Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

56.  After Article 85 (development schemes) insert—

“Power of Department to survey land for purposes of this Part

85A.   The Department may undertake, or cause to be undertaken, such surveys or studies as it may consider necessary for the purposes of this Part, including surveys or studies relating to any of the following matters—

(a) the physical and economic characteristics of any area, including the purposes for which land is used;

(b) the size, composition and distribution of the population of an area;

(c) the communications, transport system and traffic of an area;

(d) any changes in relation to the foregoing matters and the effect which the changes are likely to have on the development of Northern Ireland or any part thereof or the planning of that development.”.