County Fermanagh countryside. Picture: Cliff Donaldson
The Ulster Farmers’ Union says DAERA must act immediately to address planning blockages created by their ammonia operational protocol, and support vital and sustainable farm development. Natural England has recently made moves to improve the planning guidance around ammonia, providing more flexibility regarding replacement buildings where nutrients have been reduced. It is vital that DAERA now follows suit.
UFU deputy president John McLenaghan said, “Local farmers have been waiting far too long for DAERA to take a common sense approach to planning applications for replacement buildings where betterment can be demonstrated. The department continue to block farmers from making environmental, welfare and efficiency improvements by using the current ammonia planning protocol, while also blocking progress towards their own targets in the process. We’ve been highlighting this for years and quite frankly, their continued stalling is embarrassing and pathetic.
“In April, in response to DAERA’s consultation on the Northern Ireland interim operation protocol for ammonia, we presented a robust response put together by a team of experts collectively employed by the industry, UFU, NIMEA, Dairy Council, LMC, NI Pork and Bacon Forum, NI Poultry Industry Federation and NIGTA, with a comprehensive legal opinion. The approach now being taken by Natural England on ammonia and planning mean that DAERA can no longer hide. We need a sensible approach on the ammonia operational protocol, in particular, an approach that supports planning applications and some farm permit and licenses where existing buildings are being replaced and upgraded. We are consulting our legal team on our next steps to achieve this.”
