Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

1. Environmental Sustainability
(a)   We consider it premature to respond since sustainable development objectives are only now beginning to be delivered through planning policy in Northern Ireland.

(b)   Environmental imperatives should relate to sites designated for nature conservation under national (NI) or international legislation.

(c)   Effective designation plans appreciation by Planning Service of natural features e.g. woods, loughs, rivers/riverbanks and geomorphologic features.

(d)   Rural land outside AONBs appears to be inadequately protected in NI against dispersed development which is not farm related.

(e)   Plans appear to be moving in this direction.

(f)   No.

(g)   Planning Service (NI) lacks in-house expertise in the built and natural heritage. Liaison with EHS is vital; staff, resources, and methodology needs to be reviewed.

(h)   A waste management strategy has been issued for NI but more effort will be required to reduce landfill.

(i)   Cumulative permissions are perceived as a problem; 'add-on' impact within an area.

2. Boundaries
(a)   Northern Ireland has no overall authority for either coasts or rivers. Important areas for heritage and landscape e.g. Mourne Mountains, Sperrins are divided between several District Councils & Planning Areas.

(b)   Liaison between Area Plans could be improved. Uniformity of planning principles is required.

(c)   Yes.

(d)   Accuracy of drawing up development boundaries, plotting woods, water courses, etc. Wider use of GIS welcome.

(e)   Both agriculture and forestry should strive to meet goals of sustainability under their own support systems.

3. Integration or coordination
(a)   Greater understanding/awareness required within Planning Service.

(b)   Planning Service (NI) lacks in-house expertise in the built and natural heritage. Liaison with EHS is vital; staff, resources, and methodology needs to be reviewed.

(c)   -

(d)   Effective environmental impact assessments are required which address future impact and mitigation not just the present position.

(e)   Expertise required in Planning Service to assess EIAs as above and enforce them.

(f)   No - extra resources and transport strategy required.

(g)   Recommend structured involvement for CNCC and relevant NGOs.

(h)   Not keen on 'tax' -? role for District Councils.

(i)   Same standards should apply to public and private developments - no 'immunity'.

4. Subsidiarity and Democracy
(a/b)   There is a desire for greater public participation in planning decisions but this must not be allowed to over ride requirements of sustainability and conservation.

(c/d)   Standards must be even across the whole of NI. The local rural issue of a traditionally dispersed population due to small farm size is relevant but should not be provide an excuse for scattered suburban housing. There may be a need for closer cross-boarder liaison with country councils in Republic of Ireland in relevant areas.

(e)   Landscape and rural land use differ between the UK countries. Acceptance of planning rules and policy is relatively poor in NI.

(f)   Greater evenness is required in planning appeal procedure and decisions. The input of the legal profession may be unduly confrontational.

(g)   -

5. Assessment approaches
(a)   The environmental impact assessment system appears to be working well and to be widely applied in NI. Subsequent enforcement of planning conditions/mitigating measures appears weak.

(b)(i)     Appropriately qualified and registered practitioners (members of ?EEM etc).
(b)(ii)   Greater expertise required in Planning Service.

(c)   All are relevant in large or sensitive (e.g. potentially polluting) developments.

(d)   Not enough is yet 'on the ground' to prove or disprove this. Good recording is required, but is this in place?

(e)   EHS required additional resources and properly qualified personnel in order promote and improve service to Planning Service. Alternatively, relevant staff should be appointed within Planning Service.

CNCC will endeavor to provide useful advice to Planning Service as and when it is consulted on individual cases. Such ad hoc advice may become less necessary as the principles of sustainable development are fully incorporated into the planning system.

Back to Index of evidence to the Environmental Planning Study