Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Urgent works to preserve building

161.—(1) Where it appears to a council that works are urgently necessary for the preservation of—

(a) a listed building in its district, or

(b) a building in respect of which a direction has been given by the Department that this section shall apply,

the council may, subject to the following provisions of this section, execute the works, which may consist of or include works for affording temporary support or shelter for the building.

(2) The ground on which the Department may give a direction that this section shall apply to a building is that the building is in a conservation area and it appears to the Department that its preservation is important for maintaining the character or appearance of the conservation area.

(3) If it appears to the Department that any works are urgently necessary for the preservation of—

(a) a listed building, or

(b) a building in respect of which a direction has been given by the Department that this section shall apply,

it may, subject to the following provisions of this section, execute the works, which may consist of or include works for affording temporary support or shelter for the building.

(4) If the building is occupied works may be carried out only to those parts which are not in use.

(5) The owner of the building must be given not less than 7 days’ notice in writing of the intention to carry out the works and the notice must describe the works proposed to be carried out.

(6) Subsections (7) to (11) have effect for enabling the expenses of works executed under this section to be recovered by the council or, as the case may be, the Department.

(7) The council or, as the case may be, the Department may give notice to the owner of the building requiring the owner to pay the expenses of the works.

(8) Where the works consist of or include works for affording temporary support or shelter for the building—

(a) the expenses which may be recovered include any continuing expenses involved in making available the apparatus or materials used; and

(b) notices under subsection (7) in respect of any such continuing expenses may be given from time to time.

(9) The owner may within 28 days of the service of the notice appeal to the planning appeals commission against the notice on any of the following grounds—

(a) that some or all of the works were unnecessary for the preservation of the building;

(b) in the case of works for affording temporary support or shelter, that the temporary arrangements have continued for an unreasonable length of time;

(c) that the amount specified in the notice is unreasonable or that the recovery of it would cause the owner hardship.

(10) The planning appeals commission must give notice of its determination, the reasons for it and the amount recoverable to the owner of the building and to the council or, as the case may be, the Department and the determination of the appeals commission shall be final.

(11) Any expenses recoverable by the council or the Department under this section shall be a civil debt recoverable summarily.