In September 2018, the Land Development Agency was established on an interim basis by statutory instrument under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, as amended.
A General Scheme of the Bill to establish the LDA as a commercial state body was approved by Government for publication, consideration for pre-legislative scrutiny and priority drafting in July 2019. The pre-legislative scrutiny process is now complete and the Committee's report has been received by my Department.
I intend updating the Government shortly on a number of policy matters which have informed the drafting process for the General Scheme, taking account of the pre-legislative scrutiny process and the Programme for Government commitments. In this context the General Scheme of the Bill has been updated and, subject to the approval of Government, I intend to publish this updated General Scheme for information.
There will be further engagement with the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage following the publication of the Bill.