CONTROVERSIAL PLANS to restrict severely the guidelines for rural planning have been overturned by Stormont Minister Sammy Wilson.
The old guidelines, introduced under direct rule, have been replaced by a new policy which will save the countryside from blight while engendering economic development, Mr Wilson told the Assembly.
More than 2,100 applications to build were turned down under the former policy known as Planning Policy Statement 14 (PPS14). It was introduced by direct-rule minister Lord Jeff Rooker and was roundly criticised by the main parties and farmers' representatives.
Mr Wilson said his new policy, PPS21, would allow a review of those plans denied permission. He told Assembly members his "balanced" policy would protect country areas while providing the rural community some scope for economic development.
That review will take up to eight months to complete.
The new planning guidelines are still weighted against allowing new building, but there is new scope for the provision of new structures on agricultural land, especially where there is an existing cluster of buildings.
Farmers who wish to build new homes will be restricted to one such permission every 10 years.
Mr Wilson said that areas of outstanding natural beauty will continue to be protected.
"In developing this policy we have kept what is good and useful in draft PPS14," Mr Wilson said.
"We have cast aside the overly restrictive policies imposed by direct-rule ministers and we have introduced new, more imaginative measures that are right for Northern Ireland."
The Minister also announced that the new planning policy would be open for consultation for the next four months."It is still in draft - that is because we want to hear what people think of the policy before we finalise it. In January and February, we will be holding information days across Northern Ireland so that people can find out more about it. I encourage everyone with an interest to let us know their views in the consultation, which closes on March 31st."
The new planning policy statement allows some green-belt building where plans for social housing are submitted by a housing association to extend an existing development.
Mr Wilson's colleagues on the DUP benches welcomed his announcement, as did Sinn Féin. However, the SDLP's Patsy McGlone, who chairs the environment committee, said that many of those denied permission under PPS14 would continue to suffer unfairness.
Green Assembly member Brian Wilson welcomed the statement but called for strict implementation of it. Alliance leader David Ford said the policy statement was a reasonable attempt to prevent further spoiling of the countryside.