Part 2Hearings

Admission of the public and appearances at a hearing

7.—(1) A hearing must be open to the public and any person attending a hearing for the purpose of reporting the proceedings is, so far as practicable, to be afforded reasonable facilities for taking their report.

(2) The persons entitled to appear at the hearing are—

(a)the applicant;

(b)the relevant local planning authority;

(c)any councillor of the relevant local planning authority for the ward in which the land, or any part of the land, to which the Crown development application relates is situated;

(d)any authority or person consulted in relation to the Crown development application under articles 20, 21 or 22 of the 2025 Order;

(e)any person who—

(i)made representations in relation to the Crown development application within the applicable representation period, and

(ii)when making those representations, requested to be heard.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (2) prevents the inspector from permitting any other person to appear at a hearing, and such permission must not be unreasonably withheld.

(4) Any person entitled or permitted to appear may do so on their own behalf or be represented by any other person.