Part 1Preliminary

Interpretation

rule 2 + 2.—(1) In these Rules—

term the 1990 act + “the 1990 Act” means the Town and Country Planning Act 1990(1);

term the 2025 order + “the 2025 Order” means the Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Procedure and Written Representations) Order 2025(2);

term applicable representation period + “applicable representation period” has the meaning given in the 2025 Order;

term appointed representative + “appointed representative” means a person appointed under section 321(5) or (6) of the 1990 Act(3);

term assessor + “assessor” means a person appointed by the Secretary of State to sit with an inspector at an inquiry or re-opened inquiry to advise the inspector on such matters arising as the Secretary of State may specify;

term closed evidence + “closed evidence” means evidence which is subject to a security direction;

term crown development application + “Crown development application” means an application made under section 293D of the 1990 Act(4);

term document + “document” includes a photograph, map or plan;

term electronic communication + “electronic communication” has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(5);

term inspector + “inspector” means—

term land + “land” means the land or building to which the relevant application relates;

term last representation period + “last representation period” has the meaning given in the 2025 Order;

term persons entitled to appear at the hearing + “persons entitled to appear at the hearing” means the persons listed in rule 7(2);

term persons entitled to appear at the inquiry + “persons entitled to appear at the inquiry” means the persons listed in rule 19(1);

term recovered application + “recovered application” means a Crown development application which falls to be determined by the Secretary of State as a consequence of a direction given under section 293J(1) of the 1990 Act(7);

term relevant local planning authority + “relevant local planning authority” has the meaning given in the 2025 Order;

term re opened inquiry + “re-opened inquiry” means an inquiry which, having been closed, is re-opened to consider any new evidence or any new matter of fact, or following the quashing of the decision following the original inquiry;

term security direction + “security direction” means a direction given by the Secretary of State under section 321(3) of the 1990 Act;

term standard application + “standard application” means a Crown development application which falls to be determined by a person appointed by the Secretary of State under section 293I of the 1990 Act;

term starting date + “starting date” means the date of the notice given by the Secretary of State under rule 13(1);

term statement of case + “statement of case” has the meaning given in rule 13(3);

term statutory party + “statutory party” means a person specified in article 9(1) of the 2025 Order to whom a notice must be sent by the applicant;

term working day + “working day” means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(8) is a bank holiday in England.

(2) Any reference in these Rules to a Crown development application, a standard application or a recovered application also includes a reference to any connected listed building application (within the meaning of the 2025 Order).