Alliance Environment spokesperson Anna Lo MLA has urged the new Environment Minister, SDLP's Mark H Durkan, to scrap the flawed Planning Bill.

The DUP and Sinn Fein submitted amendments that would give OFMDFM more powers over planning laws and limited the ability to seek a judicial review on planning decisions.

Anna Lo MLA said: "I would like to offer my congratulations to Mark on his appointment as the new Environment Minister.

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"He has a number of important issues to resolve including the Review of Public Administration, a Climate Change Bill for Northern Ireland and the protection of our environment. However, I believe that one of the first things he should do is to scrap the flawed Planning Bill.

"With the inclusion of the ludicrous amendments by the DUP and Sinn Fein, this Bill will actually do more harm than good to our planning system. It is no longer in our best interests for this Bill to become law, the new Environment Minister must throw this flawed legislation into the bin."

(CD/JP)