The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017

Appeal to the Welsh Ministers without a screening opinion or screening direction

48.—(1) Where on consideration of an appeal under section 174 of the 1990 Act it appears to the Welsh Ministers that the matters alleged to constitute the breach of planning control comprise or include Schedule 1 development or Schedule 2 development, they must, before any notice is served pursuant to regulation 49, make a screening direction.

(2) Where an inspector is dealing with an appeal under section 174 of the 1990 Act and a question arises as to whether the matters alleged to constitute the breach of planning control comprise or include Schedule 1 development or Schedule 2 development, the inspector must refer that question to the Welsh Ministers.

(3) Before receiving a screening direction the inspector may not determine the application which is deemed to have been made by virtue of the appeal under section 174 of the 1990 Act (“the deemed application”) except to refuse that application.

(4) Where a question is referred under paragraph (2), the Welsh Ministers must make a screening direction within 21 days beginning with the date on which the question was referred or such longer period as may be reasonably required, not exceeding 90 days from the date on which the person making the request submits the information required under regulation 46(2)(c).

(5) Where the Welsh Ministers consider that due to exceptional circumstances relating to the proposed development it is not practicable for them to adopt a screening direction within the period of 90 days beginning with the date of the request, the Welsh Ministers may extend that period by giving notice in writing to the person who made the request.

(6) The Welsh Ministers must state in any notice under paragraph (5) the reasons justifying the extension and the date when the determination is expected.

(7) The Welsh Ministers must send a copy of any screening direction made pursuant to paragraph (4) to the inspector.

(8) If the Welsh Ministers consider that sufficient information to make a screening direction has not been provided, they must give notice to the applicant and the authority by whom the regulation 45 notice was served, of the matters in respect of which additional information is required, and the information so requested must be provided by the applicant within such reasonable period as may be specified in the notice.

(9) If an appellant to whom notice has been given under paragraph (8) fails to comply with the requirements of that notice, the appeal in so far as it is a ground (a) appeal, lapses at the end of the period specified in the notice.