§ 46. Mr. Clifford ForsytheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes he proposes to make to Northern Ireland planning legislation.
§ Mr. NeedhamI intend to lay a draft Planning (Northern Ireland) Order before the House in April.
Northern Ireland Members have already been consulted on the proposed draft order, the main points of which will be the introduction of simplified planning zones; discontinuance notices; planning agreements and measures for controlling the storage and use of hazardous substances. This will bring the planning law in Northern Ireland substantially into line with that in Great Britain. Also, the draft order will introduce a new measure—a submission notice procedure whereby the Department of Environment (NI) could require the submission of a planning application from anyone carrying out development without planning permission.