For more information on the Construction Employers Federation,
T: (028) 9087 7143 E: mail@cefni.co.uk visit: www.cefni.co.uk
PLANNING REVIEW AND ENGAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP With the closing date for
submissions to the Department for Infrastructure’s Review of 2011 Planning Act having passed on 16th April, the CEF is working with others in the business community to ensure that the Department takes forward a reform programme before next year’s Assembly election. Within the CEF’s response to the Review we have called for changes to be made to future processes relating to the development of Local Development Plans; an enhanced role for PAD’s on major and regionally significant applications; statutory timeframes for responses for statutory consultees; and greater flexibility for applicants seeking minor amendments or non-material changes to approved applications; among a series of other recommendations.
BUILDING REGULATIONS Although seen by the Department of Finance as only a partial uplift, with further changes to be consulted on after next year’s Assembly election, Part F of the Building Regulations is likely to be revised this autumn. A public consultation is due in advance of this with the focus likely to fall on areas such as: a better/lower carbon dioxide emissions performance of new buildings; more use of PV panels – but not mandatory at this stage; a ‘fabric first’ approach – focus on enhancing insulation. Overall, the aim for dwellings is 25-40% betterment against the current emissions target. Investment Board has recently conducted a Call for Evidence on a new NI Executive Investment Strategy for the coming decade. The document, which will also take a 30-year look at our infrastructure needs, is one of the fundamental building blocks of our recovery from the pandemic and it is crucial that it is both ambitious and deliverable. To this end, the CEF met with SIB in late March and submitted a robust response to the Call for Evidence. We look forward to seeing a number of the key themes we identified addressed in the summer’s consultation. INVESTMENT STRATEGY Ahead of a formal consultation in the summer, the Strategic
HOUSING SUPPLY STRATEGY CEF, FMB and NIFHA have recently joined forces on a number of public calls for a specific Housing outcome to be included in the Programme for Government. While we await the publication of the final PfG, the Department for Communities will soon begin consultation on a new Housing Supply Strategy for NI. Given that many of the key factors leading to an increase in housing supply lie outside of DfC’s direct remit, e.g. water infrastructure deficit, it is vital that such a strategy cuts across a number of Executive Departments for it to stand any chance of success.
www.northernbuilder.co.uk
FOLLOW US ON:
NI BUILDER | 7
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online