The DUP Agriculture spokesperson has repeatedly called for greater scrutiny of the publicly funded body, based at County Hall in Ballymena, amid growing frustration over delays affecting planning applications across Northern Ireland.

Ms Lockhart said: “The decision to seek a comprehensive review of SES is long overdue. I have been raising serious concerns about the arms-length body for a considerable period of time.

“Businesses, developers, farmers and local communities across Northern Ireland are being left in limbo because of an unacceptable lack of progress and urgency from SES. Planning applications are sitting stagnant for months, and in many cases years, creating uncertainty and frustration for those who simply want to invest, develop and move forward.

“The consequences of these delays are far-reaching. Investment is being held back, jobs and infrastructure projects are being delayed, and farm businesses are facing unnecessary uncertainty when seeking to modernise, improve sustainability and enhance environmental outcomes. The lack of engagement and unwarranted delays are also contributing to serious financial pressures and, in some cases, significant mental anguish for applicants and their families.”

SES was established in 2015 to support councils following the transfer of planning responsibilities from central government to local authorities. Its role is to provide specialist environmental assessment and advice to inform planning decisions.

Ms Lockhart continued: “Specialist environmental advice is an important part of the planning process, but its services must be delivered in a timely, constructive and proportionate manner.

“The advice provided by SES should enable councils to make decisions within statutory requirements and performance targets, not become a barrier to progress.

“There must also be a clear distinction between the provision of specialist advice and responsibility for the final planning decision. Local councils are the planning authorities and must remain the decision-makers. SES is there to provide advice, not to operate as an unaccountable roadblock within the system.”

She added: “Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of confidence in the ability of SES to fulfil the role expected of it. Too many people view the service as a source of delay and frustration rather than a body facilitating an efficient and effective planning process. The current ‘planning paralysis’ format is simply unsustainable and cannot be allowed to continue.

The MP said she fully supported the review and noted its concerns about the impact prolonged planning delays are having on farming families and rural businesses.

“Farmers are not asking for planning rules to be ignored. They want a system that is transparent, accountable and capable of delivering decisions within a reasonable timeframe.

“Our farming industry is being encouraged to invest in new infrastructure, improve environmental performance, increase productivity and build resilience for the future. None of that can happen if applicants are left waiting indefinitely for progress within the planning system,” she said.

Carla Lockhart MP added: “Northern Ireland cannot afford to have economic growth, investment and sustainable rural development continually stalled by bureaucracy, inefficiency and delay.”

“I would encourage other local councils to follow Mid and East Antrim’s lead and support a collective review of Shared Environmental Services, including its governance, operational effectiveness, accountability and ability to deliver the service it was established to provide.

“This stalemate cannot continue indefinitely. Accountability, transparency and urgent reforms are long overdue. Businesses need certainty, farmers need confidence to invest, communities need progress and applicants deserve a planning system that functions effectively and efficiently,” she said.



“The people of Northern Ireland deserve far better than the dysfunction we are currently witnessing, and this review must be the beginning of meaningful change.”