Whether there are guidelines to standardise the format and procedures for local planning inquiries and, if so, where these can be accessed.

The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) arrange public local inquiries for planning appeals, called in planning applications, amenity notice appeals, enforcement notice appeals, certificate of lawful use development appeals and tree notice appeals received on or after 3 August 2009, in accordance with Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2008. Cases of this type received by DPEA prior to 3 August 2009, are processed under the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) (Scotland) Rules 1997, and subsequent Amendment Rules 1998. DPEA also process Listed Building and Hazardous Substances appeal cases under this latter legislation, as well as a variety of other cases, that whilst not specifically referred to within the legislation, are processed in accordance with this by analogy.
The Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 govern development plan examinations submitted to Scottish ministers and administered by DPEA.
These documents are available on the DPEA website at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/decisions-appeals/Appeals/Legislation.