Article 14
1. In paragraph (1) of regulation 2 (interpretation), after the definition of “discontinuance notice”, insert–
““electronic communication” has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(1);”.
2. After regulation 2, insert–
“2A.—(1) In these Regulations, and in relation to the use of electronic communications for any purpose of these Regulations which is capable of being effected electronically–
(a)the expression “address” includes any number or address used for the purposes of such communications, except that where these Regulations impose an obligation on any person to provide a name and address to any other person, the obligation shall not be fulfilled unless the person on whom it is imposed provides a postal address; and
(b)references to forms, plans, notices, or other documents, or to copies of such documents, include references to such documents or copies of them in electronic form.
(2) Paragraphs (3) to (8) apply where an electronic communication is used by a person for the purpose of fulfilling any requirement in these Regulations to give or send any form, plan, notice or other document to any other person (“the recipient”).
(3) The requirement shall (except in a case referred to in paragraph (4)) be deemed to be fulfilled where the notice or other document transmitted by means of the electronic communication is–
(a)capable of being accessed by the recipient;
(b)legible in all material respects; and
(c)sufficiently permanent to be used for subsequent reference.
(4) The cases are–
(a)serving notice on any person under regulation 11(2);
(b)sending any document referred to in regulation 11(4);
(c)serving a notice under regulation 11(6);
(d)serving a notice under regulation 14;
(e)serving a notice of an order for confirmation of revocation and modification of consent under regulation 22(2); and
(f)notifying a claim under regulation 23(1).
(5) In paragraph (3), “legible in all material respects” means that the information contained in the notice or other document is available to the recipient to no lesser extent than it would be if sent or given by means of a document in printed form.
(6) Where the electronic communication is received by the recipient–
(a)at any time before the end of a day which is a working day, it shall be deemed to have been received on that day; or
(b)at any time during a day which is not a working day, it shall be deemed to have been received on the next working day,
and for these purposes, “working day” means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, a bank holiday in Scotland under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(2), a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning or any other day which is a local or public holiday in an area in which the electronic communication is received.
(7) A requirement in these Regulations that any document should be in writing is fulfilled where that document meets the criteria in paragraph (3), and “written” and cognate expressions are to be construed accordingly.
(8) In a case to which this paragraph applies, and except where a contrary intention appears, the person making an application, appeal or objection or giving or serving the notice using electronic communications shall be deemed to have agreed—
(a)to the use of such communications for all purposes relating to the application, appeal, objection or notice, as the case may be, which are capable of being carried out electronically;
(b)that the address for the purpose of such communications is the address incorporated into, or otherwise logically associated with, the application, appeal, objection or notice; and
(c)that the person’s deemed agreement under this paragraph shall subsist until the person gives notice in accordance with regulation 32A that the person wishes to revoke the agreement.”.
3. In regulation 20 (notification of a decision)–
(a)after paragraph (2) insert–
“(2A) Notification in writing of a decision and reasons for the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be deemed to have been given to a person for the purposes of this regulation where–
(a)the Scottish Ministers and the person have agreed that decision and reasons required under this regulation to be given in writing may instead be accessed by that person via a website;
(b)the decision and reasons are a decision and reasons to which that agreement applies;
(c)the Scottish Ministers have published the decision and reasons; and
(d)the person is notified, in a manner for the time being agreed between that person and the Scottish Ministers, of–
(i)the publication of the decision and reasons on a website;
(ii)the address of the website; and
(iii)the place on the website where the decision and reasons may be accessed, and how they may be accessed.”.
4. After regulation 32 insert–
32A. Where a person is no longer willing to accept the use of electronic communications for any purpose which, under these Regulations, is capable of being carried out using such communications, that person shall give notice in writing–
(a)withdrawing any address notified to the Scottish Ministers or, as the case may be, to a planning authority for that purpose; or
(b)revoking any agreement entered into or deemed to have been entered into with the Scottish Ministers or, as the case may be, with a planning authority for that purpose,
and such withdrawal or revocation shall be final and shall take effect on a date specified by the person in the notice, being a date occurring after the period of seven days, beginning with the date on which the notice is given.”.