Planning breaches will be addressed after crisis, says Antrim and Newtownabbey Council

To date the local authority has agreed to relax its approach to enforcement, specifically around essential deliveries and also for pubs, restaurants and cafes providing takeaway services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Routine enforcement is suspended with the exception of priority breaches which will be considered for appropriate action.

Planning Committee meetings have been suspended until further notice and no planning refusals will be issued until further notice.

Meanwhile, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced changes to the process for major planning applications, temporarily removing the requirement to hold a public event as part of the pre-application community consultation.

The changes, which came into effect on May 1, will apply for five months.

Applicants will still need to comply with other requirements to ensure communities are aware of and can input to major development proposals for their areas.

The Department says this will allow major planning applications to continue to be submitted “to keep Northern Ireland moving forward during Covid-19”.

The minister said: “The planning system will have a critical role in supporting our future economic and societal recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. It is vital that the process continues to function, keeping an eye to the future and to keep Northern Ireland moving forward at this difficult time.

“My team is working closely with local government in partnership to ensure the planning system responds as effectively as possible.

“If legislation is not implemented, this would result in the application process being invalid, leading to a backlog of major applications which could hinder our economic recovery after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

“Public participation remains an important part of the planning process and to ensure that this is not compromised, I will be publishing advice and guidance on appropriate measures to replace face to face public events, such as online engagement.”

The amendment will apply to proposal of application notices submitted to councils before or during the emergency period.

Michelle Weir, Local  Democracy Reporter.

--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.