This Order amends the Planning (General Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 (“the 1993 Order”).

Article 2 inserts definitions of “the EIA Regulations”, “EIA development” and “sensitive area” into Article 2 of the 1993 Order and inserts paragraph (8) of Article 3 to that Order. The inserted provision provides that the 1993 Order cannot grant planning permission for development falling within the scope of the EIA Regulations unless the Department of the Environment has determined that the proposed development is not EIA development.

The Schedule to this Order amends by substitution Part 6 of Schedule 1 to the 1993 Order. The main changes are an increase of the size limitation of permitted development rights for agricultural buildings from 300m² to 500m² and the introduction of new permitted development rights for anaerobic digesters on agricultural units.

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to this Order. A copy may be obtained from the Department of the Environment, Millennium House, 17-25 Great Victoria Street, Malone Lower, Belfast BT2 7BN (Tel: 028 90416967) or accessed at www.doeni.gov.uk..

The Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside the Order on the government’s website www.legislation.gov.uk.