17 September 2004
STREAMLINING OF PROCEDURES FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
DRD Roads Service plans to streamline the existing three-stage approach, required for major road improvements, to a single inquiry process.
There are currently three statutory procedures required before a major road development. The three stages include an environmental impact assessment; direction/designation order; and a vesting order. At each stage, opinions and objections can be expressed by the public, which, if they cannot be resolved by negotiation, may be brought to a public inquiry. The timing of a scheme and its progress through the statutory procedures is dependant upon the number of public inquiries, at any or all of these stages.
DRD Roads Service wants to streamline and improve the efficiency of the procedures, to allow the three statutory processes to take place concurrently within a single inquiry process. This would bring Northern Ireland more closely into line with the procedures in the rest of the UK.
Roads Service has started the legislative process to simplify the procedures and the Roads (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order, 2004, has been laid at Westminster. This is the formal process whereby a draft Affirmative Order is presented at both Houses of Parliament in advance of debates being scheduled.
The purpose of the Order, which was laid on Tuesday 7 September, is to amend the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order, 1993, to enable all or any of the statutory procedures to be taken concurrently within a single inquiry process.
The draft Order and Explanatory Memorandum can be accessed on the Department’s website – www.drdni.gov.uk/foi
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- There is a three-step process to be followed once the preferred route for a trunk road scheme has been chosen. These steps are, firstly, the publication of an Environmental Statement, which sets out the impacts of the proposal and lists measures planned to mitigate the effects. Secondly, the publication of a Direction Order, which defines the line of the new road along with associated closures and modifications to connecting roads. Finally a Notice of Intention to Vest is published which defines the extent of the land to be acquired for the scheme.
- Under the various provisions of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 the Department may be required to hold up to 3 separate public inquiries.
- The amendment Order will enable the Department to hold all three within a single inquiry process.
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