Molloy welcome for planning announcement

MLA for Mid-Ulster Francie Molloy has welcomed the statement by the Minister of Environment Edwin Poots as the first step in moving planning in the rural areas forward.

Mr Molloy said while he welcomed the publication, he still had reservations as to how the policy will be implemented.

“Over the years we have seen a great deal of inconsistency across the various planning offices over the interpretation of policy

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We now have a chance for a new phase of planning for the future, having removed PPS14,” he said.

“There are now a number of opportunities for non farming rural dwellers with infill sites, clusters and cross roads development. Infill can now provide two dwellings and ribboning has now been re-defined as a minimum of three dwellings rather than six, which has been the practice to date.

“There is also the new provision of rounding off clusters of development around halls, churches, schools or indeed cross roads, provided it rounds off the development rather than extends it. The regulations around farm clusters has been extended to allow for a site to be relocated slightly out of the farm cluster for health and safety or other such issues,” he said.

And he added that the final PPS 21 document can be a way to move forward but that it will need flexibility and facilitation by planning offices.

“I hope that this can be achieved to allow those who wish to build in the rural area on their family land to be able to.”

Related topics: