The Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Application referred to the Department under Section 29 without an environmental statement

16.—(1) Where an application has been referred to the Department under section 29 for determination, and it appears to the Department that—

(a) it is a Schedule 1 application or a Schedule 2 application;

(b) the development in question—

(i) has not been the subject of a determination as to whether the development is or is not EIA development; or

(ii) in the case of a subsequent application, was the subject of a determination before planning permission was granted to the effect that it is not EIA development; and

(c) the application is not accompanied by a statement referred to by the applicant as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations,

the Department shall make a screening determination as to whether the development is EIA development, and paragraphs (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (14) and (15) of regulation 8 shall apply as if the referral of the application were a request made under paragraph (1)(a) of regulation 8.

(2) Where regulation 8(11) applies by virtue of paragraph (1) the Department shall, where necessary to ensure that the applicant has provided—

(a) in the case of applications for planning permission, the information referred to in regulation 8(3); and

(b) in the case of subsequent applications, the information referred to in regulation 8(6),

make a request for additional information before making a screening determination.

(3) Where the Department has determined that an application referred to it under section 29 for determination is an EIA application, but it is not accompanied by a statement referred to by the applicant as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations, the Department shall notify the applicant in writing that the submission of an environmental statement is required, and shall send a copy of the notification to the council in whose district the proposed development is to be situated.

(4) The Department shall notify the applicant in accordance with paragraph (3) within 4 weeks from the date of referral of the application or such longer period as may be reasonably required.

(5) An application receiving a notification pursuant to paragraph (3) shall, within 4 weeks from the date of the determination, inform the Department, in writing, that the applicant—

(a) accepts the determination and proposes to provide an environmental statement; or

(b) does not accept the determination and proposes to seek a hearing before the Commission.

(6) It the applicant does not inform the Department in writing in accordance with paragraph (5), the permission or subsequent consent sought shall be deemed to be refused at the end of the relevant 4 week period.

(7) Where, following receipt of a notification pursuant to paragraph (3), an applicant proposes to seek a hearing before the Commission, the applicant shall by notice in writing inform the Commission to such effect within 4 weeks from the date of the notification.

(8) Where the Department determines or, following a hearing by the Commission, confirms that an environmental statement is required, the statement shall be submitted within 6 months from the date of determination or such extended period as may be agreed in writing between the applicant and the Department, and if not so submitted, the application for planning permission or subsequent application shall be deemed to be refused.

(9) Where, following a hearing by the Commission, the Department withdraws its determination that an environmental statement is required, the period within which the application for planning permission or subsequent application is to be determined shall be calculated from the date of notice to the applicant of the Department’s withdrawal.