The process for assessing planning permission requests within the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) is to be overhauled as part of a new improvement plan.

Briefing MLAs at Stormont last week, Liz Loughran from NIEA said the new approach is about addressing “structural problems” that exist within the planning system.

“It really aims to strengthen our performance by improving efficiency, transparency, engagement, but also the quality of advice provided.

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“I do want it to be a pretty root-and-branch change rather than just sticking plasters,” she said.

MLAs were told that NIEA has received over 4,000 planning consultations during the current financial year, and a response has been issued to 86% of applications so far.

NIEA have a target to respond to statutory consultations within 21 days, but Loughran said only 63% of applications meet that target and the average response time is 32 days.

She said a major issue within NIEA is staff shortages and gave the example of one planning team which has 20 staff and 14 vacancies at present.

Crippling

During the briefing, Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer maintained the current protocol for assessing ammonia emissions from planning applications is “crippling” the farming industry.

However, Mark Hammond from NIEA indicated that the current ammonia protocol is not a major contributor to slow response times to planning applications.

“We are feeling comfortable that the protocol which is being used at the minute is robust,” he said.

Other MLAs were highly critical of the NIEA policy where the agency does not provide any updates to applicants on the progress of their planning applications.

“If I ask for an update on any other application by any other agency, I get a response. What makes you any different? Where is the accountability?” said Daniel McCrossan from the SDLP.

His remarks led to a heated exchange with John Blair from the Alliance Party, who took issue with “the tone used towards officials”.

The argument eventually led to the meeting being briefly suspended by committee chair Robbie Butler.