Before submitting an application for planning permission for a development of a class prescribed under this section the prospective applicant is, subject to the following provisions of this section, to comply with section 35B.

Subsection (1) does not apply to an application for planning permission to which section 42 applies.

The regulations in question may, in prescribing classes of development, make different provision for different cases or classes of case and for different areas.

A prospective applicant for planning permission for a development may, by notice, require the planning authority to state whether or not, in their opinion, the development is of a class prescribed under subsection (1).

Any notice under subsection (3) is to be in such form as may be prescribed in the regulations but must in any event contain the information mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 35B(4).

A planning authority receiving such a notice may, if they do not consider that it contains sufficient information to enable them to provide the statement sought, request the prospective applicant to provide additional information specified by them.

Where such a notice is given it is the duty of the planning authority to provide the requisite statement within the period of 21 days after it is given (or within such other period as may be substituted for that period by the regulations).

The period of 21 days mentioned in subsection (7) (or any other period substituted for that period) does not include any period between a request for information being made under subsection (6) and that information being provided to the planning authority

If the authority respond by stating that in their opinion the development is not of a class prescribed under subsection (1), then provided that the application for planning permission for the development in question is submitted within 12 months after the notice was given and does not differ materially from the information regarding it contained in the notice and mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 35B(4) the prospective applicant need not comply with section 35B.

In the case of an application for planning permission made to the Scottish Ministers, this section has effect as if any reference to the “ planning authority ” or “the authority” were a reference to the Scottish Ministers.