The Planning(Northern Ireland) Order 1991

Control of development on Crown land

116.—(1) This Article applies to development of Crown land carried out otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown at a time when no person is entitled to occupy it by virtue of a private estate.

(2) Where it appears to the Department that development to which this Article applies has taken place it may, if it considers it expedient to do so having regard to the provisions of the development plan and to any other material considerations, issue a notice under this Article (a “special enforcement notice”) and serve copies of it in accordance with paragraph (5).

(3) A special enforcement notice shall specify—

(a) the matters alleged to constitute development to which this Article applies: and

(b) the steps which the Department requires to be taken for restoring the land to its condition before the development took place or for discontinuing any use of the land which has been instituted by the development.

(4) A special enforcement notice shall also specify the date on which it is to take effect and the period within which any such steps as are mentioned in paragraph (3)(b) are to be taken and may specify different periods for the taking of different steps.

(5) A copy of a special enforcement notice shall be served, not later than 28 days after the date of its issue and not later than 28 days before the date specified in the notice as the date on which it is to take effect—

(a) on the person who carried out the development alleged in the notice;

(b) on any person who is occupying the land on the date on which the notice is issued; and

(c) on the appropriate authority;

but sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply if the Department is unable after reasonable enquiry to identify or trace the person mentioned in that sub-paragraph.

(6) Any such person as is mentioned in paragraph (5)(a) or (b) (whether or not served with a copy of the special enforcement notice) may, at any time before the date specified in the notice as the date on which it is to take effect, appeal against the notice to the planning appeals commission on the ground that the matters alleged in the notice have not taken place or do not constitute development to which this Article applies.

(7) The provisions contained in or having effect under Articles 69(4) to (8) and 70(1) and (2) shall apply to special enforcement notices and to appeals against such notices under paragraph (6) as they apply to enforcement notices and to appeals under Article 69 and the Department may by regulations apply to special enforcement notices and appeals under that paragraph such other provisions of this Order (with such modifications as it thinks fit) as it thinks necessary or expedient.