AQW 7861/16-21

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 24/11/2016
Answered On Date: 07/12/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail local councils’ powers under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to request the convening of a public hearing following the service of a notice of opinion indicating an intended decision on; (i) a planning application dealt with under 'call in' procedures; and (ii) currently undetermined planning applications retained and being dealt with by his Department after Local Government Reform.

Answer:

Under section 29 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011, where the Department serves a notice of opinion indicating an intended decision for a called-in application or a retained application (which is treated as a called-in application) the council may within the period specified in the notice request a hearing. The Department must afford the council the opportunity of appearing before and being heard by the Planning Appeals Commission or a person appointed by the Department.

For further guidance I would refer the Member to the Department’s Development Management Practice Note 13: Notification and Call In of Applications which is available on the Planning Portal.