Section 3 Approval of applications
Subject to the provisions of this Scheme, the appropriate Minister may approve an application in relation to any eligible land if the applicant—
has entered into a written agreement with the Forestry Commissioners for the conversion of the land to woodlands under the Woodland Grant Scheme;
submits to the appropriate Minister a conversion plan with respect to the land that is consistent with that agreement, and
occupies the land, and carries on, whether personally or by a manager, an agricultural business on an agricultural unit which includes that land, or
is, where the land comprises a common grazing, the grazings committee or grazings constable for that common grazing.
Subject to the provisions of this Scheme, the appropriate Minister may approve an application in respect of land comprising converted land, or eligible land in relation to which a conversion plan remains to be carried out, if the applicant—
occupies the land in succession to a previous occupier who was, in relation to that land, an initial entrant or a successor;
has submitted the application within 12 months of the termination of occupation of that previous occupier; and
carries on, whether personally or by a manager, an agricultural business on an agricultural unit which includes that land.
An application shall not be taken to be approved unless the appropriate Minister has given approval of it in writing.