Commentary on Sections Appeals to Lands Tribunal: valuation
300.The new section 97W of the 2003 Act sets out the rights of appeal to the Lands Tribunal in connection with the valuation which is carried out under the new section 97S.
301.Subsection (1) provides that the owner of the land and the Part 3A community body exercising its right to buy may appeal the valuation to the Lands Tribunal.
302.Subsection (2) requires such an appeal to state the grounds of the appeal and that it be lodged within 21 days of valuation being notified under section 97S(12).
303.Subsection (3) provides that the Lands Tribunal may reassess the valuation of the land.
304.Subsection (4) provides that the valuer may be a witness in the appeal proceedings.
305.Subsection (5) requires the Lands Tribunal to give reasons in writing for its decision on an appeal within 8 weeks of the hearing of that appeal. Subsection (6) provides that, where the Lands Tribunal considers that it is not reasonable to issue a written statement within 8 weeks, it must notify the parties to the appeal of the date by which it will issue its written statement.
306.Subsection (8) provides that the party making an appeal must notify Ministers within 7 days of the appeal and the date on which it was made. Subsection (9) provides that the Lands Tribunal must send a copy of its written statement of reasons on the appeal to Ministers. Subsection (10) states that failure to comply with subsection (8) or (9) has no effect on the Part 3A community body’s right to buy the land or the validity of the appeal.
307.Subsection (11) provides that Ministers are not competent parties to any appeal by reason only that they appointed the valuer.
308.Subsection (12) provides that Ministers’ powers under the Lands Tribunal Act 1949 to make rules are extended so that Ministers can make any rules necessary or expedient in connection with Part 3A.