QPANI welcomes OFT market study
THE Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland (QPANI) has welcomed the recent announcement by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that it plans to carry out a market study into the UK aggregates market and mineral planning system.
QPANI works closely with the Planning Service in Northern Ireland, acting on the industry’s behalf to ensure that the province has an efficient and fit-for-purpose mineral planning system. However, according to the Association’s regional director, Gordon Best, this close relationship has not delivered the benefits and outcomes that the industry would have wished for.
He said: ‘Over the past 10 years we have endeavoured to work with the Planning Service and the various ministers responsible for that department on issues such as the need for permitted development to be brought into line with the rest of the UK, a minerals planning policy for Northern Ireland, planning fees that are equitable with other regions in the UK and an aggregates mapping programme for Northern Ireland.
‘Unfortunately, not one of these important issues has been delivered. In truth we have a planning system in Northern Ireland that is not fit for purpose and, in its present state, cannot deliver the effective decisions, policies and outcomes that a modern vibrant industry and wider economy needs,’ said Mr Best.
He added: ‘QPANI looks forward to participating in the OFT study, although we would advise them to allocate some additional time to Northern Ireland.’
QPANI works closely with the Planning Service in Northern Ireland, acting on the industry’s behalf to ensure that the province has an efficient and fit-for-purpose mineral planning system. However, according to the Association’s regional director, Gordon Best, this close relationship has not delivered the benefits and outcomes that the industry would have wished for.
He said: ‘Over the past 10 years we have endeavoured to work with the Planning Service and the various ministers responsible for that department on issues such as the need for permitted development to be brought into line with the rest of the UK, a minerals planning policy for Northern Ireland, planning fees that are equitable with other regions in the UK and an aggregates mapping programme for Northern Ireland.
‘Unfortunately, not one of these important issues has been delivered. In truth we have a planning system in Northern Ireland that is not fit for purpose and, in its present state, cannot deliver the effective decisions, policies and outcomes that a modern vibrant industry and wider economy needs,’ said Mr Best.
He added: ‘QPANI looks forward to participating in the OFT study, although we would advise them to allocate some additional time to Northern Ireland.’
