The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2016

Amendment of Part 26

6.  In rule 26.2A—

(a) in paragraph (3), for “Subject to paragraph (5)”, substitute “Subject to paragraphs (5) and (5A)”;

(b) in paragraph (4), for “Subject to paragraph (5)”, substitute “Subject to paragraphs (5) and (5A)”;

(c) in paragraph (5), for “If, on their directions questionnaire”, substitute “Subject to paragraph (5A), if, on their directions questionnaire”; and

(d) after paragraph (5), insert—

“(5A) At the relevant time, the claim must be sent to the County Court at Central London if—

(a) the claim is started at the County Court Business Centre or the County Court Money Claims Centre;

(b) a court officer provisionally decides, pursuant to rule 26.3, that the track which appears to be most suitable for the claim is the multi-track; and

(c) either—

(i) in respect of a defendant under paragraphs (3) and (5)(a), the home court (or the home court of the defendant who first files their defence) or the hearing centre specified on the directions questionnaire; or

(ii) in respect of a claimant under paragraphs (4) and (5)(b), the preferred hearing centre or the hearing centre specified on the directions questionnaire,

is one of the hearing centres listed in Practice Direction 26 at paragraph 10.4.”.