26 Appeals against certificates under s. 25.S
(1)Where the local planning authority have issued a certificate under section 25 of this Act in respect of an interest in land,—
(a)the person for the time being entitled to that interest, or
(b)any authority possessing compulsory purchase powers by whom that interest is proposed to be acquired,
may appeal to the Secretary of State against that certificate.
(2)On any appeal under this section against a certificate the Secretary of State shall consider the matters to which the certificate relates as if the application for a certificate under section 25 of this Act 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.
(3)Before determining any such appeal the Secretary of State shall, if any such person or authority as is mentioned in subsection (1) (a) or subsection (1) (b) of this section so desires, afford to each such person or authority and to the local planning authority an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.
(4)Where an application is made for a certificate under section 25 of this Act, and at the expiry of the time prescribed by a development order for the issue thereof (or, if an extended period is at any time agreed upon in writing by the parties directly concerned and the local planning authority, at the end of that period) no certificate has been issued by the local planning authority in accordance with that section, the preceding provisions of this section shall apply as if the local planning authority had issued such a certificate containing such a statement as is mentioned in subsection (4) (b) of that section.