- Enforced by
- Local Authority
- Status
- Amended (in force with amendments)
- Penalty ceiling
- Imprisonment 11 of 98 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 11 carry different penalties and 76 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Does it bind you?
Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.
Plus 52 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.
Any Person — also bound by 2684 other Acts
Landlord — also bound by 238 other Acts
Occupier — also bound by 246 other Acts
Applicant — also bound by 325 other Acts
Trader — also bound by 864 other Acts
What it requires
Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.
Functions of Department of the Environment with respect to development of land
2 of 2 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Department must coordinate land development and sustainability policyCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Department must publish a policy on community involvement in developmentCrown / Minister / Government department
Local development plans
14 of 20 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must monitor local development and environmental factorsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must prepare a Statement of Community InvolvementLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Planning authorities must promote sustainable developmentLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must prepare and publish a local development plan timetableLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must prepare and adopt a plan strategy for their districtLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must prepare a local policies plan for land developmentLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must submit development plans for independent examinationLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Department must decide on the adoption of development plan documentsCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must review and report on their local development plansLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must revise plan strategies and local policy plans when requiredLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Department may direct a council to modify its development planCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NI Department may direct councils to create joint planning strategiesCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must follow government guidance on planning functionsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must submit an annual report on local development plan progressLocal authority
6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Planning control
19 of 57 sections shown- Obtain planning permission before carrying out any developmentAny Person
- Consult the community before applying for major development planning permissionApplicant
- Prepare a report on pre-application community consultationAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must follow regional strategies when creating simplified planning zonesLocal authority
- Submit planning applications in the correct form with required statementsAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must not process planning applications until notice requirements are metLocal authority
- Issue false certificate with planning applicationAny Person
- Issue false or misleading planning certificateAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Fail to apply for planning permission after council noticeOccupier
- Fail to make planning application after noticeOccupier
Fine up to £1,000
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must determine planning applications based on local plansLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must refuse planning applications that skip community consultationLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Planning authority must attach time-limit conditions to outline planning permissionLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council may issue completion notices for unfinished developmentsLocal authority
- Apply to the council for minor changes to planning permissionAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must notify landing owners and occupiers of planning changesLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Department may revoke or change planning permissionCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council may order the discontinuance of land use or removal of buildingsLocal authority
Unlimited fine
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must notify owners and occupiers of discontinuance ordersLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Department may order discontinuance of use or removal of buildingsCrown / Minister / Government department
- Willfully obstruct a planning authority officerAny Person
Fine up to £1,000
38 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Additional planning control
34 of 51 sections shown- Carry out unauthorised works on a listed buildingAny Person
- Execute unauthorised works on a listed building or breach consent conditionsAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must notify the Department before granting listed building consentLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must evaluate preservation needs when deciding on listed buildingsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must notify owners and occupiers of plans to change listed statusLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must follow specific notification procedures for unopposed consent changesLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Department must notify and consult before modifying listed building consentCrown / Minister / Government department
- Cause damage to a listed buildingAny Person
- Deliberately damage or risk damaging a listed buildingAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
- Issue false or misleading certificate for hazardous substances consentAny Person
- Issue false or misleading hazardous substances consent certificateAny Person
Fine up to £1,000 · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must determine hazardous substances consent applicationsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must notify owners and occupiers before modifying hazardous consentsLocal authority
- Apply to continue hazardous substances consent upon change of controlAny Person
- Contravene hazardous substances controlAny Person
- Store hazardous substances without consent or exceed permitted amountAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must ensure tree preservation and planting in planning permissionsLocal authority
- Replace protected trees that are removed, destroyed, or dieLandlord
- Contravene a tree preservation orderAny Person
- Cut down, damage or destroy a protected treeAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
- Carry out work on a protected tree in a conservation area without permissionAny Person
- Damage or remove a tree in a conservation area without permissionAny Person
- Obtain council consent before displaying advertisementsAny Person
17 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Enforcement
48 of 48 sections shown- Fail to comply with a planning contravention noticeAny Person
- Fail to comply with or provide false information in response to planning contravention noticeAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must follow restrictions when issuing temporary stop noticesLocal authority
- Fail to comply with a temporary stop noticeAny Person
- Ignore a temporary stop notice on developmentAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must issue specific and detailed enforcement noticesLocal authority
- Wilfully obstruct council enforcement officersAny Person
Fine up to £1,000 · amended 4 times (opens in a new tab)
- Fail to comply with a planning enforcement noticeAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 4 times (opens in a new tab)
- Carry out unauthorised reinstatement after enforcement noticeAny Person
- Reinstate unauthorised buildings or works after enforcement noticeAny Person
Fine up to £7,500 · amended 4 times (opens in a new tab)
- Contravene a stop noticeAny Person
- Fail to comply with a council stop noticeAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Department of the Environment must consult council before serving stop noticeCrown / Minister / Government department
- Fail to comply with a breach of condition noticeAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
- Pay for urgent preservation works carried out by the councilTrader
- Replace trees in conservation areas that are removed or destroyedLandlord
- Make false or misleading statements in planning certificate applicationsAny Person
2 years imprisonment · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Commission must allow parties to be heard and notify council of appeal resultsTribunal / Court
- Display an advertisement in breach of regulationsAny Person
- Display unauthorised advertisementAny Person
Fine up to £2,500 · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council officers may enter land to check planning complianceLocal authority
- Obstruct entry officer exercising planning rightAny Person
Fine up to £1,000 · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Compensation
12 of 12 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must pay compensation if hazardous substance consent is changedLocal authority
Purchase of estates in certain land affected by planning decisions
7 of 7 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must respond to a planning purchase notice within two monthsLocal authority
Further provisions as to historic buildings
5 of 5 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Department must serve a repairs notice before acquiring a listed buildingCrown / Minister / Government department
The Planning Appeals Commission
4 of 4 sections shownAssessment of council's performance or decision making
4 of 4 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NI Department must notify Council and allow access for performance assessmentsCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Council must respond to planning performance assessment reportsLocal authority
Application of Act to Crown land
8 of 8 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must apply for urgent Crown development permission via DepartmentCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Northern Ireland Department must process urgent Crown listed building worksCrown / Minister / Government department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must obtain consent from the Crown before enforcing on Crown landLocal authority
Correction of errors
2 of 4 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must correct errors in planning decision documentsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must issue written notices after planning error correctionsLocal authority
2 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Financial provisions
5 of 5 sections shownMiscellaneous and general provisions
22 of 22 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Department must review and publish report on implementation of ActCrown / Minister / Government department
- Obstruct an authorised officer entering your landAny Person
- Wilfully obstruct a planning entry officerAny Person
Fine up to £1,000 · amended 6 times (opens in a new tab)
- Fail to provide information when required by noticeAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 6 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must maintain a public planning registerLocal authority
Supplementary
5 of 6 sections shown1 other section in this Part — procedural and definitional
Schedules
1 of 171 shown- Postpone the first periodic review date for mineral permissionsLandlord
170 other schedules
Help complying
Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.
Starting a business in Northern Ireland
Complete guide to NI-specific requirements when starting a business. Covers devolved differences in employment law, business rates, planning, health and safety, and …
Check the rules that apply in Northern Ireland
Quick checklist of key Northern Ireland differences from Great Britain. Check employment law, health and safety, planning, business rates, and equality obligations …
Apply for planning permission in Northern Ireland
Most planning applications in Northern Ireland are decided by one of the 11 district councils, while the Department for Infrastructure handles regionally …
How doing business in Northern Ireland differs from Great Britain
Northern Ireland has its own laws and regulators for employment, equality, planning, health and safety and more, so GB businesses cannot assume …
Permitted development rights in Northern Ireland
Permitted development rights in Northern Ireland come from the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 and differ from England's. Work …
4 more guides that reference this instrument
Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.