Part 2Hearings
Date and notification of hearing
5.—(1) The date fixed by the Secretary of State for the holding of a hearing must be—
(a)not later than 5 weeks beginning with the day after the end of the last representation period, unless the Secretary of State considers such a date impracticable, or
(b)the earliest date after that period which the Secretary of State considers to be practicable.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary of State must give at least the minimum amount of notice of—
(a)the date, time and place fixed for the holding of a hearing, and
(b)the name of the inspector holding the hearing,
to each of the persons entitled to appear at the hearing.
(3) The Secretary of State may vary the date, time and place fixed for the holding of a hearing and must give such notice of any variation as appears to the Secretary of State to be reasonable.
(4) In paragraph (2) “the minimum amount of notice” means—
(a)in relation to a hearing to be held regarding a Crown development application in respect of major development, 2 weeks;
(b)in relation to a hearing to be held regarding a Crown development application in respect of non-major development, 5 working days.
(5) Where the Secretary of State appoints another inspector instead of the person previously appointed and it is not practicable to give written notice under paragraph (2) of the new appointment before the hearing is held, the inspector holding the hearing must, at its commencement, announce their name and the fact of their appointment.
(6) Where—
(a)a notice of a hearing has been given under paragraph (2) or (3), and
(b)the Crown development application is withdrawn before the date fixed for the hearing,
the Secretary of State must cancel the hearing and, as soon as reasonably practicable following the withdrawal of the application, give notice of the cancellation of the hearing to the persons previously notified.
(7) In this rule, “major development” and “non-major development” have the meanings given in article 2 of the 2025 Order.