Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Local policies plan

9.—(1) A council must, after the plan strategy for its district has been adopted by resolution of the council or, as the case may be, approved by the Department, prepare a plan for its district (to be known as a local policies plan).

(2) The local policies plan must set out—

(a) the council’s policies in relation to the development and use of land in its district; and

(b) such other matters as may be prescribed.

(3) Regulations under this section may prescribe the form and content of the local policies plan.

(4) The local policies plan must be prepared in accordance with—

(a) the timetable set out in section 7(1);

(b) the council’s statement of community involvement.

(5) The council’s local policies plan must be consistent with the council’s plan strategy.

(6) In preparing the local policies plan, the council must take account of—

(a) the regional development strategy;

(b) any policy or advice contained in guidance issued by the Department;

(c) such other matters as the Department may prescribe or, in a particular case, direct,

and may have regard to such other information and considerations as appear to the council to be relevant.

(7) The council must also—

(a) carry out an appraisal of the sustainability of the local policies plan;

(b) prepare a report of the findings of the appraisal.

(8) A local policies plan is a local policies plan only if it is—

(a) adopted by resolution of the council; or

(b) approved by the Department in accordance with section 16(6).