EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Planning (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 which prescribe fees payable to the Department of the Environment in respect of applications made under the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
The Regulations increase planning fees by approximately 1.3% overall and also make changes to the Regulations as follows: –
Regulation 2(2) introduces a nil fee exemption for applications submitted by non-profit organisations in respect of community facilities (including sports grounds) and playing fields.
Regulation 2(4)(b) removes the concessionary fee for re-submitted Consent to Display applications where an application has been withdrawn before a notice of decision is issued, and the same applicant makes an application within 12 months of the date of the previous application.
Regulation 2(6)(b) removes the concessionary fee for re-submitted Certificates of Lawful Use or Development where an application has been withdrawn before a notice of decision is issued, and the same applicant makes an application within 12 months of the date of the previous application.
Regulation 2(7)(a) introduces a reduced fee for applications submitted to renew extant planning permissions.
Regulation 2(7)(e) amends how the fees for mixed categories of development applications are calculated. The highest amount calculated now applies to only those applications which contain more than one of the site area based categories 5, 7 & 8. All other applications are based on the sum of each of the categories of development (Regulation 2(7)(c)).
Regulation 2(7)(f) substitutes Part 2 of Schedule 1. The new Part 2 corrects an anomaly in the existing fee for two or more dwelling houses (i.e. Category 2(i)) and provides a revised methodology for calculating the fee for Category 8 applications (based on multiplications of 0.1 hectare of the site area subject to a maximum).
A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in connection with these Regulations. A copy may be obtained from the Department of the Environment, Planning Headquarters, Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Town Parks, Belfast BT2 7EG (Tel: 028 9082 3493) or accessed at www.planningni.gov.uk/
The Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside the instrument on the Government’s legislation website: www.legislation.gov.uk/