A BILL TO

Amend the Planning Act 2011 (Northern Ireland), granting Northern Irish councils with full power over planning permission applications.

Section 1: Amendments

Section 1 of the Planning Act 2011 (Northern Ireland), will be amended to read the following:

(1) The Department must formulate and co-ordinate policy for securing the orderly and consistent development of land.

(2) Local councils must formulate and co-ordinate policy the planning of that development.

(3) The Department must—

(a) ensure that any such policy is in general conformity with the regional development strategy;

(b) exercise its functions under subsection (1) with the objective of furthering sustainable development and promoting or improving well-being.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) local councils must take account of—

(a) policies and guidance issued by—

(i) the Department for Infrastructure Development;

(ii)the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister;

(b) any other matter which appears to it to be relevant.

(4) The Department may undertake, or cause to be undertaken, such surveys or studies as it may consider necessary, including surveys or studies relating to any of the following matters, on the consent of the local council handling planning applications—

(a) the physical, economic, social and environmental characteristics of any area, including the purposes for which land is used;

(b) the size, composition and distribution of the population of an area;

(c) the communications, transport system and traffic of an area;

(d) any changes in relation to the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) and the effect which the changes are likely to have on the development of Northern Ireland or any part of Northern Ireland or the planning of that development.

Section 2: Commencement and short title

(1) This bill will come into effect on 6th April 2020, at the start of the next tax year.

(2) This bill may be cited as the Planning Act (2011) Amendment Bill (Northern Ireland).

This bill was submitted by the Rt. Hon /u/Trevism MLA PC CT KP, MLA for West Tyrone and 3rd Earl of Stockton, on behalf of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

This vote will end on August 23rd at 10PM.

Please vote Aye, No or Abstain only