Northern Ireland is to get the toughest planning laws in the United Kingdom with fines of up to £30,000 and the threat of jail for those who blatantly flout the law.

The move follows the announcement that legislation that was lost when the assembly collapsed in October is to be passed through Westminster instead.

The new laws will give the Department of the Environment the power to stop the demolition of unlisted buildings and levy fines if the law is breached.

Local councils will have a legal consultative role in drawing up, modifying, varying and discharging planning agreements Angela Smith Environment Minister

Environment Minister Angela Smith said she wanted to "strengthen and improve the planning system in Northern Ireland and, importantly, to get tough with those who flout planning laws".

"Northern Ireland deserves a modern, effective and tough planning system," said the minister.

"For the first time the DoE will have spot listing powers. These will allow us to move much more quickly when buildings are at risk.

"And for those who demolish or alter a listed building without consent, the courts will have imprisonment as an option," she said.

The minister said she wanted to give locally elected representatives a greater say in planning.

"Under the Order, local councils will have a legal consultative role in drawing up, modifying, varying and discharging planning agreements."

House demolished

Northern Ireland's assembly members moved to change the law last year after several cases where they did not have the legislative backing to prevent buildings being demolished.

These included the former Belfast home of poet Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney.

I regard this provision as vital in order that the public can have confidence in the planning process Dermot Nesbitt MLA

The building was not listed and developers went ahead with the demolition despite appeals from politicians, including former Stormont Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt.

On Friday, he expressed "particular disappointment" the minister had not seen fit to include criminalisation as part of the legislation.

"Criminalisation would have meant that people who commence building without planning permission would be in breach of the law.

"I regard this provision as vital in order that the public can have confidence in the planning process," he said.

Mr Nesbitt said he would be seeking an urgent meeting with the minister to try to get her to consider the matter again.

The SDLP's Carmel Hanna said the proposed changes were far less radical than those sought by assembly members.

She said: "Fines for breaches of enforcement notices are also set to increase dramatically, although I fear that developers will simply factor this into their profit margin when deciding whether to knock a building down or not."