Redeployment of planning staff should be delayed

Redeployment of planning staff should be delayed - McPeake

MAGHERAFELT Sinn Fein Councillor Sean McPeake believes that planning regulations outlined in PPS21 do not go far enough to ensure the sustainability of rural communities. He has also demanded a postponement of the redeployment of planning staff to allow Planning Service to deal with the new changes.

Councillor McPeake said, “This revised policy will provide increased opportunities to develop in the countryside as it is less restrictive in terms of the applicants personal and domestic circumstances.

“It allows building within existing clusters and a clearer definition of criteria for gap sites, as well as an opportunity to develop away from farm clusters.

“There is still work to be done to meet the needs of non farming rural dwellers and plans to reconvene the Ministerial sub- group and to publish a new rural design guide by the autumn are welcome developments.

“In the meantime the Environment Minister Edwin Poots needs to give a commitment to the unions and staff of the planning service that redeployment will be delayed so as not to interfere with service delivery, in light of the new changes.”