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Consultation Responses
The Department received a total of 109 responses during its
consultation process, including the report on the rural clinics. The
respondents were not constrained by the main issues identified in
the leaflet and they submitted wide ranging, constructive and
detailed comments. Over 900 separate suggestions were made for
future planning policy, practice or procedure. There was no
consensus expressed. There was, however, a strongly held view that
planning policy placed too much emphasis on centralisation and channelling people into larger
settlements. There was also concern that the present rural
planning policy was inappropriate to Northern Ireland and that
insufficient distinction was made between the circumstances in
different parts of the country. Some groups and individuals were
in favour of relaxing planning restrictions on rural
development. Others emphasised the importance of facilitating
economic activity. Yet others saw conservation of the natural
and man-made environment as the top priority.
Economy
It was widely considered that the
Department should pursue flexible policies to keep people on the
land and stimulate rural regeneration and diversification of the
rural economy. However it was stated that rural enterprises must
develop in harmony with the environment. The need for the
improvement and maintenance of rural infrastructure and a commitment
from Government to provide essential services was stressed.
Settlements
It was suggested that careful expansion
of towns and villages should be promoted so as to reduce pressure on
the countryside. Integrated, up-to-date plans should be prepared for
all towns and villages. There should be mechanisms to enable land,
identified as suitable for town and village expansion, to be made
available for development. Environmental improvement of settlements
is required and the character of settlements should be protected.
The Environment
More comments were expressed about the
environment than any other topic. It was considered that more
financial and human resources are required for the promotion of
environmental awareness. More protection should be afforded to
mature trees and new planting should be encouraged. It was
suggested that a comprehensive coastal planning and protection policy
should be developed and that nature conservation should be recognised
as a central issue. It was generally considered that
agricultural developments should be brought within planning control
and that the rural environment should be protected from pollution.
Housing
Strong, but far from unanimous opinions,
were put forward on the topic of housing in the countryside. Some
wanted the numbers of new dwellings in the countryside to be
reduced. Others considered that people who have been born into the
rural community should be able to build and live in that community.
There was support for the development of clusters of housing to
facilitate local people to live in the countryside. It was generally
considered that planning policy should facilitate the improvement
and expansion of the housing stock.
Design
Opinions varied widely on the subject of
design. Some thought higher priority should be given to educating
people on the benefits of better development standards. Others
considered that the standards should be made less rigid and
arbitrary. Some said that designs which enable traditional buildings
to be adapted to modem conditions should be encouraged. Others
suggested that people are entitled to decide for themselves on
design. There was wide support for the use and enforcement of
planning conditions requiring landscaping of new development.
General
Many respondents commented on the way
planning is organised in Northern Ireland. Some suggested that the
statutory responsibility for planning should be changed to provide
for more local accountability. There was support for greater local
participation and better co-ordination between Government
Departments. It was considered that planning policies should be
clearly stated and consistently applied, and positive guidance given
to prospective developers. Some respondents proposed that
Environmental Assessment should be more extensively used.
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