18/09/2003

Minister seeks to reduce planning applications

Unnecessary planning applications for minor development such as additional satellite dishes and other antennas should not be allowed to clog up the system.

That was the message today from NIO Minister, Angela Smith when she launched a consultation paper on planning-permitted development rights.

Ms Smith explained: "Permitted development rights enable certain types of development to proceed without the need to apply for planning approval. These currently include such things as small house extensions, conservatories, bus shelters and a range of works by public utilities.

"This, in turn, reduces the number of planning applications and the regulatory burden of the planning system. However, the current permitted development rights contained in the Planning (General Development) (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 have not been comprehensively reviewed since 1993."

The Minister said that this review was another important step in her commitment to modernise planning processes.

The consultation paper puts forward proposals for both extending and tightening permitted development rights and for improving interpretation and user friendliness of the law relating to them.

(MB)

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