This Order is the third commencement order made under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c.25) (2011 Act).

Article 2 brings into operation on 13^th February 2015 various provisions of the 2011 Act, listed in Schedule 1, for the purposes of making orders, rules and regulations and Article 3 brings into operation those provisions on 1^st April 2015 for all other purposes.

Article 4 provides for the transitional provisions, in Schedule 2, to cover the handling of undetermined applications made to the Department, enforcement action instigated by the Department prior to the transfer of planning powers, as well as transitional provisions for undecided appeals against a decision taken by the Department under the provisions of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and transitional arrangements for certain notices and orders made by the Department before the transfer of planning functions.