When the beneficiary of the grant has not declared completion of the operation within four years of the date on which the start of execution was declared, the operation is deemed to have been completed. The Prefect will wind up the operation under the conditions set out in I of article D. 2564-17 and in the last paragraph of article D. 2564-18. No request for payment from the beneficiary may be made after this period has expired.
However, the Prefect may exceptionally, by reasoned decision, extend the deadline for completion for a period that may not exceed two years. Before doing so, he will check that the initial project has not been altered and that the beneficiary is not responsible for the incompletion of the operation.