Minister updates Assembly on planning reform

Environment Minister Edwin Poots today made a statement to the Assembly on the proposals for reform of the planning system.

The Minister said that the proposals for reform represent the most far-reaching changes to the planning system in Northern Ireland in over 30 years.

He said: “It is important that we all contribute to the debate on how we can ensure that Northern Ireland has a first class planning system which serves the needs of all the people of Northern Ireland.”

A series of planning reform consultation events have been running at venues across Northern Ireland during September. The events are part of the formal consultation process on the proposals contained in the consultation paper, ‘Reform of the Planning System in Northern Ireland: Your chance to influence change’.

The remaining consultation events are scheduled to take place over the next week in Downpatrick, Ballymena, Armagh and Antrim. The events, which are open to everyone to attend, provide all interested stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss and put forward their views on the reform proposals.

The Minister added: “I would encourage everyone with an interest in planning to attend one of the remaining events and to also respond to the consultation paper.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The consultation period on the proposals in the ‘Reform of the Planning System in Northern Ireland: Your chance to influence change’ consultation paper closes on 2 October.

2. The schedule for the remaining events is as follows

Tuesday 15 Sept at 7.30pm, St Patrick's Centre Downpatrick;

Thursday 17 Sept at 7.30pm, Ballymena Showgrounds, Ballymena;

Monday 21 September at 10.30am, Market Place Theatre, Armagh; and

Tuesday 22 September at 7.30pm CAFRE, Greenmount Campus, Antrim

3. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of the Environment Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.