The suspension of a number of planning applications for livestock housing is unrelated to an investigation into more than 100 previous applications where concerns have been raised about the validity of supporting documents, a Stormont department has said.
The processing of applications for new pig and poultry units across the north has stalled following the launch of an investigation by Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) into planning advice on livestock houses from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera).
The probe will seek to establish whether Daera breached environmental law in its ammonia guidance for councils to use in making planning decisions.
The Ulster Farmers Union's deputy president William Irvine said the decision to suspend the planning applications was "completely unfair".
He said it would cost farmers time and money.
Meanwhile, The Detail is reporting that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) – a Daera arms' length body – is examining more than 100 cases, including many developments already approved, where it had been “unable to verify” the results of key soil samples.
The NIEA said “the purported analysing laboratory” listed on the documents had no record of either all, or a majority of, samples recorded in each of the applications.
It has been confirmed that 108 applications are being investigated – 101 for pig or poultry units and seven for biogas plants.
The applications include some which are waiting for planning approval and some which were approved years ago.
The probe was launched in October last year and focuses on applications which contain “misrepresented” soil sample results.
Friends of the Earth regional director James Orr said rigorous investigations into the applications were needed.
"I would hope that the councils, the Planning Appeals Commission and the Department for Infrastructure are initiating full investigations,” he said.
Daera has confirmed to The Irish News that the two matters are not related.
"NIEA is currently considering legal advice on the ongoing application of our ammonia planning standing advice and has temporarily paused the issue of associated planning advice pending the outcome of these considerations," the department said.
“In relation to soil sampling results, NIEA has identified a number of cases where it is suspected that misrepresented soil sample analysis results have been submitted in support of developments and associated activities. NIEA has alerted all the relevant stakeholders, including local council planning departments."
