Countryside Management Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Change of occupation

9.—(1) Where during the period of an undertaking, there is a change of occupation of all or any part of the land to which that undertaking relates the former occupier (or, if he has died, his personal representatives) shall within 3 months notify the Department in writing of the change of occupation, and shall supply to the Department such information relating to that change in such form and within such period as the Department may determine.

(2) A new occupier of all or any part of the land who wishes to take on the undertaking shall furnish the Department with such information in such form and within such period following the change of occupation as the Department may determine.

(3) A new occupier of all the land may take on the undertaking where the Department is satisfied that—

(a) the former occupier had complied with the undertaking to the date of the change of occupation; and

(b) the new occupier is the lawful occupier of the land and has since the date of change of occupation complied with the undertaking.

(4) A new occupier of any part of the land or, as the case may be, the former occupier of all the land may take on the undertaking insofar as it extends to that part of the land which he occupies, or as the case may be, continues to occupy where the Department is satisfied that—

(a) such new occupier or, as the case may be, such former occupier of all the land, is the lawful occupier of the part of the land which he occupies and has since the date of change of occupation complied or, as the case may be, continued to comply with the undertaking insofar as it extends to the part of the land which he occupies; and

(b) it is reasonable for the occupier to do so having regard to the activities included in the undertaking and the part of the land which is occupied by the new occupier or, as the case may be, continues to be occupied by the former occupier of all the land.

(5) Where occupation of the land is divided the Department shall determine—

(a) the extent to which the activities included in the undertaking relate to any part of the land occupied by a new occupier or, as the case may be, the former occupier of all the land; and

(b) the proportion, if any, of the grant which would be payable under paragraph (7) for the remainder of the period of the undertaking in respect of that part of the land.

(6) Where the Department is satisfied as specified in paragraph (3), it shall, subject to regulation 7, make payments of the grant for the remainder of the period of the undertaking to the new occupier of the land who has taken on the undertaking.

(7) Where the Department is satisfied as specified in paragraph (4) it shall, subject to regulation 7, make payments of such proportion of the grant, if any, as it has determined under paragraph (5) are due for the remainder of the period of the undertaking to the new occupier or, as the case may be, former occupier of all the land who has taken on the undertaking.

(8) Where within 3 months from the date of change of occupation the undertaking has not been taken on in accordance with paragraph (3) or, as the case may be, paragraph (4), the Department may—

(a) withhold the whole or any part of any payment of grant under these Regulations due to the former occupier in respect of the undertaking; and

(b) recover from the former occupier or his personal representatives the whole or any part of any payment of grant under these Regulations already made to him in respect of the undertaking.

(9) The provisions of this regulation are, insofar as the grant paid under these Regulations includes aid under the Council Regulation, subject to Article 29 (transfer of holding) and Article 30 (force majeure) of Commission Regulation 1750/1999.