The 59th update to the CPR comes into force on October 1, 2012 and, importantly, it brings in a raft of new practice directions for appeals. For we housing lawyers, page 81 of this document sets out the position for s.204 appeals. The appellant should now file proposed directions with the appellants notice. Those should be agreed (or alternatives proposed) within 14 days. Disclosure (in effect, of the housing file) must take place within 14 days of the filing of the appellants notice and the appellant then has a 14 day period to amend his notice.
They kept that change quiet. From memory, this looks pretty similar to something that HLPA were urging the Rules Committee to adopt.