The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Transitional provisions

3.—(1) Where by virtue of paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Planning (2011 Act) (Commencement No. 3) and (Transitional Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 an application for planning permission is

(a) treated as if it had been made to the appropriate council under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (“the 2011 Act”),

(b) treated as if it were an application to which section 26 of the 2011 Act applies, or

(c) treated as if the Department had given a direction under section 29 of the 2011 Act that an application was to be referred to it

then, where on the day immediately before the day on which these Regulations come into operation, that application was one in respect of which the Department was required to make an appropriate assessment under the Principal Regulations, anything done by, to or in relation to the Department in connection with its functions in that regard shall be treated as if it had been done by, to or in relation to the council or, the Department, as the case may be in connection with its functions as amended by these Regulations.

(2) Anything done by, to or in relation to the Department in connection with its functions under regulations 49 to 56 of the Principal Regulations as they had effect immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations shall be treated as if it had been done by, to or in relation to the appropriate council under regulations 49 to 56 of those Regulations as amended by these Regulations.