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Variation of licencesN.I.

Objection to, and refusal of, applications to vary [F1heavy goods vehicle] licences on environmental groundsN.I.

18—(1) This section applies where notice of an application for the variation of [F2a heavy goods vehicle] licence has been published under section 16(4).

(2) Where the application relates to an existing operating centre of the licence-holder—

(a)any of the persons mentioned in section 11(2) may object to the grant of the application on the ground that the use of that operating centre in any manner which would be permitted if the application were granted would cause adverse effects on environmental conditions in the vicinity of that centre;

(b)subject to subsection (5), any person who is the owner or occupier of any land in the vicinity of that operating centre may make representations against the grant of the application on the ground mentioned in paragraph (a); and

(c)whether or not anyone objects or makes representations under paragraph (a) or (b), the Department may refuse the application on the ground mentioned in paragraph (a).

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), an application shall be taken to relate to an operating centre if—

(a)granting it would or could result in an increase in the number of [F3heavy goods] vehicles, or the number of [F3heavy goods] vehicles above a certain weight, that have that centre as their operating centre; or

(b)any undertaking recorded in, or condition attached to, the licence that the application seeks to have varied or removed relates to that centre.

(4) Where the application is for a place to be specified in the licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder—

(a)any of the persons mentioned in section 11(2) may object to the grant of the application on the ground that that place will be unsuitable on environmental grounds for use as an operating centre of the licence-holder; and

(b)subject to subsection (5), any person who is the owner or occupier of any land in the vicinity of that place may make representations against the grant of the application on that ground.

(5) A person may not make representations under subsection (2)(b) or (4)(b) unless any adverse effects on environmental conditions arising from the use of the operating centre or place in question would be capable of prejudicially affecting the use or enjoyment of the land there mentioned.

(6) If any person duly objects or makes representations under subsection (4) against an application for a place to be specified in the licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder, the Department may refuse the application—

(a)on the ground that the parking of [F4heavy goods] vehicles used under the licence at or in the vicinity of that place would cause adverse effects on environmental conditions in the vicinity of that place; or

(b)subject to subsection (7), on the ground that that place would be unsuitable on environmental grounds other than the ground mentioned in paragraph (a) for use as an operating centre of the licence-holder.

(7) The Department may not refuse the application on the ground mentioned in subsection (6)(b) if—

(a)on the date the application was made, the place in question was already specified in [F5a heavy goods vehicle] licence as an operating centre of the holder of that licence, or

(b)the applicant has produced to the Department a certificate in force in respect of that place under [F6section 169 or 170 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011] stating that its use as an operating centre for vehicles used under any operator's licence is or would be lawful.

(8) Subsection (7) does not apply in relation to any place that, at the time the application is determined by the Department, is specified in [F7a heavy goods vehicle] licence as an operating centre of the holder of that licence.

(9) A place is not to be regarded for the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (7) as being specified in [F8a heavy goods vehicle] licence by reason only that it forms part of a place so specified; and a place that was, on the date mentioned in that paragraph, a place specified in [F8a heavy goods vehicle] licence as mentioned in that paragraph shall be disregarded for the purposes of that paragraph if, on that date—

(a)the [F9heavy goods vehicle] licence in which that place was specified was an interim licence issued under section 21; or

(b)that place was so specified by virtue of an interim direction such as is mentioned in section 22; or

(c)such conditions relating to—

(i)the exercise of the right of any person to appeal against a place being specified in [F10a heavy goods vehicle] licence, or

(ii)the review under section 34 of any decision so to specify a place,

as may be prescribed were not satisfied in relation to that place.

(10) Any objection or representations under this section—

(a)shall contain particulars of any matters alleged by the person making the objection or representations to be relevant to the issue to which the objection relates or the representations relate; and

(b)shall be made in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time after the making of the application to which the objection relates or the representations relate.

(11) Where the Department considers there to be exceptional circumstances that justify its doing so, it may direct that an objection or representations be treated for the purposes of this Act as duly made under this section, notwithstanding that the objection was not, or the representations were not, made within the prescribed time or in the prescribed manner.

Textual Amendments

F6Words in s. 18(7)(b) substituted (13.2.2015 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation) by Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 25), s. 254(1)(2), Sch. 6 para. 106 (with s. 211); S.R. 2015/49, arts. 2, 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2) (as amended (16.3.2016) by S.R. 2016/159, art. 2)

Commencement Information

I1S. 18 in operation at 22.6.2012 for specified purposes by S.R. 2012/247, art. 2, Sch.

I2S. 18 in operation at 1.7.2012 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2012/262, art. 2 (with arts. 4-6)