Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Temporary listing: building preservation notices

81.—(1) If it appears to a council that a building in its district which is not a listed building—

(a) is of special architectural or historic interest; and

(b) is in danger of demolition or of alteration in such a way as to affect its character as a building of such interest,

it may serve on the owner and occupier of the building a notice (in this Act referred to as a “building preservation notice”).

(2) A building preservation notice served by a council must—

(a) state that the building appears to the council to be of special architectural or historic interest and that it has requested the Department to consider including it in a list compiled under section 80; and

(b) explain the effect of subsections (3) to (5) and section 83.

(3) A building preservation notice—

(a) comes into force as soon as it has been served on both the owner and occupier of the building to which it relates; and

(b) subject to subsection (4), remains in force for 6 months from the date when it is served or, as the case may be, last served.

(4) A building preservation notice ceases to be in force if the Department—

(a) includes the building in a list compiled under section 80, or

(b) notifies the council in writing that it does not intend to do so.

(5) While a building preservation notice is in force with respect to a building, the provisions of this Act (other than section 103) shall have effect in relation to the building as if it were a listed building.

(6) If, following the service of a building preservation notice, the Department notifies the council that it does not propose to include the building in a list compiled under section 80, the council must immediately give notice of that decision to the owner and occupier of the building.

(7) Following a notification by the Department under subsection (4)(b) no further building preservation notice in respect of the building shall be served by the council within the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the notification.