The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland (DoENI) has released a new consultation relating to deal with dangerous buildings and neglected sites, including property in a dilapidated state (with four options including issues of addressing special consideration for heritage sites) – the closing date for responses is 30 June.
The consultation states:
Stakeholders are keen that any new or amended legislation should properly address heritage issues and be more proactive, allowing action to be taken at a much earlier stage, thereby preventing avoidable decay in important buildings (section 5.15)
Four options for addressing legislative issues regarding dangerous buildings, neglected sites are considered, taking into account case law and precedents from elsewhere within the UK. Option four is presented as ‘the comprehensive overhaul of existing legislation and the broadening of powers to bring parity with legislation in other jurisdictions’.
DoENI writes:
Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan will issue on Monday 14 March a ‘Call for Evidence’ on permitted development rights for mineral exploration. This is the next step in his review into legislation to help councils deal more effectively with dilapidated/dangerous buildings and neglected sites.
Mark H Durkan said: ‘Neglected and derelict properties and sites blight our urban and rural environments. I want to ensure that councils have the powers to act against property owners and land owners who allow their buildings and sites to become dilapidated and, in many cases, dangerous. Our environment, built and natural, supports the economy and creates jobs. My Dereliction Intervention Programme has been very successful in helping local councils to boost tourism and support the local economy but we need to go further. This is why I undertook a review of existing legislation, some of which dates back to the 19th century. I have listened closely to councils and other stakeholders who have clearly indicated that although this legislation is effective in certain circumstances, it is deficient in others.’
The Minister concluded: ‘I want to hear from as many stakeholders as possible and encourage them to carefully consider this consultation document and take the time to respond with their views so that efforts can be focused on real solutions. This will help councils improve the quality of our cities, towns and villages by giving them more effective means to deal with dilapidated buildings and neglected sites. ‘In May the Department of Environment will no longer exist with its functions being transferred across a number of departments. I am seizing this opportunity to pave the way for legislation early in the new mandate to ensure councils have the powers to give our environment the level of protection it deserves.’
The consultation will run from 10 March 2016 to 30 June 2016.
View the press release
View the full consultation document
