The Executive Subcommittee charged with the review of draft PPS 14 continue to make good progress, according to Northern Ireland Environment Minister Arlene Foster.

The Minister was speaking at the opening of a seminar on rural planning policy - which is examining a range of approaches for development of our countryside - at the Stormont Hotel on Friday.

She said: "As Environment Minister my aim is to develop a policy based on the principles of sustainability. That means striking a balance between the need to protect our countryside from unnecessary development and the need to support our rural communities, allowing them to flourish, socially and economically.

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"One of the greatest challenges is knowing exactly where to strike the balance between restricting development to protect our landscape and habitats, and relaxing restrictions to allow development where it is needed."

Officials have recently been engaged with key stakeholders on the findings emerging from the Subcommittee's work which the Ms Foster presented to the Assembly earlier this month.

She added: "I appreciate the time and effort many people – councillors, farmers, environmentalists, community representatives and others - have made to contribute to this process. The independent report of these events will help inform the rest of the Subcommittee's work and today’s seminar will complement this.”

The Minister confirmed that she still intends to publish a revised draft PPS14 at the end of April, which will immediately be taken into account in deciding planning applications.

There will also be four months of full public consultation before the policy is finalised.

(VB/JM)