PLANNING REFORM
REFORMS ARE AIMED AT ACCELERATING NORTHERN IRELAND’S PROGRESS TOWARDS NET ZERO, FACILITATING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DELIVERING MUCH-NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING… NI Chamber publishes proposals to reform the planning system
L-R: Stuart Anderson, Head of Public Affairs, NI Chamber, John Davison, Head of Strategic Communications, Turley, and Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive, NI Chamber.
Recommendations for reform of the region’s planning system have been published by Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), with the aim of accelerating Northern Ireland’s progress towards net zero, facilitating economic growth and delivering much-needed affordable housing. The plans include a far-reaching combination of system improvements, legislative and regulatory changes and proposals which would ensure the planning system is held to account for its performance in the future. Among recommendations is an overall focus on ensuring the entire system is
properly resourced, from the Department of Infrastructure to councils, statutory consultees and the Planning Appeals Commission. The report also proposes that planning authorities should be enabled to deem consent if statutory consultees do not respond within the deadlines set, and that performance of statutory consultees and planning authorities should be more effectively incentivised and controlled. It suggests the Department of Infrastructure uses its existing legislative powers to appoint independent commissioners to address some specific requirements, including the independent examination of
Local Development Plans. Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive, NI Chamber said, “A well performing planning function is key to instilling confidence in the market for potential investors and to enable the development of the required infrastructure, when it comes to connectivity, services, energy and reducing our carbon emissions.” The report was developed in partnership with independent advisor Turley and is available on the NI Chamber website. T: +44 (0)28 9024 4113 E: mail@northernirelandchamber.com www.northernirelandchamber.com
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