Paragraph 2

Where the local planning authority have issued a certificate under this Schedule, the applicant for the certificate or the F1public gas supplier may appeal to the planning Minister against the certificate.

On the appeal the planning Minister shall consider the matters to which the certificate relates as if the application for the certificate had been made to him in the first instance, and shall either confirm the certificate, or vary it, or cancel it and issue a different certificate in its place, as he may consider appropriate.

Before determining any such appeal the planning Minister shall, if the applicant or the public gas supplier so desires, afford to them and to the local planning authority an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by that Minister for the purpose.

Where an application is made to a local planning authority for a certificate under this Schedule, and at the expiry of the time prescribed by regulations made under this Schedule for the issue of the certificate (or, if an extended period is at any time agreed upon in writing by the applicant and the local planning authority, at the end of that period) no certificate has been issued by the local planning authority in accordance with this Schedule, the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall apply as if the local planning authority had issued a certificate under this Schedule stating that planning permission for the carrying out of the controlled operations could not reasonably have been expected to have been granted.