The Planning (Local Development Plan) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

PART 2 Timetable

Preparation of the timetable

5.  The council must, in the preparation of the timetable, consult the planning appeals commission and such of the consultation bodies as the council considers appropriate.

Content of the timetable

6.—(1) This paragraph applies where the council proposes to prepare a local development plan.

(2) The timetable must include indicative dates for—

(a) each stage of the preparation of the local development plan including indicative dates for—

(i) publication of the preferred options paper,

(ii) publication of the plan strategy and publication of the local policies plan, and

(iii) adoption of the plan strategy and adoption of the local policies plan; and

(b) the carrying out of the appraisal under sections 8(6)(a) and 9(7)(a) and the preparation of the report on the findings of the appraisal under sections 8(6)(b) and 9(7)(b).

Agreement of the timetable

7.—(1) The timetable must be—

(a) approved by resolution of the council prior to submission to the Department for its agreement, and

(b) submitted to the Department.

(2) The Department must respond within four weeks of receipt of the timetable, unless it has, before the expiry of that period, notified the council that it requires more time to consider the timetable.

(3) If, before the end of the period specified in paragraph (2), the Department has failed to respond to the receipt by it of the timetable, it will be deemed to be agreed at the end of that period.

(4) Subject to paragraph (3) until such time as the Department agrees the timetable the council must not, in the preparation of a local development plan, take any steps under regulation 10 to advertise its preferred options paper.

(5) Paragraphs (1) to (4) apply to the revision of a timetable as they apply to its preparation.

Availability of the timetable

8.—(1) Where a timetable is agreed or deemed to be agreed under regulation 7, the council must—

(a) make a copy of the agreed timetable available for inspection during normal office hours at—

(i) its principal offices, and

(ii) such other places within its district as it considers appropriate;

(b) give notice by local advertisement of the following—

(i) that the timetable is available for inspection,

(ii) the place and times at which it can be inspected; and

(c) publish the timetable on its website.