This Order revokes the Planning (General Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 (“the 1993 Order”) and subsequent amendment orders.

The main purpose of this Order is to permit the management of development within a new two tier planning system with both councils and the Department operating as planning authorities where appropriate.

Many of the development management functions from the 1993 Order are replicated in this Order, but there are also new provisions that relate to either the operation of the two tier system or that implement the reforms introduced by the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, (“the 2011 Act”).

This Order relates purely to development management, those provisions in the 1993 Order that dealt with permitted development have been moved and can now be found in a separate permitted development order.

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to this Order. A copy may be obtained from the Department of the Environment, Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Town Parks, Belfast, BT2 7EG or accessed at www.doeni.gov.uk.

The Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside the Order on the government’s website www.legislation.gov.uk.