Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Survey of district

3.—(1) A council must keep under review the matters which may be expected to affect the development of its district or the planning of that development.

(2) Those matters include—

(a) the principal physical, economic, social and environmental characteristics of the council’s district;

(b) the principal purposes for which land is used in the district;

(c) the size, composition and distribution of the population of the district;

(d) the communications, transport system and traffic of the district;

(e) any other considerations which may be expected to affect those matters;

(f) such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Department (in a particular case) may direct.

(3) The matters also include—

(a) the potential impact of climate change;

(b) any changes which the council thinks may occur in relation to any other matter;

(c) the effect such changes are likely to have on the development of the council’s district or on the planning of such development.

(4) A council may also keep under review and examine the matters mentioned in subsections (2) and (3) in relation to any neighbouring district to the extent that those matters may be expected to affect the district of the council.

(5) In exercising a function under subsection (4) a council must consult with the council for the neighbouring district in question.