73.—(1) If it appears to a council that it is expedient in the interests of the proper planning of an area within its district (including the interests of amenity), regard being had to the local development plan and to any other material considerations—
(a)that any use of land should be discontinued, or that any conditions should be imposed on the continuance of a use of land; or
(b)that any buildings or works should be altered or removed;
the council may by order require the discontinuance of that use within such time as may be specified in the order, or impose such conditions as may be so specified on the continuance thereof, or require such steps as may be so specified to be taken within such time as may be so specified for the alteration or removal of the buildings or works, as the case may be.
(2) An order under this section may grant planning permission for any development of the land to which the order relates, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order; and the provisions of section 68 shall apply in relation to any planning permission granted by an order under this section as they apply in relation to planning permission granted by the council on an application made under this Part.
(3) The planning permission which may be granted by an order under this section includes planning permission, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order, for development carried out before the date on which the order was submitted to the Department under section 74; and planning permission for such development may be granted so as to have effect from—
(a)the date on which the development was carried out; or
(b)if it was carried out in accordance with planning permission granted for a limited period, the end of that period.
(4) Where the requirements of an order under this section will involve the displacement of persons residing in any premises, it shall be the duty of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in so far as there is no other residential accommodation suitable to the reasonable requirements of those persons available on reasonable terms, to secure the provision of such accommodation in advance of the displacement.
(5) Subject to section 74(8), in the case of planning permission granted by an order under this section, the authority referred to in sections 61(1)(b) and 62 is the council making the order.