8Enlarging variation: power to apply
(1)A local housing authority may apply to the Welsh Ministers for an enlarging variation of a direction issued under this Part if—
(a)the direction was issued in response to an application made by the authority;
(b)the application for a variation is made at least six months before the date on which the direction is to cease to have effect;
(c)within the period of six months preceding the application, the authority has completed a consultation exercise in accordance with section 9, and
(d)in the light of that exercise, and having considered any other relevant information, the authority concludes that, in relation to the enlarging elements of the variation, the condition described in subsection (2) exists.
(2)The condition is that—
(a)the demand for social housing falling within the enlarging elements of the variation substantially exceeds its supply or is likely to do so, and
(b)that imbalance between supply and demand is likely to increase as a result of the exercise of the right to buy and related rights.