Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

General functions of Department with respect to development of land

1.—(1) The Department must formulate and co-ordinate policy for securing the orderly and consistent development of land and the planning of that development.

(2) The Department must—

(a) ensure that any such policy is in general conformity with the regional development strategy;

(b) exercise its functions under subsection (1) with the objective of furthering sustainable development and promoting or improving well-being.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) the Department must take account of—

(a) policies and guidance issued by—

(i) the Department for Regional Development;

(ii) the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister;

(b) any other matter which appears to it to be relevant.

(4) The Department may undertake, or cause to be undertaken, such surveys or studies as it may consider necessary, including surveys or studies relating to any of the following matters—

(a) the physical, economic, social and environmental 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 matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) and the effect which the changes are likely to have on the development of Northern Ireland or any part of Northern Ireland or the planning of that development.