118th Practice Direction Update to the CPR – Coronavirus Pandemic related

Articles
03 Apr 2020

A new Practice Direction (Practice Direction 51ZA – Extension of time limits and clarification of practice direction 51Y – Coronavirus) came into force on 2nd April 2020 and will cease to have effect on 30th October 2020.  It supplements and amends the 116th PD Update (PD51Y) and the 117th PD Update (PD51Z).

Essentially this new PD:

  • Doubles the time (from 28 to 56 days) that parties are allowed to agree extensions of time without recourse to or notifying the court, as long as hearing dates are not affected;
  • Longer extensions may be granted by the court and the court is required to take into account the impact of the pandemic when considering such applications;
  • PD 51Y (on audio and video hearings) is amended to make clear that a person seeking permission to listen to or view a recording of a hearing may do so by request (and is not required to make a formal application under the CPR).

 

Author

Alaric Watson

Call: 1997

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