Explanatory Memorandum to Planning Amendment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Planning Amendment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

2003 No. 430

Commentary on Articles

Control over development

Article 18 – Demolition

This Article introduces an amendment to make it clear that all demolition comes within the meaning of development for planning purposes. However, for the time being, only buildings in areas of townscape character and those buildings whose demolition is already subject to planning control, i.e. historic monuments, listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas, are subject to this new regime. This is achieved by specifying in a departmental direction, under a new Article 11(2)(f), those buildings whose demolition does not come within the meaning of development for planning purposes and those buildings that do. The purpose of this is to avoid the possibility of a large number of planning applications for the demolition of relatively minor structures clogging up the planning process.