7. Section 177H of the Act of 2000 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):

“(1) Any person (other than the applicant for substitute consent) or a planning authority may make submissions or observations (including submissions or observations as to the existence or absence of exceptional circumstances justifying a grant of substitute consent) to the Board in relation to an application for substitute consent, and any such submissions or observations shall be in writing.”.