HC Deb 10 January 1985 vol 70 cc889-90
4. Mr. Clifford Forsythe

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes he intends to make in planning law.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Nicholas Scott)

In response to a recommendation of the Northern Ireland Assembly my right hon. Friend proposes to introduce legislation which would require applicants for planning permission to notify neighbours of their development proposals and would, in addition, make a number of miscellaneous amendments.

Mr. Forsythe

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the defects in the legislation which recently allowed an applicant from Doagh road, Ballyclare, effectively to bypass both the local council and the planning department and have his application approved by a planning appeals commissioner? What action does the hon. Gentleman intend to take to ensure that that does not happen again?

Mr. Scott

I know that my hon. Friend is giving careful consideration to the points raised by the hon. Member for Antrim, South (Mr. Forsythe). I, too, am aware of the circumstances that have given rise to this concern. I am

Constituency Total No. of postal ballot papers issued Removals Physical disability All other grounds
Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total
North Down 614 47 7.65 515 83.88 52 8.47
Strangford 555 46 8.28 421 75.86 88 15.86
South Down 3,068 109 3.55 2,673 87.13 286 9.32
Lagan Valley 905 54 5.97 766 84.64 85 9.39
Upper Bann 1,458 40 2.74 1,249 85.67 169 11.59
Newry and Armagh 3,145 86 2.73 2,539 80.73 520 16.54
Fermanagh and South Tyrone 7,345 136 1.85 6,290 85.64 919 12.51
Mid-Ulster 5,026 94 1.87 4,534 90.21 398 7.92
Foyle 3,279 162 4.94 2,933 89.45 184 5.61
East Londonderry 3,381 78 2.31 2,912 86.13 391 11.56
North Antrim 1,585 32 2.02 1,393 87.89 160 10.09
East Antrim 589 14 2.38 489 83.02 86 14.60
South Antrim 781 46 5.88 661 84.64 74 9.48
Belfast North 601 68 11.31 488 81.20 45 7.49
Belfast East 567 60 10.58 438 77.25 69 12.17
Belfast South 1,091 48 4.40 935 85.70 108 9.90
Belfast West 712 144 20.22 558 7837 10 1.41
Total 34,702 1,264 3.64 29,794 85.86 3,644 10.50

advised that, in the absence of a reason for a particular use, further enforcement action could be taken against a developer.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

I acknowledge the improvement in enforcement procedure that was brought about by the previous Minister in the Department of the Environment, but will the Government bear in mind the undesirability of that procedure resulting in planning decisions being taken, in the first instance, by the planning commission?

Mr. Scott

I take note of the point raised by the right hon. Gentleman and will confer with my hon. Friend.

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