The Planning(Northern Ireland) Order 1991

Special procedure for major planning applications

31.—(1) Where, in relation to an application for planning permission, or an application for any approval required under a development order, the Department considers that the development for which the permission or approval is sought would, if permitted—

(a) involve a substantial departure from the development plan for the area to which it relates; or

(b) be of significance to the whole or a substantial part of Northern Ireland; or

(c) affect the whole of a neighbourhood; or

(d) consist of or include the construction, formation, laying out or alteration of a means of access to a trunk road or of any other development of land within 67 metres of the middle of such a road, or of the nearest part of a special road;

the Department may within two months from the date of the application serve on the applicant a notice in such form as may be specified by a development order applying this Article to the application.

(2) For the purpose of considering representations made in respect of an application to which this Article applies, the Department may cause a public local inquiry to be held by the planning appeals commission.

(3) Where a public local inquiry is not held under paragraph (2), the Department shall, before determining the application, serve a notice on the applicant indicating the decision which it proposes to make on the application; 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) the applicant so requests in writing, the Department shall afford to him an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by the planning appeals commission.

(4) In determining an application to which this Article applies, the Department shall, where any inquiry or hearing is held, take into account the report of the planning appeals commission.

(5) The decision of the Department on an application to which this Article applies shall be final.

(6) In this Article “road” includes a proposed road and “special road”, “trunk road” and “proposed road” have the same meaning as in the [1980 NI 11] Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1980.