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Rural planning law 'devastating' | Rural planning law 'devastating' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Rural and seaside communities in Northern Ireland are being devastated by a lack of land to build new homes on, MLA John Dallat has said. | |
Mr Dallat is calling on the Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy to change the legislation which restricts building in the countryside. | Mr Dallat is calling on the Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy to change the legislation which restricts building in the countryside. |
The SDLP East Londonderry MLA said it is time for the assembly to act. | The SDLP East Londonderry MLA said it is time for the assembly to act. |
"There's got to be legislation, there's got to be adequate land released for development," Mr Dallat said. | "There's got to be legislation, there's got to be adequate land released for development," Mr Dallat said. |
He said the law - PPS-14 - had to be changed "to ensure that we don't have this crazy situation where demand completely outstrips supply". | He said the law - PPS-14 - had to be changed "to ensure that we don't have this crazy situation where demand completely outstrips supply". |
However, Green Party assembly member Brian Wilson said the law was fair. | However, Green Party assembly member Brian Wilson said the law was fair. |
"What it is banning is single houses - houses on every hillside - what PPS-14 is not saying is that there should be no building," Mr Wilson said. | "What it is banning is single houses - houses on every hillside - what PPS-14 is not saying is that there should be no building," Mr Wilson said. |
"There is every potential to expand local settlements, local villages, local hamlets." | "There is every potential to expand local settlements, local villages, local hamlets." |
The government announced in March 2006, that almost all new plans for single rural dwellings would no longer be considered. | The government announced in March 2006, that almost all new plans for single rural dwellings would no longer be considered. |
The then planning minister, Lord Rooker, said that the measures were designed to save the countryside. | |
"We are wasting the countryside by pepper-potting it with dwellings that are not sustainable - which require motorcars, which require massive numbers of septic tanks, which actually help destroy communities," he said. | "We are wasting the countryside by pepper-potting it with dwellings that are not sustainable - which require motorcars, which require massive numbers of septic tanks, which actually help destroy communities," he said. |
The decision has met with protests and a court challenge. | The decision has met with protests and a court challenge. |
Property ladder | |
Meanwhile, during Monday's debate in the assembly, housing shortages and planning delays were the order of the day. | |
SDLP minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, pledged to address housing shortages, but stressed it would require a team effort. | |
She was speaking during a debate brought by the DUP's Jim Shannon, demanding a strategy for dealing with housing shortages. | |
The Alliance Party's Naomi Long amended the motion to ensure housing stock be replaced at a greater rate during redevelopment. | |
She expressed concern about young people trying to get on the property ladder. | |
Sinn Fein's Fra McCann led a debate on what he called the "scandal" of 36,000 houses lying vacant in Northern Ireland at a time of great housing need. |
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