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Local Development Plans across Northern Ireland: Progress update

As we emerge from the pandemic and enter a phase of recovery, we are starting to witness a spring in the step of several councils as their respective Local Development Plans progress to the next stage in the plan making cycle.

Here is our latest update on the Local Development Plans. 

Independent Examination update

Belfast City Council

The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) forwarded their report on the Independent Examination of Belfast City Council’s Draft Plan Strategy (dPS) to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) on 29 September 2021. The DfI has considered the report and has directed the council to adopt the dPS with modifications. The details of the modifications are not yet known but should be available once the dPS is formally adopted.  We expect that the plan could be adopted by the Autumn. 

Once adopted, the plan will be the primary document used in the determination of planning applications and appeal cases.  Regional planning policy set out in the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) will continue to apply, but the green book ‘retained planning policies’ will be withdrawn. 

Fermanagh & Omagh District Council 

The Independent Examination of Fermanagh & Omagh District Council’s dPS concluded on 23 March 2022. We understand that the PAC Commissioner will provide an advisory report to the DfI by Q2 2022/2023.

Draft Plan Strategies

Referred to the PAC for Independent Examination (IE)

Four councils have had their dPS referred to the PAC for an IE as set out in the table. Typically, each session of the IE lasts for two weeks during which a number of topic areas are discussed.

Table 1: Draft Plan Strategies instructed to proceed to IE.

Table 1: Draft Plan Strategies instructed to proceed to IE 

Awaiting submission to the DfI for Independent Examination

Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC)

Following the consultation on focussed changes which closed in early February 2022, the council is now finalising their submission to the DfI.  We expect that the dPS will be provided to DfI later this month, before being referred onto the PAC.  We estimate that the IE could take place towards the end of 2022.

Draft Plan Strategies to be published

Of the 11 council areas, four have not yet published a Draft Plan Strategy for consultation. The table below summarises the status of those Plan Strategies.

LDP Table 2_April 2022

Table 2: Draft Plan Strategies awaiting publication

Based on the time being taken to undertake the consultation on the draft Plan Strategy and the Independent Examination into the soundness of plans, it is unlikely that the Plan Strategies for these four remaining councils will be adopted before 2024.

It is positive to see progress being made across the province with a number of independent examinations scheduled for this year and next. As those plans which are well progressed, such as Belfast, move towards adoption the same councils will soon be starting to look at what they need to do to prepare the next stage of the LDP, the Local Policies Plan (LPP). In preparing the LPP the councils will need to look in detail at land zonings for various uses and will be establishing key site requirements for their delivery. 

We will be continuing to monitor the progress of the plans as they move through the process. If you want to know more about a specific LDP or have a site specific query, please get in touch with either Angela Wiggam, Emma Kelly or Orlaith Keen.

12 April 2022

 

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