Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)
Northern Ireland's statutory nature conservation designation
An Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) protects land with notable wildlife, habitats, geology or landforms. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs declares it through the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. England, Wales and Scotland have no ASSIs; their equivalent is the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
What This Means
Living in the house, decorating, normal repairs and routine garden upkeep are unaffected. Often only part of the grounds is designated, and the house and garden fall outside it. On the designated land, listed operations need written consent from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency first. Draining, infilling, felling, earthworks and new hard standing are typical examples. Land merely near an ASSI needs no consent, though the planning authority may want a habitat survey. Damaging the protected feature without consent is a criminal offence. This does not normally affect mortgage approval, buildings insurance or resale.
Practical Advice
- Ask your solicitor to confirm from the statutory charges search which part of this property sits inside the ASSI.
- Get this site's ASSI citation and its schedule of notifiable operations from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
- Ask the Northern Ireland Environment Agency whether your planned extension needs ASSI consent as well as planning permission.
- Ask your solicitor whether any management agreement is registered against the land.
Additional Information
The ASSI is entered in Northern Ireland's statutory charges register and passes with the land. Any management agreement registered against it binds the next owner too. The site's schedule of notifiable operations is what tells you which works on this land are caught.