Commentary on Sections Chapter 5: Applications: General Provisions Section 29 – Restriction on repeat applications
60.Section 29 deals with restrictions on repeat applications. If the Welsh Ministers have refused to grant an application for a direction an authority must not apply for a direction that is substantially the same, as the direction the application for which was refused, for a period of two years from the date of refusal.
61.Where a direction has been issued under section 6 (“the relevant direction”) (whether or not there has been a variation under section 13 or 17 or an extension under section 22), an authority must not during the period in subsection (5) make an application for another direction under section 1 that is substantially the same as the relevant direction. Under subsection (5), the period begins on the date the relevant direction has effect (subsection (5)(a)) and ends two years from the date when the relevant direction ceases to have effect (subsection (5)(b)). In the case of a variation under section 13 or 17, references to the relevant direction in subsections (4) and (5b) are to the direction as varied and where there has been an extension under section 22, the reference in subsection (5)(b) is to when the relevant direction ceases to have effect as extended. This means that an authority cannot make an application for a direction which is substantially the same as an existing one and which is timed to begin as soon as the existing direction comes to an end.  Instead it must apply for an extension (with the additional condition of demonstrating it has taken adequate action to date to address the housing pressure condition) to which there is a limit of ten years. Otherwise the authority must wait for a period of two years to expire from the date the direction ceased to have effect.