Planners will continue to deal with major economic investment proposals speedily and effectively - despite delays in bringing forward new area development plans - NI Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has said.

In a statement to the Assembly, the Minister confirmed planners would only reject major applications on the grounds of prematurity if it was clear an approval would prejudice or undermine a development plan.

Mr Wilson said: "Changes in the economy can take place on a timescale that is significantly shorter than that experienced for the production of new development plans.

"The system must, therefore, be improved in order to enable planning as a whole to become more effective in managing the development process.

"That is why I intend to bring forward proposals for a new local development plan system with the key aim of speeding up the whole process through plans that are more streamlined, quicker to prepare, more strategic in nature and importantly more responsive to change.

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"This will inevitably take time to achieve. In the interim, I want to ensure, as far as possible, that when significant economic development proposals come forward that are clearly in the public interest, they are not unnecessarily stalled."

The Minister acknowledged the positive role planners were playing in areas like Omagh and Strabane alongside organisations like Invest Northern Ireland and local councils to find solutions for any land shortages for economic developments.

He also told MLAs the Article 31 major application process provided a mechanism to progress suitable proposals rather than delaying schemes awaiting preparation of new plans.

The Minister clarified the approach which would be taken by the Planning Service in future in dealing with applications submitted prematurely before the completion of area plans.

Mr Wilson acknowledged prematurity was an important consideration where considerable work had been undertaken to produce new draft plans. However he stressed it was only one of a number of factors to be weighed by the Department.

The Minister recognised that since the introduction of new advice in 2005, the Planning Service’s approach had been considerably refined and cases were diminishing.

However he felt further clarification was required.

Mr Wilson said: "I am today instructing officials that prematurity should only be employed as a reason of refusal in cases where the Department can plainly demonstrate that an approval of planning permission would clearly prejudice or undermine the development plan process or key elements of the plan itself."

The Minister indicated he was confident both today’s statement and his earlier statement in May on the weight to be attached to the economic aspects of development proposals, would ensure sufficient flexibility in the planning system to deal effectively with significant economic investment opportunities.

(PR/BMcc)