The Planning(Northern Ireland) Order 1991

Revocation or modification of planning permission

38.—(1) If it appears to the Department, having regard to the development plan and to any other material considerations, that it is expedient to revoke or modify any permission to develop land granted on an application made under this Part, the Department may, subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), by order revoke or modify the permission to such extent as (having regard to those matters) it considers expedient.

(2) Before making an order under this Article, the Department shall serve notice on the owner and occupier of the land affected and on any other person who in its opinion would be affected by the order; and if within such period as may be specified in that behalf in the notice (not being less than 28 days from the date of service thereof) any person on whom notice is served so requests in writing, the Department shall afford to him an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by the planning appeals commission.

(3) The power conferred by this Article to revoke or modify permission to develop land may be exercised—

(a) where the permission relates to the carrying out of building or other operations, at any time before those operations have been completed;

(b) where the permission relates to a change of use of any land, at any time before the change has taken place; except that the revocation or modification of permission for the carrying out of building or other operations shall not affect so much of those operations as has been previously carried out.

(4) An order made under this Article in respect of mining operations by surface working shall not prevent the continuation of those operations on any land in use for the purpose of those operations at the date on which the order comes into operation.

(5) Where the Department makes an order under this Article it shall serve a notice on any person mentioned in paragraph (2) stating the general effect of the order.