HC Deb 22 February 1980 vol 979 c381W
Mr. Molyneaux

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning enforcement officers work in the Belfast district council area.

Mr. Goodhart

Three development control inspectors are currently employed in the Belfast divisional planning office which is responsible for development control in the district council areas of Belfast, Castlereagh and Newtownabbey.

Mr. Molyneaux

asked the secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases were brought by planning enforcement offices in the Belfast district council area in 1978 and 1979, respectively.

Mr. Goodhart

The Belfast divisional planning office investigates approximately 400 reported breaches of planning control each year. It was found necessary to institute formal enforcement action in the Belfast district council area in seven and two cases in 1978 and 1979, respectively.

I am well aware of certain difficulties which exist in implementing the present enforcement rules and am looking at measures designed to ensure that future breaches of planning control are dealt with more effectively.