Explanatory Memorandum

Planning Amendment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

2003 No. 430

Commentary on Articles

Other changes relating to enforcement

Article 13 ‑ Rights of entry for enforcement purposes

This Article allows officers of the Department to enter any land at all reasonable hours, on production of appropriate authority, for the purposes of investigating any alleged breach of planning control on that land or on immediately adjoining land. The provisions of this Article are more closely tailored to the Department's needs in obtaining information, preparatory to taking formal enforcement action. When taken together with the new "planning contravention notice" (for which Article 3 provides) the Department has comprehensive powers under Part VI of the 1991 Order to obtain essential information about any suspected or actual breach of control.