Ballymena-based planning service faces review amid claims of ‘planning paralysis’

County Hall, Ballymena

A review of the environmental service that advises councils on major planning applications is being pursued by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council amid concerns over delays, accountability and confidence in Northern Ireland’s planning system.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the move to examine Shared Environmental Services (SES), which is based at County Hall in Ballymena and provides specialist environmental advice to councils as part of the planning process.

The DUP Agriculture spokesperson claims businesses, developers, farmers and communities are being left waiting for decisions, with some applications stalled for months or even years.

Ms Lockhart said the consequences went beyond frustration for individual applicants, arguing that prolonged delays could hold back investment, employment, infrastructure and attempts by farms to modernise.

‘Sitting stagnant for months’

Welcoming Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s decision to pursue a review, Ms Lockhart said:

“The decision to seek a comprehensive review of SES is long overdue. I have been raising serious concerns about the arms-length body for a considerable period of time.

“Businesses, developers, farmers and local communities across Northern Ireland are being left in limbo because of an unacceptable lack of progress and urgency from SES. Planning applications are sitting stagnant for months, and in many cases years, creating uncertainty and frustration for those who simply want to invest, develop and move forward.

“The consequences of these delays are far-reaching. Investment is being held back, jobs and infrastructure projects are being delayed, and farm businesses are facing unnecessary uncertainty when seeking to modernise, improve sustainability and enhance environmental outcomes.

“The lack of engagement and unwarranted delays are also contributing to serious financial pressures and, in some cases, significant mental anguish for applicants and their families.”

The comments represent Ms Lockhart’s criticism of the service and its performance. No evidence or figures quantifying the number or length of delays attributed specifically to SES were included in the material provided.

What is Shared Environmental Services?

SES was established in 2015 following the transfer of planning responsibilities from central government to Northern Ireland’s councils.

Its role is to provide specialist environmental assessment and advice which helps inform planning decisions. Councils themselves remain the planning authorities responsible for determining applications.

That distinction is central to Ms Lockhart’s argument. While acknowledging that specialist environmental scrutiny is necessary, she said it should assist councils in reaching legally compliant decisions rather than becoming an obstacle to progress.

“Specialist environmental advice is an important part of the planning process, but its services must be delivered in a timely, constructive and proportionate manner,” she said.

“The advice provided by SES should enable councils to make decisions within statutory requirements and performance targets, not become a barrier to progress.

“There must also be a clear distinction between the provision of specialist advice and responsibility for the final planning decision. Local councils are the planning authorities and must remain the decision-makers. SES is there to provide advice, not to operate as an unaccountable roadblock within the system.”

Claims of ‘planning paralysis’

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart

Ms Lockhart said she believed confidence in SES had deteriorated and described the current situation as “planning paralysis”.

“Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of confidence in the ability of SES to fulfil the role expected of it. Too many people view the service as a source of delay and frustration rather than a body facilitating an efficient and effective planning process,” she said.

“The current ‘planning paralysis’ format is simply unsustainable and cannot be allowed to continue.”

Her intervention places particular emphasis on the consequences for agriculture and rural businesses, where planning approval can be required for new buildings and infrastructure intended to improve productivity or environmental performance.

“Farmers are not asking for planning rules to be ignored. They want a system that is transparent, accountable and capable of delivering decisions within a reasonable timeframe,” Ms Lockhart said.

“Our farming industry is being encouraged to invest in new infrastructure, improve environmental performance, increase productivity and build resilience for the future. None of that can happen if applicants are left waiting indefinitely for progress within the planning system.”

Call for other councils to join review

Ms Lockhart is now calling on Northern Ireland’s other councils to follow Mid and East Antrim’s lead and support a wider examination of SES.

She wants any review to consider the service’s governance, operational effectiveness, accountability and ability to fulfil the function for which it was established.

“Northern Ireland cannot afford to have economic growth, investment and sustainable rural development continually stalled by bureaucracy, inefficiency and delay,” she said.

“I would encourage other local councils to follow Mid and East Antrim’s lead and support a collective review of Shared Environmental Services, including its governance, operational effectiveness, accountability and ability to deliver the service it was established to provide.

“This stalemate cannot continue indefinitely. Accountability, transparency and urgent reforms are long overdue. Businesses need certainty, farmers need confidence to invest, communities need progress and applicants deserve a planning system that functions effectively and efficiently.

“The people of Northern Ireland deserve far better than the dysfunction we are currently witnessing, and this review must be the beginning of meaningful change.”

UFU backs review amid concern over farm planning delays

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has also backed Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s move, saying prolonged planning delays are creating uncertainty for farming families and rural businesses seeking to invest and modernise.

The council is writing to Northern Ireland’s other ten councils seeking support for a collective review of Shared Environmental Services, with the UFU now encouraging local authorities across the region to back the proposal.

UFU president John McLenaghan said greater accountability and political oversight of the service were particularly important.

“We welcome Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s decision to call for a comprehensive review of Shared Environmental Services. In particular, we support the recognition that there must be greater accountability and proper political oversight of the service.

“Farmers are not asking for planning rules to be ignored. They are asking for a planning system that is transparent, proportionate and delivers timely decisions. Too many agricultural applications are becoming caught up in lengthy delays, creating uncertainty for farm businesses and holding back investment across the rural economy.”

The UFU also highlighted the distinction between the specialist advice provided by SES and councils’ responsibility for determining planning applications.

“Planning authorities must remain the decision-makers,” Mr McLenaghan said.

“Advice from specialist bodies is an important part of the planning process, but accountability for planning decisions rests with councils. Maintaining that distinction is essential if confidence in the planning system is to be restored.

“A review of the governance, operation and accountability of Shared Environmental Services is a positive step and one that has the potential to improve confidence for applicants, councils and rural businesses alike.”

The union said an efficient planning system was important for farmers seeking to invest in infrastructure, improve environmental performance and secure the long-term sustainability of their businesses.

Mr McLenaghan added:

“Northern Ireland’s farming industry is being encouraged to improve productivity, enhance environmental outcomes and build resilience. None of that can happen without changes to the current planning system.

“We hope other councils now follow Mid and East Antrim’s lead by supporting a collective review of Shared Environmental Services. Farmers deserve a planning system that is efficient, accountable and capable of supporting sustainable rural development while continuing to meet our environmental obligations.”

The significance of the proposed review will ultimately depend on its scope, how widely it is supported and what changes — if any — follow.

For applicants currently navigating the planning system, the central question will be whether the process results in measurable improvements to the speed, accountability and effectiveness of environmental planning advice.