The Compulsory Purchase (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 2007

Statements of case, etc

7.—(1) The acquiring authority shall send a statement of case to each remaining objector and, in the case of a non-ministerial order, to the authorising authority—

(a) where a pre-inquiry meeting is held pursuant to rule 4 or rule 6(3), not later than 4 weeks after the conclusion of that meeting;

(b) in any other case, not later than 6 weeks after the relevant date.

(2) Unless every document, or the relevant part of every document, which the acquiring authority intends to refer to or put in evidence at the inquiry has been copied to each remaining objector, the acquiring authority shall send to each remaining objector a notice naming each place where a copy of those documents may be inspected free of charge at all reasonable hours until the date of commencement of the inquiry; and each place so named shall be as close as reasonably possible to the land.

(3) The authorising authority may by notice in writing require—

(a) any remaining objector; and

(b) any other person who has notified the authority of an intention to appear at the inquiry,

to send a statement of case to the authorising authority and to any other person specified in the notice (including, in the case of a non-ministerial order, the acquiring authority) within 6 weeks from the date of the notice.

(4) The authorising authority shall supply a copy of the acquiring authority’s statement of case to any person who is not a remaining objector but has been required to send a statement of case under paragraph (3).

(5) The authorising authority or an inspector may require any person who has sent a statement of case in accordance with this rule to provide such further information about the matters contained in the statement as the authorising authority or inspector may specify.

(6) The acquiring authority shall afford to any person who so requests a reasonable opportunity to inspect, and where practicable take copies of any statement or document which has been sent to it in accordance with any of the preceding paragraphs of this rule; and shall specify in the statement sent in accordance with paragraph (1) the time and place at which the opportunity will be afforded.