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| Future of Northern Ireland Assembly Planning Bill in doubt | Future of Northern Ireland Assembly Planning Bill in doubt |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Environment Minister Mark H Durkan is to make a statement in the assembly on the future of his Planning Bill. | Environment Minister Mark H Durkan is to make a statement in the assembly on the future of his Planning Bill. |
| It is thought the minister may withdraw the bill after legal advice on changes backed by the DUP and Sinn Féin. | |
| The changes would limit people's ability to go to court to challenge planning decisions. | The changes would limit people's ability to go to court to challenge planning decisions. |
| In June, the DUP and Sinn Féin threw their weight behind amendments to the Planning Bill designed to make the system more business friendly. | |
| The changes would potentially have given the first and deputy first ministers the power to set up special economic zones and would have limited the grounds on which objectors could secure judicial reviews of planning decisions. | The changes would potentially have given the first and deputy first ministers the power to set up special economic zones and would have limited the grounds on which objectors could secure judicial reviews of planning decisions. |
| However, the proposals were opposed by the former environment minister, Alex Attwood, who saw them as a power grab. | However, the proposals were opposed by the former environment minister, Alex Attwood, who saw them as a power grab. |
| Earlier this month, the new minister, Mr Durkan, revealed that he had received legal advice that the amendments were in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. | Earlier this month, the new minister, Mr Durkan, revealed that he had received legal advice that the amendments were in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. |
| The minister is due to make a statement to MLAs on Tuesday. | The minister is due to make a statement to MLAs on Tuesday. |
| There is growing speculation that he will opt for the so-called nuclear option - withdrawing the bill altogether. | There is growing speculation that he will opt for the so-called nuclear option - withdrawing the bill altogether. |