The North's direct-rule regional development minister Lord Rooker has proposed that, with very few exceptions, no future single buildings can be erected in the Northern Ireland countryside.
Lord Rooker's rural building ban proposal is contained in a planning policy document published yesterday for a 12-week consultation period. He said, however, that from yesterday all applications to build new houses in the North's countryside would not be considered.
The plan is aimed at preventing Northern Ireland falling victim to so-called "bungalow blight". The minister said his radical proposal was designed "to protect Northern Ireland's countryside for future generations". He said there was sufficient land already available to cope with the North's housing demand for the next five to 10 years. "At present the numbers of rural planning approvals here are three times the combined total in England, Scotland and Wales," said Lord Rooker.
"In 2004/05 alone there were 9,520 approvals for new dwellings. Indications are that the 2005/06 figure will be well over 12,000. That's equivalent to a town the size of Ballymena being built and is five times the level of just over a decade ago."
In future, new buildings can only be erected for farming families or for retiring farmers, and such planning applications will be subjected to rigorous scrutiny. Some homes will be allowed for people working in certain types of industry and consideration will also be given to assist young or low-income families remain in rural areas.
Lord Rooker has also moved to prevent a rush of applications over the 12-week consultation period by stating the rural building prohibition would apply from yesterday.
