To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) for her assessment of the functionality of the Northern Irish planning system, compared to other parts of the UK and Ireland; and (ii) what steps she is taking to make the system attractive to large developers.

I believe that the basic structures of the planning system in Northern Ireland are fit for purpose. However, like all planning systems, I recognise that there is always room for improvement. While there are similarities across the various jurisdictions, there are also significant differences in how each planning system works, how performance is measured and the political and administrative contexts. It is, therefore, difficult to assess the functionality and performance of the planning system in the North against that of other jurisdictions.

My Department has taken a number of steps to make the system more efficient and effective for all stakeholders in the North. A Planning Forum has been established whose key focus is to oversee the implementation of recommendations made in an independent report on the role of statutory consultees in the planning process. This work has a particular focus on improving processes and timeframes for statutory consultee responses for major and economically significant planning applications. My Department is also undertaking a review of the implementation of the Planning Act (NI) 2011. Whilst this is not a fundamental ‘root and branch’ review of the two- tier planning system, I am keen that it looks at how we can further improve the system for all stakeholders – including councils, developers, and the wider public.

I also convened the Planning Engagement Partnership last October to look at how to enhance the quality and depth of community engagement in planning and place shaping processes at both the regional and local planning authority levels. In addition, my Department and 10 councils are working together to take forward a new Regional Planning IT system to provide a more modern planning service to the public, consultees and staff including the ability for the public to submit planning applications on-line. This is expected to be operational in 2022.

I recognise that there is a need to improve the process and I am fully committed to improving the planning system for all stakeholders and as a key enabler to support a green recovery following the Covid pandemic.