Citation, commencement, interpretation and application

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Mineral Permissions and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008 and shall come into force on 22nd July 2008.

(2) In these Regulations—

^M3 “ the 1990 Act ” means the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 ;

^M4 “ the 1999 Regulations ” means the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 ;

“ by site display ” means by posting a copy of the notification by firm affixture to some object on the land or, as the case may be, on the surface of the land above the interest in question, sited and displayed in such a way as to be easily visible to, and readable by, members of the public without going on to the land;

“ EIA development ” has the same meaning as in the 1999 Regulations;

“ minerals ” has the same meaning as in section 336 of the 1990 Act;

“ relevant mineral planning authority ” means the body to whom it falls, fell, or would, but for a direction under paragraph—

fall to determine the ROMP application in question;

“ ROMP application ” means an application to a relevant mineral planning authority to determine the conditions to which a planning permission is to be subject under paragraph—

“ undetermined ROMP application ” means a ROMP application which was received by the authority with whom it was lodged before 15th November 2000 but which was not determined by 22nd July 2008.

(3) These Regulations apply in relation to England only.

Application of the 1999 Regulations to undetermined ROMP applications

2. —(1) For the purposes of the 1999 Regulations, an undetermined ROMP application shall be treated as if it were a ROMP application received by the authority with whom it is lodged on or after 15th November 2000 and the 1999 Regulations shall, subject to the following modifications, apply accordingly.

(2) In regulation 5 (requests for screening opinions of the local planning authority)—

(a) for paragraph (3) substitute—

“ (3) An authority receiving a request for a screening opinion shall, if they consider that they have not been provided with sufficient information to adopt an opinion, on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008, notify in writing the person making the request of the points on which they require additional information and of the matters specified in sub-paragraphs (e) and (f) of paragraph (7).

(3A) The authority shall publicise the notification in paragraph (3), by site display, within 14 days of that notification, for a period of at least 14 days. ” ;

(b) in paragraph (4) for the words “within three weeks” to the end substitute “ on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008 ” ;

(c) in paragraph 6 after “may” insert “ , within three weeks beginning with the date of the notification in paragraph (7) or such other period as may be agreed in writing with the Secretary of State, ” and omit sub-paragraph (a);

(d) omit paragraph (7); and

(e) after paragraph (6) insert—

“ (7) Subject to paragraph (7A), when the authority comply with paragraph (5) they shall notify in writing the applicant of—

(a) the period within which compliance with regulation 7(4) is required to avoid the suspension of minerals development;

(b) the period within which an environmental statement and compliance with regulation 14(5) is required;

(c) the fact that they will now proceed to adopt a scoping opinion;

(d) any further information required pursuant to a notification under regulation 10(3);

(e) the fact that minerals development will automatically be suspended under regulation 26A(18) if the applicant does not take the steps specified in regulation 26A(17) within the specified periods; and

(f) the authority's duty to make an order under paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to the Act after two years suspension under regulation 26A(18).

(7A) Paragraph (7) does not apply where the authority have adopted a screening opinion to the effect that the development is not EIA development.

(7B) The notification in paragraph (7) shall accompany the notification under regulation 7(2).

(7C) The authority shall publicise the notification in paragraph (7) with details of where the screening opinion can be inspected, by site display, within 14 days of that notification, for a period of at least 14 days.

(7D) The applicant shall affix firmly to some object on the land or, as the case may be, on the surface of the land above the interest in question, a copy of the letter referred to in regulation 7(4), sited and displayed in such a way as to be easily visible to, and readable by, members of the public without going on to the land within 14 days of the date of that letter, for a period of at least 14 days. ”

(3) In regulation 6 (requests for screening directions of the Secretary of State)—

(a) for paragraph (3) substitute—

“ (3) On, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008 the Secretary of State shall, if he considers that he has not been provided with sufficient information to make a screening direction, notify in writing the applicant or appellant, as the case may be, of the points on which he requires additional information and of the matters specified in sub-paragraphs (e) and (f) of paragraph (7), and may request the relevant planning authority to provide such information as they can on any of those points.

(3A) The Secretary of State shall send a copy of the notification in paragraph (3) to the relevant mineral planning authority.

(3B) The authority, or the applicant where a request has been made under regulation 5(6), shall publicise the notification in paragraph (3), by site display, within 14 days of that notification, for a period of at least 14 days. ” ; and

(b) after paragraph (5) insert—

“ (6) An applicant receiving a copy of a screening direction to the effect that the development is EIA development pursuant to a request under regulation 5(6) may, within 3 weeks beginning with the date of the screening direction, or within such other period as may be agreed with the authority in writing, write to the authority stating that he is providing an environmental statement.

(7) Subject to paragraph (7A), when the Secretary of State complies with paragraph (5) he shall notify in writing the applicant or appellant, as the case may be, of—

(a) the period within which compliance with regulation 6(6), 8(4) or 9(5) is required to avoid the suspension of minerals development;

(b) the period within which an environmental statement and compliance with regulation 14(5) is required;

(c) in the case of an application referred to the Secretary of State or an appeal to the Secretary of State, the fact that he will now proceed to issue a scoping direction;

(d) in the case of an application referred to the Secretary of State or an appeal to the Secretary of State, any further information required pursuant to a notification under regulation 11(3);

(e) the fact that minerals development will automatically be suspended under regulation 26A(18) if the applicant or appellant does not take the steps specified in regulation 26A(17) within the specified periods; and

(f) the authority's duty to make an order under paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to the Act after two years suspension under regulation 26A(18).

(7A) Paragraph (7) does not apply where the Secretary of State has issued a screening direction to the effect that the development is not EIA development.

(7B) The notification in paragraph (7) shall accompany the notification under regulation 8(2) or 9(4), as the case may be.

(7C) The Secretary of State shall send a copy of the notification in paragraph (7) to the relevant mineral planning authority.

(7D) The authority shall publicise the notification in paragraph (7) with details of where the screening direction can be inspected, by site display, within 14 days of that notification, for a period of at least 14 days.

(7E) The applicant or appellant, as the case may be, shall affix firmly to some object on the land or, as the case may be, on the surface of the land above the interest in question, a copy of the letter referred to in regulation 6(6), 8(4) or 9(5), displayed in such a way as to be easily visible to, and readable by, members of the public without going on to the land within 14 days of the date of that letter, for a period of at least 14 days. ”

(4) In regulation 7 (application made to a local planning authority without an environmental statement)—

(a) paragraph (1) shall apply as if the conditions in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) had been met and the request had been made on 22nd July 2008;

(b) in paragraph (3)—

(i) for “within three weeks beginning with the date of receipt of the application or such longer period as may be agreed in writing with the applicant” substitute “ on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008 ” ; and

(ii) omit “, after the expiry of that period of three weeks or of any longer period so agreed,”; and

(c) in paragraph (4)(b) for the words “is writing” substitute “ has written ” .

(5) In regulation 8 (application referred to the Secretary of State without an environmental statement)—

(a) paragraph (1) shall apply as if—

(i) the conditions in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) had been met and the request had been made on 22nd July 2008; and

(ii) at the end of paragraph (1) there were inserted “ and as if the reference to three weeks in paragraph (4) of regulation 6 was replaced with “on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008” ;

(b) in paragraph (3), for the words “within three weeks” to the end substitute “ on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008 ” ; and

(c) after paragraph (6) insert—

“ (7) An applicant may ask the Secretary of State to make a scoping direction under paragraph (1) of regulation 11. ” .

(6) In regulation 9 (appeal to the Secretary of State without an environmental statement)—

(a) paragraph (1) shall apply as if—

(i) the conditions in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) had been met and the request had been made on 22nd July 2008; and

(ii) at the end of paragraph (1) there were inserted “ and as if the reference to three weeks in paragraph (4) of regulation 6 was replaced with “on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008” ;

(b) In paragraph (4), after “notify the appellant in writing” insert “ on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008 ” ; and

(c) after paragraph (7) insert—

“ (8) An appellant may ask the Secretary of State to make a scoping direction under paragraph (1) of regulation 11. ” .

(7) Unless the authority have adopted a screening opinion or the Secretary of State has made a screening direction to the effect that the development is not EIA development, for the purposes of regulation 10, a request for the relevant planning authority to make a scoping opinion shall be deemed to have been made under paragraph (1) of that regulation on 22nd July 2008.

(8) In regulation 10 (scoping opinions of the local planning authority)—

(a) for paragraph (3) substitute—

“ (3) On, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008 an authority receiving a request under paragraph (1) shall, if they consider that they have not been provided with sufficient information to adopt a scoping opinion, notify in writing the person making the request of the points on which they require additional information and of the matters specified in sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) of paragraph (10).

(3A) The authority shall publicise the notification in paragraph (3), by site display, within 14 days of that notification, for a period of at least 14 days. ” ;

(b) for paragraph (4) substitute—

“ (4) An authority shall not adopt a scoping opinion in response to a request under paragraph (1) until they have consulted the person who made the request and the consultation bodies, but shall, on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after the date they adopted a screening opinion, adopt a scoping opinion and send a copy to the person who made the request. ” ;

(c) omit paragraph (5);

(d) for paragraph (7) substitute—

“ (7) The person who requested the opinion may, within three weeks beginning with the date on which the scoping opinion was adopted or such longer period as may be agreed in writing with the Secretary of State—

(a) write to the authority stating that he accepts their view and is providing an environmental statement; or

(b) request the Secretary of State to make a direction pursuant to regulation 11 as to the information to be provided in the environmental statement (a “scoping direction”) and notify the authority in writing that he has written to the Secretary of State to request such a direction. ” ; and

(e) after paragraph (9) insert—

“ (10) When the authority comply with paragraph (4) they shall notify in writing the applicant of—

(a) the period within which compliance with regulation 10(7) is required to avoid the suspension of minerals development;

(b) the period within which an environmental statement and compliance with regulation 14(5) is required;

(c) the fact that minerals development will automatically be suspended under regulation 26A(18) if the applicant or appellant does not take the steps specified in regulation 26A(17) within the specified periods; and

(d) the authority's duty to make an order under paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to the Act after two years suspension under regulation 26A(18).

(10A) The authority shall publicise the notification in paragraph (10) with details of where the scoping opinion can be inspected, by site display, within 14 days of that notification, for a period of at least 14 days. ” .

(9) Unless the Secretary of State has made a screening direction to the effect that the development is not EIA development, in the case of an application referred to the Secretary of State or an appeal to the Secretary of State, for the purposes of regulation 11, a request for the Secretary of State to make a scoping direction shall be deemed to have been made under paragraph (1) of that regulation on the date that the screening direction was made.

(10) In regulation 11 (scoping directions of the Secretary of State)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(a) for “the relevant request to the relevant planning authority” substitute “ the relevant request to the relevant planning authority where one has been made ” ;

(b) in paragraph (3)—

(i) before “notify in writing” insert “ on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 22nd July 2008 ” ; and

(ii) after “scoping direction” insert “ and of the matters specified in sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) of paragraph (8) ” ;

(c) after paragraph (3) insert—

“ (3A) The authority, or the applicant where a request has been made under regulation 10(7), shall publicise the notification in paragraph (3), by site display, within 14 days of that notification, for a period of at least 14 days. ” ; and

(d) after paragraph (6) insert—

“ (7) An applicant or appellant receiving a copy of a scoping direction pursuant to paragraph (4) may, within 3 weeks beginning with the date of the scoping direction, or within such other period as may be agreed in writing with the authority or the Secretary of State , as the case may be—

(a) in the case of an application referred to the Secretary of State or an appeal, write to the Secretary of State stating that he accepts his view and is providing an environmental statement; or

(b) where a scoping direction has been requested under regulation 10(7), write to the authority stating that he proposes to provide an environmental statement.

(8) When the Secretary of State complies with paragraph (4) he shall notify in writing the applicant or appellant, as the case may be, of—

(a) the period within which compliance with regulation 11(7) is required to avoid the suspension of permission for minerals development;

(b) the period within which an environmental statement and compliance with regulation 14(5) is required;

(c) the fact that minerals development will automatically be suspended under regulation 26A(18) if the applicant or appellant does not take the steps specified in regulation 26A(17) within the specified periods; and

(d) the authority's duty to make an order under paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to the Act after two years suspension under regulation 26A(18).

(8A) The Secretary of State shall send a copy of the notification in paragraph (8) to the relevant mineral planning authority.

(8B) The authority shall publicise the notification in paragraph (8) with details of where the scoping direction can be inspected, by site display, within 14 days of the notification in paragraph (8), for a period of at least 14 days.

(8C) The applicant or appellant, as the case may be, shall affix firmly to some object on the land or, as the case may be, on the surface of the land above the interest in question, a copy of the letter referred to in paragraph (7), displayed in such a way as to be easily visible to, and readable by, members of the public without going on to the land within 14 days of the date of that letter, for a period of at least 14 days. ” .

(11) In regulation 20(1) (availability of opinions, directions etc for inspection) for sub-paragraph (e) substitute—

“ (e) notification given under regulation 5(3), 5(8), 6(3), 6(7), 7(2), 8(2), 9(4), 10(3), 10(10), 11(3) or 11(8); ” .

(12) In regulation 26A (ROMP applications)—

(a) in paragraph (3) omit sub-paragraph (a) and in sub-paragraph (b) for “the authority” substitute “ the Secretary of State ” ;

(b) in paragraph (5) omit sub-paragraph (a);

(c) in paragraph (17) for sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) substitute—

“ (a) write to the authority or the Secretary of State within the three week or other period agreed pursuant to regulation 6(6), 7(4), 8(4), 9(5), 10(7) or 11(7);

(b) submit an environmental statement and comply with regulation 14(5) within four months beginning with the date of the notification in regulation 10(10) or, where a scoping direction has been requested under regulation 11(1), the date of the scoping direction, or within such other period as may be agreed in writing by the authority or the Secretary of State, as the case may be;

(c) provide additional information in accordance with regulation 19(1) within the period specified by the authority, the Secretary of State or an inspector in accordance with paragraph (16), or within such other period as may be agreed in writing by the authority, the Secretary of State or an inspector, as the case may be; or ” ;

(d) in paragraph (18), in sub-paragraph (a) for “six” substitute “ three ” and for “paragraph (17)(a)” substitute “ paragraphs (17)(a) and (d) ” ;

(e) in paragraph (22)(a) omit “unless either the mineral planning authority has adopted a screening opinion or the Secretary of State has made a screening direction to the effect that the ROMP development in question is not EIA development”; and

(f) after paragraph (27) insert—

“ (27A) This paragraph applies—

(a) where an authority has adopted a screening opinion, or the Secretary of State has made a screening direction, to the effect that the ROMP development in question is not EIA development;

(b) in determining for the purposes of paragraphs 2(6)(b) of Schedule 2 to the 1991 Act, 9(9) of Schedule 13 to the 1995 Act and 6(8) of Schedule 14 to the 1995 Act (determination of conditions) the time which has elapsed without the mineral planning authority giving the applicant written notice of their determination;

and where this paragraph applies, no account shall be taken of any period before the adoption of the opinion or the making of the screening direction. ” .

ROMP applications: suspension of planning permission for minerals development if screening or scoping information is not provided

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ROMP applications: duty to make a prohibition order after two years suspension of permission

^F24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .