Paragraph 4

England, Wales and Scotland

(1)

If either of the parties to an appeal, matter or question expresses a wish to appear before and be heard by the appointed person, the appointed person shall give both of them an opportunity of appearing and being heard.

(2)

Whether or not a party to an appeal, matter or question has asked for an opportunity to appear and be heard, the appointed person—

(a)

may hold a local inquiry or other hearing in connection with the appeal, matter or question, and

(b)

shall, if the Secretary of State so directs, hold a local inquiry in connection with the appeal, matter or question,

but this sub-paragraph is subject to sub-paragraph (3) below.

(3)

No local inquiry shall be held by virtue of this Schedule in connection with an appeal under—

(a)

section 42B(5) of the M1Control of Pollution Act 1974,

(b)

section ~~F122(5),~~ F2... or 78T(3) of the M2Environmental Protection Act 1990, F3or

(c)

section 191B(5) of the M3Water Resources Act 1991, F4or

(F5d)

regulation 53 of F6the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154),

F7;...

F8(d)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9(e)

regulation 55(1)(o) or (p) of the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018.

(appeals against decisions that information is not commercially confidential), or any matter involved in such an appeal, and any hearing held by virtue of this Schedule in connection with any such appeal or matter must be held in private.

(4)

Where an appointed person holds a local inquiry or other hearing by virtue of this Schedule, an assessor may be appointed by the Secretary of State to sit with the appointed person at the inquiry or hearing and advise him on any matters arising, notwithstanding that the appointed person is to determine the appeal, matter or question.

(5)

Subject to paragraph 5 below, the costs of a local inquiry held under this Schedule shall be defrayed by the Secretary of State.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in Sch. 20 para. 4(3)(b) repealed (1.4.2015 for S.) by Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 (c. 24), s. 7(3), Sch. 3; S.S.I. 2015/139, art. 3(d)
F2: Word in Sch. 20 para. 4(3)(b) repealed (E.W.) (6.4.2008) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3538), reg. 1(1)(b), Sch. 23 (with reg. 72, Sch. 4)
F3: Word in Sch. 20 para. 4(3)(b) omitted (E.W.) (1.8.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/1973, reg. 39, Sch. 10 para. 19(a) and (S.) (28.9.2000) by virtue of S.S.I. 2000/323, regs. 1(1), 36, Sch. 10 para. 5(5)(a)
F4: Sch. 20 para. 4(3)(d) and word inserted (E.W.) (1.8.2000) by S.I. 2000/1973, reg. 39, Sch. 10 para. 19(b)
F5: Sch. 20 para. 4(3)(d) substituted (E.W.) (6.4.2010) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/675), reg. 1(1)(b), Sch. 26 para. 13(7) (with reg. 1(2), Sch. 4)
F6: Words in Sch. 20 para. 4(3)(d) substituted (E.W.) (1.1.2017) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154), reg. 1(1), Sch. 29 Pt. 1 para. 13(4) (with regs. 1(3), 77-79, Sch. 4)
F7: Word in Sch. 20 para. 4(3) omitted (S.) (1.4.2006) by virtue of The Water Environment (Consequential and Savings Provisions) (Scotland) Order 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/181), sch. Pt. 4 para. 8(6)(a)
F8: Sch. 20 para. 4(3)(d) omitted (S.) (1.11.2025) by virtue of The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 5(6)(a) (with sch. 23)
F9: Sch. 20 para. 4(3)(e) substituted (S.) (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 5(6)(b) (with sch. 23)

Marginal citations

M1: 1974 c. 40.
M2: 1990 c. 43.
M3: 1991 c. 57.

Notes on Schedule 20

Modifications

C1

Sch. 20 applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (4.5.2000) by S.I. 2000/1043, reg. 8

Sch. 20 applied (S.) (8.5.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/95, reg. 8