Explanatory note

The Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 empowers a council to make simplified planning zone schemes. Such a scheme provides planning permission within the area covered by the scheme for development in accordance with the scheme without the need for specific application.

These Regulations are concerned with the procedure for making and altering such schemes. They are made under, and supplement the provision made by, Schedule 1 to the 2011 Act.

They make provision in respect of consultation and notification before depositing proposals (regulation 3), set out in regulation 4 the requirement for a title to the scheme, procedure after deposit of proposals (regulation 5), for making objections and representations (regulation 6), for consideration of objections by a council (regulations 8, 9, 10 and 11) and for modification of proposals (regulations 13 and 14).

They also specify the content or form of certain notices to be given by the council (regulations 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16) and by the Department (regulation 17).

They also make provision for the Department to call-in proposals (regulation 17) and to give certain directions (regulation 18).

Regulation 22 revokes the Planning (Simplified Planning Zones) Regulations 1990.

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to these Regulations. A copy may be obtained from the Department of the Environment, Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7EG. Telephone (028 90 823536) or accessed at www.doeni.gov.uk

The Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside the regulations on the government’s website www.legislation.gov.uk