The Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Determination as to need for environmental statement, etc. N.I.

34.—(1) Where it appears to the council or, as the case may be, the Department that the matters constituting the breach of planning control comprise Schedule 1 development or Schedule 2 development, the council or, as the case may be, the Department shall, before an enforcement notice is issued—

(a) take steps to obtain information about the development, having regard to the requirements of regulation 8(3) and the obligations under regulation 32, in order to inform a screening determination; and

(b) make a screening determination and paragraphs (7), (14) and (15) of regulation 8 shall apply.

(2) Where it appears to the council or, as the case may be, the Department that the matters constituting the breach of planning control comprise or include EIA development, the council or, as the case may be, the Department shall serve with a copy of the enforcement notice a notice (“regulation 34 notice”) which shall—

(a) include a copy of the screening determination required by paragraph (1)(b); and

(b) require a person who gives notice of an appeal under section 143 to submit to the Commission with the notice sufficient copies of an environmental statement relating to that development to enable the Commission to comply with regulation 37.

(3) Where the council issues a regulation 34 notice it shall send a copy of the notice to—

(a) the Commission;

(b) any other council for the area in which the land to which the unauthorised EIA development relates is situated;

(c) any other authorities likely to be concerned by the unauthorised EIA development by reason of their specific environmental responsibilities or local or regional competences; and

(d) any particular person of whom it is aware, who is likely to be affected by, or has an interest in, the regulation 34 notice.

(4) Where the Department issues a regulation 34 notice it shall send a copy of the notice to—

(a) the Commission,

(b) the council or councils in the area in which the land to which the unauthorised EIA development relates is situated;

(c) any other authorities likely to be concerned by the unauthorised EIA development by reason of their specific environmental responsibilities or local or regional competences; and

(d) any particular person of whom it is aware, who is likely to be affected by, or has an interest in, the regulation 34 notice.

(5) Where the council or, as the case may be, the Department serves the Commission with a copy of a regulation 34 notice it shall also provide it with a list of the other persons to whom, in accordance with paragraph (3) or (4), a copy of the notice has been or is to be sent.

(6) Where a person gives notice of appeal under section 143 and the council or, as the case may be, the Department has served on that person a regulation 34 notice with which they do not agree, that person may by notice in writing, within 4 weeks of the date of service of the enforcement notice, inform the council or, as the case may be, the Department that they propose to seek a hearing before the Commission.

(7) Where, in relation to paragraph (6), a person proposes to seek a hearing before the Commission, that person shall, by notice in writing, inform the Commission to such effect within 4 weeks of the service of the enforcement notice.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 34 in operation at 16.5.2017, see reg. 1