(b)after the end of the periods mentioned in subsection (1).
(4)As soon as reasonably practicable after giving the direction, the Welsh Ministers must—
(a)notify the applicant and any other person specified in regulations of the direction,
(b)publish the direction, and
(c)lay a statement about the direction before Senedd Cymru explaining its effect and why it was given.
(5)The Welsh Ministers must lay before Senedd Cymru annual reports on—
(a)their compliance with the duty imposed by subsection (1), and
(b)their exercise of the functions conferred by subsection (2).
(6)Regulations may amend subsection (1)(a).