AQO 1959/09 Oral question to the Minister of the Environment
To ask the Minister of the Environment to provide an update on the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan.
Asked by Naomi Long MLA on 20 January 2009
- Answered
- Oral
- After due date
- Tabled
- 20 January 2009
- Answer due by
- 2 February 2009
- Answered
- 4 February 200915 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of the Environment
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 (BMAP) was published in November 2004. The Area Plan was the largest ever published in Northern Ireland and covered the Belfast, Lisburn, Castlereagh, North Down, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus District Council areas.
Approximately 4,000 representations and objections were received during the consultation period. Following a period for counter objections, Planning Service asked the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) to convene a Public Inquiry to consider objections to the Draft Plan including Plan Amendment No.1 to the Draft Plan.
Following a series of Pre Inquiry meetings, the Public Inquiry commenced in April 2007 and concluded in May 2008.
The PAC is currently considering all the information before it prior to completing its report and making its recommendations to the Department. The PAC has indicated a preliminary timescale for delivery of the report to Planning Service as early summer 2010. However, the Commission would hope to be in a position to announce a firmer timescale later this year.
The PAC is an independent body and is not part of the Department of the Environment but appointed by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. It is possible that the any review of timescales undertaken by the PAC may advance the Report or elements of the Report. The Department would welcome such a move.
In October 2008, the Department wrote to the PAC and requested the early release of that part of the BMAP Report relating to strategic retail issues, including Sprucefield. The PAC took the view that this was a discrete issue and, as the public sessions of the Inquiry were complete, it could comply with the Department’s request. The Commission issued the report to the Department on 21 January 2009. It is anticipated that this report will be made available to the public when the Minister has made a decision on the process to be followed in respect of Sprucefield.