84.—(1) A planning authority may, if it considers that all or part of an architectural conservation area is of special importance to, or as respects, the civic life or the architectural, historical, cultural or social character of a city or town in which it is situated, prepare a scheme setting out development objectives for the preservation and enhancement of that area, or part of that area, and providing for matters connected therewith.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), a scheme prepared under that subsection may include objectives (and provisions for the furtherance or attainment of those objectives) for—

(a) the promotion of a high standard of civic amenity and civic design;

(b) the preservation and protection of the environment, including the architectural, archaeological and natural heritage;

(c) the renewal, preservation, conservation, restoration, development or redevelopment of the streetscape, layout and building pattern, including the co-ordination and upgrading of shop frontages;

(d) the control of the layout of areas, density, building lines and height of structures and the treatment of spaces around and between structures;

(e) the control of the design, colour and materials of structures, in particular the type or quality of building materials used in structures;

(f) the promotion of the maintenance, repair or cleaning of structures;

(g) the promotion of an appropriate mix of uses of structures or other land;

(h) the control of any new or existing uses of structures or other land;

(i) the promotion of the development or redevelopment of derelict sites or vacant sites; or

(j) the regulation, restriction or control of the erection of advertisement structures and the exhibition of advertisements.

(3) A scheme prepared under subsection (1) shall be in writing and shall be consistent with the objectives of the relevant development plan and any local area plan or integrated area plan (within the meaning of the Urban Renewal Act, 1998) in force relating to the area to which the scheme relates.

(4) (a) A scheme prepared under subsection (1) shall indicate the period for which the scheme is to remain in force.

(b) A scheme may indicate the order in which it is proposed that the objectives of the scheme or provisions for their furtherance or attainment will be implemented.

(5) A scheme shall contain information, including information of such class or classes as may be prescribed by the Minister, on the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the scheme.

F485[(6) In this section, and sections 85 and 86—

"city" means—

(a) the administrative area of a city council,

(b) a municipal district that includes the area of a city to which subsection (6) of section 10 (inserted by the Local Government Reform Act 2014) of the Local Government Act 2001 relates;

"municipal district" has the meaning given to it by section 22A (inserted by the Local Government Reform Act 2014) of the Local Government Act 2001;

"town" means a municipal district with a population in excess of 2,000 that is not a municipal district to which paragraph (b) of the definition of "city" relates.]