Where any application is made to a relevant authority, the consent, agreement 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 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.

In this article—

• “application” means an application or request for any consent, agreement or approval required or contemplated by articles 9 (construction and maintenance of new, altered or diverted streets and other structures), 11 (temporary prohibition, restriction or regulation of use of streets), 13 (discharge of water), 15 (authority to survey and investigate land) and 42 (traffic regulation measures); and

• “relevant authority” means a relevant planning authority, a traffic authority, a highway authority, a street authority or an owner of a public sewer or drain as defined in article 13(7)(a).