PART 1FUNCTIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT WITH RESPECT TO DEVELOPMENT OF LAND
General functions of Department with respect to development of land
1.—(1) The Department must formulate and co-ordinate policy for securing the orderly and consistent development of land and the planning of that development.
(2) The Department must—
(a)ensure that any such policy is in general conformity with the regional development strategy;
(b)exercise its functions under subsection (1) with the objective of furthering sustainable development and promoting or improving well-being.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) the Department must take account of—
(a)policies and guidance issued by—
(i)the Department for Regional Development;
(ii)the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister;
(b)any other matter which appears to it to be relevant.
(4) The Department may undertake, or cause to be undertaken, such surveys or studies as it may consider necessary, including surveys or studies relating to any of the following matters—
(a)the physical, economic, social and environmental characteristics of any area, including the purposes for which land is used;
(b)the size, composition and distribution of the population of an area;
(c)the communications, transport system and traffic of an area;
(d)any changes in relation to the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) and the effect which the changes are likely to have on the development of Northern Ireland or any part of Northern Ireland or the planning of that development.
Preparation of statement of community involvement by Department
2.—(1) The Department must prepare and publish a statement of community involvement.
(2) The statement of community involvement is a statement of the Department’s policy as to the involvement in the exercise of the Department’s functions under Part 3 of persons who appear to the Department to have an interest in matters relating to development.
(3) The Department must prepare and publish a statement of community involvement within the period of one year from the day appointed for the coming into operation of this section.