Debate contribution: Planning System: Fundamental Appraisal

Debate contribution by Mr Cathal Boylan on 12 February 2024.

MLA: Mr Cathal Boylan
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 12 February 2024
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Planning System: Fundamental Appraisal
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4218153

Text

I wish the Chair well in her new role and look forward to working with her. The Speaker will know, as he was Minister at the time, that the subject has been debated on numerous occasions, and I welcome the opportunity to speak on it. I also welcome the mover of the motion's remarks that we do not want to go back through another review. There have been a number of reviews, and there are things there that we can use. The planning system plays a critical role in governance. At its heart, planning is integral to the delivery of a better society. It impacts on key issues such as housing, including social housing, affordable housing, supporting rural communities, facilitating business and helping to unlock the full potential of our local economies. It also impacts on our energy sector and our environment and is key to securing a just transition. What we need is an effective and efficient planning system, but, unfortunately, the planning system that we have is neither effective nor efficient and is not fit for purpose. It is something that all the reps hear on a daily basis, be it from constituents, the business community, developers or, indeed, across our rural communities. Over the past few years, a number of reports have reviewed the planning system and the problems within it. An Audit Office report released in 2022 stated:
"Despite the importance of the planning system ... our review found that it is not operating effectively, not always providing the certainty that those involved wanted, and in many aspects not delivering for the economy, communities or the environment."
In the same year, the Public Accounts Committee released a report that was equally critical of the system, stating:
"planning authorities have failed to deliver on many of their key targets, particularly on major and significant development ... Such poor performance has an impact on applicants, developers and communities and is risking investment"
here in the North. It is clear how important the planning system is and that much improvement is needed. We have had many reviews and reports in recent memory, and many challenges to the system have been apparent for a very long time. One of the biggest issues is the delays to major developments. Both reports highlighted that, despite a statutory target for each council to process major development applications within an average 30 weeks, around one fifth of the applications took more than three years to process. Since those reports, the issues remain the same. In 2022-23, the average processing time for major applications was more than 57 weeks across all council areas. That was an increase on the previous year. I, like many, have engaged with many sectors on that point, and the slow processing times are a real headache for them, especially the green sector, which is a salient point as we need to transition to clean energy as soon as possible. It is clear that slow processing times are one of the biggest issues in the system, with statutory consultees' responses being identified as a major problem. The PAC report also contained other recommendations. It highlighted the need for a suitable means of engaging with the planning system. There is a need to improve the quality of planning applications to avoid wasting valuable time and resources. The PAC also heard that there is:
"evidence that validation checklists will improve the quality of applications".
I recall that, as caretaker Minister, John O'Dowd launched a consultation on the introduction of validation checks, and I ask the Minister whether he is in a position to comment on that. My understanding is that those checklists would give applicants the clarity that they seek when lodging an application and could help with efficiencies in the system. I just want to pick out a couple of points, because I see that my time is running out. One of the key elements identified in most of the reports and the chamber of commerce reports is the lack of funding right across the Departments, local authorities and the Planning Appeals Commission. If we are to do this right, that is one element that we definitely need to look at. I am running out of time. I support the motion. I look forward to working in Committee and coming up with some creative solutions, but I believe that funding is a major issue.

732 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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