Regulation 4 Approval of application
Any eligible person seeking financial assistance towards the cost of any project to be undertaken under the Business Development Scheme shall submit an application for approval by the Secretary of State.
An application submitted for approval shall be set out in such form as the Secretary of State may from time to time require and the person submitting it shall furnish all such particulars and information relating thereto as the Secretary of State may require, and in particular—
sufficient information to show that the project is being undertaken by an eligible person;
confirmation that the project is located on, or is related to, an agricultural unit within an area selected for the operation of the Business Development Scheme;
a description of the measures comprising the project;
a statement that the project could not proceed without financial assistance under the Business Development Scheme;
a business plan including a 3-year cash flow projection;
a proposed timetable for the work to be undertaken consistent with the business plan and the cash flow projection.
More than one application may be submitted provided that the total amount of financial assistance to be received by the eligible person in respect of these applications does not exceed the limits mentioned in regulation 8(1)(a)(ii), 1(b)(ii) and 1(c)(iv).
The Secretary of State shall only approve the application insofar as it is aimed at the development of the rural economy in accordance with the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4253/88 and is to be carried out by or on behalf of the eligible person.
Subject to paragraph (3) above, the Secretary of State as he thinks fit may refuse to approve the application or may approve the application in whole or in part for the purposes of financial assistance and he may make his approval subject to such conditions as he may impose.