The Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots has this week chaired the first meeting of a new Planning Forum as he continues to press forward with his programme for planning reform.

Speaking at the launch of the forum in Parliament Buildings, Mr Poots said: "I committed to setting up and chairing a Planning Forum in order to broaden and deepen the debate about the future of planning and to hear for myself what experts on planning and users of the planning system think about the way things are going.

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"This Forum involves key stakeholders in the planning field, the development industry, local government and central government. It will help me to engage on planning issues in a systematic and planned way with key stakeholders, professional bodies, the universities and other Departments.

"Forum members are people who, on the bases of experience, position and expertise, can speak with authority about the planning system, its operation and impact and who influence at a high level within their respective fields.

"We had an open and informative discussion this morning which I found both interesting and useful," he said, on Wednesday.

(BMcC/GK)