§ Lord Kilclooneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the area plan for Ards/Down area will be published; and what is the proposed procedure after publication. [H L6290]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:The Government aim to publish the draft North Down and Ards area plan at the end of November.
Following publication, a public exhibition of plan policies and proposals will be held in both Ards and Down for one week and officers will be in attendance to assist members of the public with any queries. Copies of plan documents will also be available at that time.
A statutory period of six weeks will be available from the date of publication for comment, representation or objection to the draft plan.
If objections are received and cannot be resolved, the department may then request the Planning Appeals Commission to hold a public inquiry for the purposes of considering such objections. If a public inquiry is held the department will consider the recommendations of the Planning Appeals Commission and then decide to adopt the plan, in whole or in part, with or without modification. A final version of the plan, incorporating any amendments or revisions will then be published.
Planning Service is now making provisional arrangements for the draft plan publication and public exhibition on the basis of this timescale.