Wilson wants North's planners to help economy

The interests of the economy should be given greater weight by planners in the North, Sammy Wilson said today.

The Planning Service must play a full and positive role in assisting the recovery of investment and businesses, the Environment Minister (DUP, East Antrim) added.

He briefed the Assembly on his intentions today.

“I want to give decision-makers the confidence and support to make judgements which will give greater weight to economic considerations wherever it is appropriate to do so.

“I want to give clarity and leave nobody in any doubt about how to deal with economic considerations.”

In January the minister criticised officials in his department for rejecting plans for a high-rise building in the centre of Belfast.

Planners said proposals for the Aurora building in Great Victoria Street did not pay due regard to the character of the site and the surrounding area.

But Mr Wilson said the building of the £90m (€100m) project, which would be 37-storeys high, would have economic benefits.

Today he said: “Full account should be taken of the economic aspects of a planning proposal, including the wider benefits to the regional or local economy, alongside social and environmental aspects, in so far as they are a material consideration in the determination of the planning application to which they relate.

“In such cases where the economic benefits of a proposal are significant then the substantial weight shall be afforded to them in the determination of that planning application.”