Part VII Enforcement
Enforcement notices
176 General provisions relating to determination of appeals.
F1(1)
On an appeal under section 174 the Secretary of State may—
(a)
correct any defect, error or misdescription in the enforcement notice; or
(b)
vary the terms of the enforcement notice,
if he is satisfied that the correction or variation will not cause injustice to the appellant or the local planning authority.
(2)
Where the Secretary of State determines to allow the appeal, he may quash the notice.
(2A)
The Secretary of State shall give any directions necessary to give effect to his determination on the appeal.
(3)
The Secretary of State—
(a)
may dismiss an appeal if the appellant fails to comply with section 174(4) within the prescribed time; and
(b)
may allow an appeal and quash the enforcement notice if the local planning authority fail to comply with any requirement of regulations made by virtue of paragraph (a), (b), or (d) of section 175(1) within the prescribed period.
(4)
(5)
Where it would otherwise be a ground for determining an appeal under section 174 in favour of the appellant that a person required to be served with a copy of the enforcement notice was not served, the Secretary of State may disregard that fact if neither the appellant nor that person has been substantially prejudiced by the failure to serve him.
F4(6)
If at any time before or during the determination of an appeal against an enforcement notice issued by a local planning authority in England it appears to the Secretary of State that the appellant is responsible for undue delay in the progress of the appeal, the Secretary of State may—
(a)
give the appellant notice that the appeal will be dismissed unless the appellant takes, within the period specified in the notice, such steps as are so specified for the expedition of the appeal, and
(b)
if the appellant fails to take those steps within that period, dismiss the appeal accordingly.