The Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Acquisition and disposal of amenity lands N.I.

6.—(1) Where the Department considers that it is expedient to acquire land for the purpose of—

(a) conserving any area of natural beauty or amenity;

(b) establishing a nature reserve;

(c) providing means of access to any area of the kind referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b);

(d) providing, in or in relation to any such area or any National Park, facilities for the use of that area or Park by the public;

(e )F1 restoring or improving the appearance of a derelict site or of improving the amenities of the neighbourhood of a derelict site;

the Department may, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Department of Finance and Personnel, acquire such land by agreement (whether by way of purchase, lease or exchange) or otherwise.

(2 )F1  Where, for any of the purposes referred to in paragraph (1), the Department desires to acquire otherwise than by agreement any land, the Department may make an order vesting that land in the Department.

(3 )F1  Section 97(2) and (3) of, and Schedule 6 to, the [1972 c. 9 (N.I.)] Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 shall apply subject to the modifications specified in Schedule 2 for the purpose of the making of vesting orders under this Article.

(4 )F1  Where the Department is of the opinion that any land acquired under this Article would be more expediently or efficiently managed or conserved in the public interest[F2 by any person] the Department may, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Department of Finance and Personnel, convey, either for value or otherwise and upon such terms and conditions as the Department may think fit, that land to[F2 that person], and may—

(i) impose such restrictions as the Department may think necessary on the user of the land so conveyed; and

(ii) grant or reserve such rights over such land as the Department may think fit.

(5 )F1  Without prejudice to paragraph (4), the Department may, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Department of Finance and Personnel, dispose of any land acquired under this Article which the Department no longer requires for any of the purposes referred to in paragraph (1), upon such terms and conditions as the Department may think fit, and may impose restrictions and grant or reserve rights as if the land were conveyed under paragraph (4).

(6 )F1  Nothing in section 5 of the [1933 c. 6 (N.I.)] Stormont Regulation and Government Property Act (Northern Ireland) 1933 (which relates to the taking and disposal of land for the public services) shall affect the disposal by the Department of land acquired under this Article.

F1 functions transf. by SR 1999/481

F2 1989 NI 3