Article 49 Procedure in relation to further approvals, etc.I1

Where any application is made to a relevant authority, the consent, agreement, certification or approval concerned must, if given, be given in writing and is not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

If a relevant authority which has received an application fails to notify the undertaker of its decision before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the application was received, the relevant authority is deemed to have given its consent, agreement, certification or approval, as the case may be.

Any application to which this article applies must include a written statement that the provisions of paragraph (2) apply to that application.

If before this Order comes into force the undertaker or any other person has taken any step in relation to an application to which this article applies, that step may be taken into account to determine whether the consent, agreement, certification or approval concerned should be granted provided that step would have been a valid step for the purpose of the application if it had been taken after this Order came into force.

Where any application is made to a relevant authority and the application includes submissions relating to the discharge of an obligation under Part 3 of Schedule 16 (protective provisions) at the same time, paragraph (2) does not apply to that application.

Where a consent, agreement or approval is required or requested by the undertaker from a relevant planning authority under a requirement in Schedule 2 (requirements) then the procedure set out in Part 2 of Schedule 2 for obtaining such consent, agreement or approval, and appealing against the refusal or failure to approve or refuse such consent, agreement or approval, applies.

In this article—

• “application” means an application or request for any consent, agreement, certification or approval required or contemplated by articles 13 (street works and power to alter the layout etc. of streets), 15 (temporary stopping up of streets and public rights of way), 17 (access to works), 19 (construction and maintenance of new or altered streets), 22 (discharge of water), 23 (authority to survey and investigate land) and 46 (traffic regulation); and

• “relevant authority” means the owner of a watercourse, public sewer or drain, a local authority, a traffic authority, a highway authority or a street authority.