Beggs calls for action on Stormont planning reform Bill

Speaking during an Assembly debate on the efficiency of the Planning Appeals Commission, the UUP man queried why a long awaited planning reform Bill has yet to be tabled at Stormont.

He said: “If we want to improve our planning appeals process, we need to improve our planning laws generally. I pose the question: why, after three and a half years of this Assembly, has a new planning reform Bill yet to appear formally in front of the Assembly.

“Without new planning laws, we leave the PAC to apply the old flawed ones, which, perhaps, will be open to abuse by those who seek delays through the courts. A key issue for the Assembly must be to get the new planning Bill through the legislative process, take whatever amendments come its way and put it into law. That will greatly improve the outcomes of our planning appeals process.”