Regulations forcing people off rural land, say bishops
Catholic bishops today warned stringent new planning regulations for rural communities in the North could force people off the land.
In a statement issued after the June general meeting of the Irish Episcopal Conference in Maynooth, the bishops called on the British government to guarantee the future of rural communities.
“It is a concern if government intends to ban any extension of living in the countryside as a one-dimensional policy,” the bishops said.
“The bishops appreciate that regulation is needed to allow for good planning of rural housing for the common good.
“However, the decision to effectively ban future rural housing is of concern to all if it is merely an attempt to force rural dwellers off the land and into urban communities.”
In March, former Northern Ireland Office planning minister Lord Rooker announced an immediate clampdown on the granting of planning permission for single rural dwellings.
The move has been criticised by Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the GAA. The Ulster Farmers’ Union also called for greater flexibility.
The British government could now face a legal challenge over the policy.
An architects’ firm has applied for a judicial review of the government’s planning policy proposals.
The Catholic bishops said today a balance must be struck between creating sustainable, rural communities and protecting the environment and heritage of the countryside for the benefit of all in our society.
“Thus the British government’s policy on building new homes in the countryside must include a commitment to the sustainable development of social, economic, community and family life in rural areas in the North,” their statement said.
The bishops also reminded the British government that rural communities were facing increasing challenges with young people inevitably going to towns and cities for third level education and few factors encouraging their return. European Union agricultural policies were also impacting on rural life.
The bishops said the countryside must not become merely a desirable residential area for those who could afford to live in it but be the home to vibrant communities, built on economic activity and social cohesion.
They said: “Most rural communities have as their centre a village or some similar settlement which must be respected as the focal point for the sustainable development of the rural way of life.
“It would therefore be of immense value if government were to provide positive leadership in the planning and development of villages in such a way that they can provide the social and economic facilities essential for the growth of rural communities.”
