Planning policies to promote private developments in aid of heritage

Environment Minister, Edwin Poots has launched a consultation on two new draft planning policies aimed at managing sustainable economic development.

'Planning Policy Statement 23 Enabling Development' could be employed in future to refurbish historic buildings and local industrial heritage and restore historical parks, gardens or demesnes.

According to a consultation document on PPS23:

"The essence of enabling development is that a scheme that would otherwise be unacceptable in planning terms, is necessary to generate the funds needed to secure the future of an identified place of heritage significance or scheme of significant regional or sub-regional benefit."

It adds: "The purpose of introducing such a policy is to maintain and enhance the standard of a wide range of community facilities in Northern Ireland including cultural, educational, social, health, built heritage and leisure facilities and the restoration and creation of wildlife habitat."

'Planning Policy Statement 24 Economic Considerations' may be used to give extra weight to a development that is likely to be of significant economic benefit to the city.

A consultation document on PPS24 explains: "Full account shall be taken of the economic implications of a planning proposal, including the wider implications to the regional and local economy, alongside social and environmental aspects in so far as they are material considerations in the determination of the planning application to which they relate.

"Where the economic implications of a proposal are significant, substantial weight shall be afforded to them in the determination of that planning application. In such cases, substantial weight can mean determinative weight."

Launching a consultation on the two proposals that runs out on Friday, May 6 2011, the Environment Minister said: "Draft PPS23 provides a mechanism for subsidising the restoration and the refurbishment of built heritage or other assets where there are clear public benefits and where the work cannot be funded by other means.

"It allows a development proposal that is contrary to established planning policy to be permitted where that development or its proceeds are needed to secure the long term future of the heritage asset in the public interest."

He continued: "Draft PPS 24 makes it clear that full account shall be taken of the economic implications, as well as the social and environmental aspects of a proposal when making planning decisions."

The Minister added: "Draft PPS 24 makes it clear that where the economic implications of a proposal are significant then substantial weight should be afforded to them. In such cases, substantial weight can mean determinative weight."

He urged applicants to ensure all information about development proposals was supplied at the outset. He said: "It is vital that planners have all the relevant information about the economic implications, positive and negative, at their disposal to make speedier decisions."