The State of Nature report highlighted the fragility of our natural heritage. We now know the stark message that nature is in trouble and we were hugely disappointed that an amended, draft Planning Bill was brought to the Northern Ireland Assembly with contents likely to further damage our natural heritage.
The Planning Bill initially allowed the consideration of economic, social, and environmental impacts in equal measure when assessing planning applications. However, in 2013 it was brought back to the Assembly with additional clauses that we are deeply concerned about.
We want to ensure that the natural environment is at the heart of our local planning system. We understand the fragile economic situation and want to see economic growth – but short term economic considerations cannot be at the expense of our valuable natural environment. Indeed, we believe that economic and environmental benefits can be delivered together, as long as sustainable development is considered from the start.
The RSPB works to shape planning policy and submits planning applications to further our conservation work. We are in a strong position to express our concerns, which are shared by environmental NGOs, academics and many others and over the past few months we have met with MLAs and some of the political parties to do just this.
What are our concerns?
Clauses 2 and 6 of the Bill would combine to give economic objectives greater weight than the other sustainable development considerations (environmental and social). This is not contained in similar legislation in England, Scotland or Wales and could set a dangerous precedent as it could be subject to differing interpretation by subsequent Ministers, planning officials and local Councils.
We are also disappointed that the additions to the Planning Bill (2013) are not being fully consulted upon. The Environment Committee are scrutinising the Bill and have held a Stakeholder Forum which the RSPB attended and contributed to. However, the Environment Committee’s consultation period, while welcome, falls short of the full consultation we would have expected for such potentially far-reaching legislation.
What you can do
The Planning Bill is likely to come before the Assembly again very soon, and a number of political parties are supporting these damaging clauses. We can do something about it if we act now. I’d like you, as someone who values nature, to email or write to your local MLAs and ask them to vote against Clauses 2 and 6 of the Planning Bill.
A personal e-mail or letter will have the most impact, but if you only have a couple of minutes you could visit the ‘Amend the Bill’ website and send the template e-mail they have prepared.
You can find details for your MLAs here, and can search by MLA or constituency name. If you click on an MLA’s name and then ‘contacts’ you can see their email and postal address. It is also important in correspondence that you let them know that you are one of their constituents by providing your postal address.
For further information please email RSPB NI Policy Advocacy Officer Colum Delaney on colum.delaney@rspb.org.uk. Please also e-mail Colum to let him know you’ve contacted your MLA and to tell him how they responded.