Former Lord Mayor says make planning process quicker for business

Former Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Ekin has said it’s essential for government to speed up the planning process to attract more businesses here. He stated that the length of time it takes to get planning applications approved for businesses could act to deter new jobs and investment here.

Alliance Councillor Tom Ekin, who works in business said: “The current situation on planning is totally unacceptable. I am ambitious for Belfast and for Northern Ireland and we need a quicker planning system to reach our economic potential.

“Every time people allow things to slow down it causes problems. Normally these delays do not provide a better product, they instead provides a worse end product.

“There needs to be far more coordination on planning issues. There must be less buck-passing and responsibility must be taken for quick decisions. We have to compete with the rest of the world for investment, and we need world-class processes to go along with the world-class workforce we have. The time that it takes to get planning applications approved for businesses could act to deter new jobs and investment.

“While the planning process should be thorough to take into account environmental and other factors, we need to lower bureaucracy to boost business.”

ENDS

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