The Department of Environment at Stormont is using planning regulations to “stifle private enterprise”, according to NI Conservatives’ environment spokesman, Brian McBride. Brian made his comments in response to the DoE’s attempts to overturn planning permission for a private car-park, close to the Belfast International Airport, in the High Court.
“The DoE is claiming that the Planning Appeals Commission was wrong to grant permission for the Easi-park facility, because ‘no demonstrable need’ for the car-park was proved”, Brian explained. “That’s despite the fact that the business was shown to have no impact on the countryside that would have breached planning law. We should be clear that if planning regulations are going to be used to stifle competition and attack private enterprise like this, then they need to be changed immediately.”
“If there is no demonstrable need for another car-park for airport passengers, then they will not use it and the business will not be tenable. The same was true of a park and ride facility which was based in an existing car-park close to the City Airport, and was also deemed recently to breach planning regulations.”
“Mark H Durkan claims that he is reforming and simplifying planning law, to reduce its negative impact on creating jobs, attracting investment and building Northern Ireland’s economy. The actions of his own department seem to contradict those claims. Planning law cannot be allowed to be used to restrict competition or to stifle private enterprise. The minister needs to get a genuine grip on the DoE and change attitudes, as well as implement speedy reform.”