Planning review after criticism

Planning review after criticism

9 December 2015

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council’s planning system is to be the subject of a “critical review” just months after its launch.

The new council assumed full responsibility for local planning in April, but there are mounting concerns that it is taking too long to process applications for a range of new development across the district. 

There are currently 1,513 applications across the council area which have yet to be determined, and the high figure is concerning politicians and developers in particular.

Additional planning staff are due to be appointed early in the New Year in a bid to address the backlog, but councillors are also keen to see the results of the review they have commissioned which will be overseen by a task force which will include an independent planning expert and senior council staff.

Planners and key stakeholders, including developers, will be asked for their views on the current planning system which a number of politicians have concerns about. 

The review, which will closely 

examine the planning department’s management function and propose changes if appropriate, is set to get underway in the New Year, with the task force expected to conclude its report in March. Any agreed recommendations will be implemented the following month.

Rowallane councillor, Mark Murnin, said politicians want to see a planning process that is “fair and equitable” and one that works for those who are making the applications. 

“There is a concern that the planning process is taking too long,” he said. “That is not acceptable and we hope this review will find ways to speed up the process and deliver a better planning service for local people.”

Councillor Terry Andrews, chairman of the council’s Regulatory and Technical Services Committee which oversees planning, is confident the recruitment of additional planning staff will help address the backlog of applications.

“Planners have been working incredibly hard since the merger of Down and Newry and Mourne councils and are now responsible for a huge area. They are dealing with a major workload and hopefully the appointment of new staff will ease the pressure and help turn around applications more quickly,” he continued.

“I share the concern in the community about delays in processing applications and hope the recruitment of new staff will help ease the current situation.”

Councillor Andrews said the key thing is to get on with tackling the backlog, recognising that local people, businesses, developers and those in the construction industry are keen to see applications which have not yet been processed turned around as quickly as possible.

“Planners are now at the heart of local government and it is important they are provided with as much support as possible. Recruiting new planning staff is a very welcome development and hopefully it will lead to planning applications being turned around within a reasonable timeframe,” he added.