The Laganside Development(Northern Ireland) Order 1989

PART IIIOBJECT AND POWERS OF THE CORPORATION

Object and general powers of the Corporation

Object and general powers of the Corporation

10.—(1) The object of the Corporation shall be to secure the regeneration of the designated area.

(2) The object is to be achieved in particular by the following means—

(a)by bringing land and buildings into effective use;

(b)by encouraging public and private investment and the development of existing and new industry and commerce;

(c)by creating an attractive environment; and

(d)by ensuring that housing, social, recreational and cultural facilities are available to encourage people to live and work in the area.

(3) Subject to Article 11, for the purpose of achieving the object the Corporation may—

(a)acquire, hold, manage, reclaim and dispose of land and other property;

(b)carry out building and other operations;

(c)carry on any business or undertaking for the purposes of the object; and

(d)generally do anything necessary or expedient for the purposes of the object or for purposes incidental to those purposes.

(4) No provision of this Order by virtue of which any power is exercisable by the Corporation shall be construed as limiting the effect of paragraph (3).

(5) Paragraph (3) relates only to the capacity of the Corporation as a statutory corporation; and nothing in this Article authorises the Corporation to disregard any statutory provision or rule of law.

(6) A transaction between a person and the Corporation shall not be invalidated by reason of any failure by the Corporation to observe the object in paragraph (1) or the requirement in paragraph (3) that the Corporation shall exercise the powers conferred by that paragraph for the purpose of achieving that object.

Directions to the Corporation by Department

11.—(1) Without prejudice to any provision of this Order requiring the consent of the Department to be obtained for anything to be done by the Corporation, the Department may give directions of a general or specific nature to the Corporation as to the manner in which it is to discharge its functions under this Order.

(2) The Corporation shall act in accordance with any direction given to it under paragraph (1).

(3) Before giving a direction under paragraph (1) the Department shall consult the Corporation, unless the Department is satisfied that because of urgency consultation is impracticable.

(4) A transaction between a person and the Corporation acting in purported exercise of its powers under this Order shall not be void by reason only that it was carried out in contravention of a direction given under paragraph (1), and such a person shall not be concerned to see or enquire whether a direction under that paragraph has been given or complied with.

(5) Where—

(a)the Department gives a direction to the Corporation under paragraph (1) to execute any works which the Corporation has power to execute under this Order; and

(b)the Corporation refuses to execute those works or does not comply with the direction within such time as the Department may specify,

the Department may execute those works in place of the Corporation and the provisions of this Order shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to the execution of those works by the Department as they would have applied to their execution by the Corporation.

Miscellaneous powers

Power to provide financial assistance

12.—(1) The Corporation may, after consultation with the Department, provide financial assistance for any body or person doing or intending to do in the designated area anything falling within paragraph (2).

(2) Financial assistance under paragraph (1) may be provided for—

(a)the promotion, development or regeneration of commercial, industrial or other economic activity;

(b)the improvement of the environment;

(c)the provision of housing;

(d)the provision of social, cultural, recreational or community facilities;

(e)the refurbishment or restructuring of buildings;

(f)any thing not falling within sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) which the Corporation considers will benefit the designated area.

(3) Financial assistance under paragraph (1) may include—

(a)grants;

(b)loans;

(c)guarantees;

(d)the taking of any interest in property or in a body corporate.

(4) Article 4 of the Social Need (Northern Ireland) Order 1986(1) shall apply to financial assistance under this Article as it applies to financial assistance under Article 3 of that Order, but with the substitution for references to the Department of references to the Corporation.

Agreements for development of land

13.  The Corporation may—

(a)enter into an agreement with any person to develop any land in the designated area, whether or not the Corporation has any estate in that land; and

(b)do anything which is required in order to develop that land in accordance with such agreement.

Agency agreements with Departments and other public bodies for execution of works

14.—(1) Where under any statutory provision powers are conferred on a relevant body to execute any works (of whatever kind and for whatever purpose)—

(a)that body and the Corporation may enter into an agreement that the powers shall, to such extent and subject to such conditions as the agreement may specify, be exercised in the designated area by the Corporation on behalf of that body; and

(b)the Corporation shall have power to execute those works in that area and otherwise to carry any such agreement into effect.

(2) Nothing in any agreement under paragraph (1) shall authorise or empower a relevant body or the Corporation on behalf of that body to execute the works in question otherwise than in accordance with, and subject to, any statutory provision conferring, or relating to, the power to execute the works; and references to the relevant body in any such statutory provision shall for the purposes of the execution of any such works be construed as including references to the Corporation.

(3) The Corporation shall not enter an agreement under paragraph (1) with a relevant body other than a Northern Ireland Department except with the approval of the Department.

(4) The Department may enter into an agreement with the Corporation that the powers of the Corporation to execute any works under this Order shall, to such extent and subject to such conditions as the agreement may specify, be exercised by the Department on behalf of the Corporation and the Department shall have power to execute those works and otherwise to carry any such agreement into effect.

(5) The provisions of this Order shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to the execution of any works by the Department in pursuance of an agreement under paragraph (4) as they would have applied to their execution by the Corporation.

(6) In this Article “relevant body” means—

(a)a Northern Ireland Department;

(b)the Northern Ireland Housing Executive;

(c)the Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited;

(d)the Belfast City Council;

(e)the Belfast Harbour Commissioners;

(f)any other body (being a body established under a statutory provision) specified for the purposes of this Article by an order made by the Department.

Studies, etc. for purposes of this Order

15.  The Corporation may—

(a)carry out; or

(b)after consultation with the Department, give financial assistance towards the carrying out of,

such studies, investigations and research as the Corporation considers will further the object of the Corporation.

Consultation with Corporation on planning matters

16.  Where under the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1972(2) the Department is required to consult with the Belfast City Council about any matter relating to or affecting the designated area or land in that area, the Department shall also consult with the Corporation about that matter.

Powers in relation to the river

Power to execute works in relation to the river

17.—(1) The Corporation may execute such works in, on, across, over, alongside or adjacent to the river as it considers appropriate for the purposes of—

(a)improving the quality of water in the river;

(b)improving the immediate environment of the river;

(c)promoting the recreational use of the river;

(d)facilitating access to the river; and

(e)otherwise furthering the object of the Corporation.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the Corporation may—

(a)construct embankments, quays and footpaths alongside, or adjacent to, the river;

(b)dredge, reclaim land from, and alter or divert the channel of, the river;

(c)operate, maintain, repair, alter, extend or remove any works executed under this Order and any existing works; and

(d)provide such buildings, amenities, machinery, plant, apparatus and appliances as it considers appropriate in connection with any works executed under this Order and any existing works.

(3) In paragraph (2) “existing works” means works in, on, across, over, alongside or adjacent to the river which were executed at any time before the coming into operation of this Order and which, had this Order been in operation at that time, could have been executed by the Corporation.

(4) Schedule 2 shall have effect in relation to works under this Article.

Construction of bridges, weirs, locks and barrages

18.—(1) The Corporation—

(a)may, if so authorised by an order under paragraph (2), construct a bridge over, or weir, lock or barrage across, the river;

(b)shall not, unless so authorised by such an order, have power by virtue of any other provision of this Order to construct any such bridge, weir, lock or barrage.

(2) The Department may by order authorise the Corporation to construct a bridge over, or weir, lock or barrage across, the river and an order under this paragraph—

(a)shall describe the nature and extent of the works authorised by the order;

(b)shall include such information as may be necessary to indicate (within such limits of deviation as may be specified in the order) the situation, lines, levels and dimensions of the works;

(c)shall include such conditions relating to the works and their execution as the Department thinks fit;

(d)may include provision as to the management and operation of the completed works;

(e)may make such other provision as seems to the Department to be necessary or expedient in relation to, or in connection with, the works and their execution.

(3) Before making an order under paragraph (2) the Department shall take into consideration the reasonable requirements of navigation on the river.

(4) References in this Article to a bridge include references to a road, footway or railway over the bridge and to the approaches of any road, footway or railway to the bridge.

(5) The carrying out of works authorised by an order under paragraph (2) shall for the purposes of this Order be taken to be within the object of the Corporation; and it shall be the duty of the Corporation in carrying out any such works to comply with the provisions of the order.

(6) Paragraphs 2, 3, 5 and 6 of Schedule 2 shall have effect in relation to works under this Article.

Power to make byelaws as to use of river

19.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Corporation may make byelaws regulating—

(a)the use of the river for recreational purposes;

(b)the conduct of persons using the river for recreational purposes;

(c)the movement of vessels on the river;

(d)the use of lights on the river.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), byelaws under this Article may provide for the levying by the Corporation of tolls in respect of vessels using any lock which is under the management of the Corporation and in particular such byelaws may—

(a)fix, or make provision for the fixing by the Corporation, of the amount of such tolls;

(b)make provision for the collection of such tolls and for exemptions from such tolls;

(c)make such other provision in connection with such tolls as the Corporation thinks necessary or expedient.

(3) Byelaws under this Article shall not apply in relation to any part of the river within the limits for the time being of the jurisdiction of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners under the Belfast Harbour Acts 1847 to 1967.

(4) Byelaws under this Article shall be made and have effect as if sections 91 (except subsection (6)), 92, 93 and 94(1) of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972(3) applied to them as those provisions apply to byelaws made by a district council, and as if—

(a)for any reference in those provisions to a council or to the clerk of a council there were substituted a reference to the Corporation or to the chairman of the Corporation; and

(b)for any reference to the Ministry concerned there were substituted a reference to the Department and the Department of Agriculture acting jointly.

Powers in relation to land

Acquisition of land by the Corporation

20.—(1) The Corporation may acquire by agreement or compulsorily—

(a)land in the designated area;

(b)land adjacent to the designated area which the Corporation requires for purposes connected with the discharge of the Corporation’s functions in the designated area.

(2) Where the Corporation desires to acquire land compulsorily it may apply to the Department for an order (in this Article referred to as a “vesting order”) vesting the land in the Corporation and the Department may make a vesting order.

(3) Schedule 6 to the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972(4) shall, subject to the modifications specified in Schedule 3, apply for the purposes of the acquisition of land by means of a vesting order made under this Article in the same manner as it applies to the acquisition of land by means of a vesting order made under that Act.

(4) The power to make a vesting order in respect of any land by virtue of this Article includes power to create and vest in the Corporation new rights over the land as well as to vest existing rights.

(5) The Planning Blight (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(5) shall apply to land which the Corporation has resolved to acquire under this Article as it applies to land specified in Article 3(1) of that Order.

(6) The Corporation may, with the approval of the Department, make an order extinguishing or modifying any public right of way over land acquired by it under this Article; and subsections (2) to (9) of section 67F of the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967(6) shall apply to an order under this paragraph as they apply to an order under subsection (1) of that section, but with the substitution for references to the Holding Company of references to the Corporation.

Power to enter land

21.—(1) Subject to this Article, a person authorised in writing by the Corporation may, on production if required of his authority, at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of—

(a)surveying or examining the land in order to ascertain the suitability of the land for the execution of works or whether it ought to be acquired by the Corporation under Article 20;

(b)executing any works authorised or required by this Order to be executed by the Corporation;

(c)inspecting, repairing, altering, renewing or removing any works executed under this Order in or on the land;

(d)ascertaining whether or not circumstances exist which would authorise the Corporation to take any action or execute any works under this Order; or

(e)taking any other action authorised or required by this Order to be taken by the Corporation.

(2) No person shall be entitled to exercise the power of entry conferred by paragraph (1) in relation to any land unless the Corporation has given—

(a)where entry is required solely for the purpose of examination, at least 24 hours' notice of the intended entry to the occupier of the land; or

(b)where entry is sought for any other purpose, at least 6 days' notice of the intended entry to the occupier and to the owner if the owner is known,

or, in either case, such lesser period of notice as may be agreed between the Corporation and the occupier or owner.

(3) Where notice of intended entry for a particular purpose has been given as respects the first occasion on which the right of entry is exercised, no further notice shall be required before entering on the land on a subsequent occasion in connection with that purpose.

(4) If it is shown to the satisfaction of a justice of the peace on a sworn complaint in writing—

(a)that admission to the land which any person is entitled to enter by virtue of this Article, has been refused to that person, or that refusal is apprehended, or that the land is unoccupied, or the occupier is temporarily absent, or that the case is one of urgency; and

(b)that there are reasonable grounds for entry to the land for any purpose for which entry is required,

the justice may by warrant under his hand authorise that person to enter on the land if need be by force.

(5) Every warrant granted under this Article shall continue in force until the purpose for which entry is necessary has been satisfied.

(6) Any person entering any land by virtue of the power of entry conferred by this Article or by virtue of a warrant issued under this Article—

(a)may take with him such other persons and such equipment as may be necessary; and

(b)on leaving any unoccupied land which he has entered by virtue of such a power of entry or such a warrant shall leave it as effectually secured against trespassers as he found it.

(7) A person who intentionally obstructs any person who enters, or is attempting to enter, land by virtue of the power of entry conferred by this Article or by virtue of a warrant issued under this Article shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(8) Where works have been carried out on land in pursuance of this Article, the Corporation shall reinstate the land as soon as possible.

(9) Where—

(a)in the exercise of the power conferred by this Article or in executing any warrant under paragraph (4), any damage is caused to land or chattels, any person interested in the land or chattels may recover compensation in respect of that damage from the Corporation;

(b)in consequence of the exercise of any such power or the executing of any such warrant, any person is disturbed in his enjoyment of land or chattels, he may recover compensation in respect of that disturbance from the Corporation.

(10) Any question of disputed compensation under this Article shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

(11) Any power conferred by this Article to survey land shall be construed as including power to ascertain or fix boundaries or to search and bore for the purposes of ascertaining the course of any sewers or drains or of ascertaining the nature of the subsoil and to take and carry away, for the purpose of examination, specimens of the subsoil.

Information as to ownership of land

22.—(1) The Corporation may, for the purpose of enabling it to carry out any of its functions under this Order, by notice in writing require the occupier of any land and any person who, either directly or indirectly, receives rent in respect of any land, to state in writing the nature of his own interest therein and the name and address of any other person known to him as having an interest therein, whether as freeholder, mortgagee, lessee or otherwise.

(2) Any person required to give information in pursuance of this Article who without reasonable excuse fails to give, or knowingly mis-states, that information shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Disposal of land by Corporation

23.—(1) The Corporation may dispose of any land acquired by it or vested in it to such persons, in such manner and subject to such covenants or conditions as it considers expedient for securing the regeneration of the designated area or for purposes connected with the regeneration of that area.

(2) The Corporation shall dispose of any land acquired by it so as to secure (so far as practicable) that persons who were living or carrying on business or other activities on that land shall, if they desire to obtain accommodation on land belonging to the Corporation and are willing to comply with any requirements of the Corporation as to its development and use, have an opportunity to obtain on it accommodation suitable to their reasonable requirements on terms settled with due regard to the price at which any such land has been acquired from them.