Planning Committee work to continue

Work ongoing to find alternative to meetings

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot says plans are being put in place to allow meetings of the planning committee to continue during the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to current restrictions on public gatherings and social distancing, meetings cannot be carried out in the usual way.

Alternative provisions are currently being drafted.

Amendments to secondary legislation will need to be made to allow these changes.

The planning meeting scheduled for 14 April has been cancelled because amendments to legislation cannot be made in time.

DEFA has advised that just 20% of applications go through the planning committee, with the remaining 80% determined by officers under delegated powers.