The Green Party has welcomed the Assembly statement by Environment Minister Sammy Wilson on PPS21 but has warned that without rigorous legislation and narrow interpretation it might prove to be disastrous in the long term.

Assembly Member Brian Wilson said: “I welcome the assurances by the Minister that there will not be a building free-for-all and we will not see a hacienda on every hill side.  I also welcome the emphasis on expanding existing settlements, housing clusters and the opportunity to develop eco villages.”

“However I am concerned by some of the new provisions such as the abolition of the abandonment test, the personal circumstances policy and the provision that planning permission for dwellings can be granted to farm businesses every 10 years. These issues need to be clarified.  For example the abolition of the abandonment test could mean that derelict buildings, vacant for a hundred years or indeed a pile of stones, could be given planning permission for replacement dwellings. This could undermine the objective of protecting the countryside from unacceptable development.”

The North Down Assembly Member continued: “I am also concerned that the Minister is unwilling to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment of PPS21 as is required by European directives. This could be subject to a judicial review.”