Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has raised concerns over the potential impact of DAERA’S proposed Future Agricultural Policy on planning in rural areas. 

 The Newry and Armagh MLA said:

“The Future Agricultural Policy proposes to increase the minimum claim size for farms from 3 hectares up to 10 hectares to access resilience payments.

“This could undermine the sustainability of small farms and their status as active farming businesses and serious restrict planning in rural areas.

“To build a house on a farm setting you need to have an active farming business for at least a period of six years.

“I have written to Agriculture Minister Poots and Infrastructure Minister Mallon to ask what assessment they have done on the potential impact this could have on building homes in rural communities.

“It is vital that the planning system works for our rural communities.”