Part 3Inquiries

Site inspections

22.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the inspector may make an unaccompanied inspection of the land before or during an inquiry without giving notice of their intention to the persons entitled to appear at the inquiry.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply where a site inspection will involve inspection of closed evidence.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), during an inquiry or after its close, the inspector—

(a)may inspect the land in the company of the applicant, the relevant local planning authority and any statutory party, and

(b)must make such an inspection if so requested by the applicant or the relevant local planning authority before or during an inquiry.

(4) Where an accompanied site inspection will involve the inspection of closed evidence, paragraph (3) does not apply and the inspector—

(a)may inspect the land in the company of the applicant and the appointed representative, if any, and

(b)must make such an inspection if so requested by the applicant or the appointed representative before or during any inquiry.

(5) In all cases where the inspector intends to make an accompanied inspection, the inspector must announce during the inquiry the date and time proposed for the inspection.

(6) The inspector will not be bound to defer an inspection of the kind referred to in paragraph (3) or (4) where any person mentioned in that paragraph is not present at the time appointed.