98% of 'country homes' approved

More than 98% of countryside planning applications determined under a draft policy brought in last year have been successful.

Draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 21 replaced draft PPS 14 which severely restricted rural housing.

Just 25 of 1,778 applications for single or replacement dwellings in the countryside between 25 November and the end of March were refused.

However, only approvals are currently being issued automatically.

Decisions are being deferred on applications which seem likely to be turned down.

"Applications recommended for refusal are being deferred at the request of the district council, provided the applicant does not wish the decision to be issued, until the revised policy is in place," said environment minister Edwin Poots.

Further to providing homes for people to live in, it might also hopefully stimulate jobs in the building industry Patsy McGlone SDLP assembly member

"However, many applications submitted under the old PPS 14 were earmarked for rejection but were held in anticipation of the new planning policy. Their reassessment under the new policy is allowing many of them to be approved."

"Had the direct rule-inspired PPS 14 been allowed to continue then we would have still been living under an effective blanket ban on development in the countryside."

Balance

This new figures were released in response to an assembly question tabled by the SDLP's Patsy McGlone.

He said: "I want to see people being able to live in the area where they grew up and I suppose that this is some evidence of this starting to happen.

"Further to providing homes for people to live in, it might also hopefully stimulate jobs in the building industry."

It's ludicrous to think just because we've done it in the past that it's the right option for the future Dr Geraint Ellis Environmental planning lecturer

Mr McGlone said the approval rate was so high because planning officers prioritised the applications most likely to be successful when the policy came into effect last November.

"Many hundreds of applications are unlikely to be approved under this planning policy," he added.

The change in planning policy was criticised by Dr Geraint Ellis, senior lecturer in Environmental Planning at Queen's University Belfast, who said single housing in the countryside was "the worst thing we can do for sustainable development".

"It's ludicrous to think just because we've done it in the past that it's the right option for the future - there's a major cost on the public purse, on the environment and even socially," he said.

"There's a myth about rural society in Northern Ireland that we're living in cute little farm houses - that's not the reality as most people commute to work, often driving long distances.

"We need to think about what the planning system is for - essentially it's there to balance the private interest, and its financial windfalls for farmers, with the long-term public interest."

Sinn Fein's Cathal Boylan said that the figures were mostly applications, and not approvals.

"The figures are not a true reflection of planning permission given the number of applications awaiting determination," he said.

"Within these fall applications for rural people not involved in agriculture. It is important that we continue to support the rights of these people to ensure that their needs be addressed in any final policy."

Former environment minister Sammy Wilson said at the time that draft PPS 21 was introduced it would "balance the need to protect the countryside from unnecessary or inappropriate development, while supporting rural communities.

"Draft PPS21 will assist the rural economy. But, and I cannot stress this enough, it will not permit a building free-for-all in our countryside."