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Development Management

Last updated: 19 October 2012

Picture of a quarry Water Management Unit (WMU) is the unit within the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) with responsibility for the protection of the aquatic environment.

WMUs role in the planning system is to act as a consultee to DOE Planning Division.

Once an applicant makes a planning application DOE Planning Division will forward consultees a copy of the application form, all relevant plans and any other supporting documents that are submitted with the planning application.

WMUs role is thus to advise DOE Planning Division of the likely or potential impacts of the proposed development on the aquatic environment during its construction, operation and eventual decommission, if applicable.

To fully determine the potential impact of a development on the aquatic environment WMU may require specific information. Often there is not enough information available in a planning application for WMU to fully determine the likely impact on the aquatic environment. In such cases WMU may recommend that DOE Planning Division request further information from the applicant. Unfortunately this can delay the planning process.

WMU have therefore developed a number of planning Guidance Notes to provide advice to potential planning applicants as to WMU’s requirements and expectations when determining a planning application.

Current Guidance Notes can be accessed by clicking on the links below. Further Guidance Notes will be developed in due course.