Comment

Northern Ireland Local Development Plan update - April 2021

Across Northern Ireland, since the start of the year we have seen a marked increase in the number of councils who have had to adjust their timeline for the publication of their draft Plan Strategy. This is a good indicator that Q4 of 2021 and most of 2022 will be focused on Independent Examinations.

Below we provide an update including information on the latest position of each LDP.

The role of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI): Planning

Over the last six months, several councils have submitted their draft Plan Strategy (dPS) documents to the DfI so that they can commence the Independent Examination process.

DfI are a statutory consultee in the preparation of the Plan and will comment on draft policies in relation to existing regional planning policy. Under the Local Development Plan Regulations (2015) DfI has a number of other roles in the Plan making process. DfI must approve the council timetables for the preparation of the LDP. Following the completion of the consultation on the dPS, councils must submit the dPS and supporting evidence to DfI for consideration. During this time DfI will check that all required information has been provided and that the dPS has been prepared in accordance with the Regulations. Once they are satisfied that this is the case, DfI will then instruct the Planning Appeals Commission to commence the Independent Examination.

DfI will also be present at the Examination as a statutory consultee.

Experience from the Belfast Independent Examination

Belfast City Council (BCC) recently completed the hearing stage of the Independent Examination into the soundness of their dPS. This process took place across two sessions in November 2020 and January – March 2021, and covered each of the topic areas considered within the draft Plan Strategy.  We are expecting that the Planning Appeals Commission will publish their report into the Examination later this year.

Looking ahead

We expect a number of councils to reach the Independent Examination stage within the next 18 months. The below downloadable PDF provides an overview of the latest position with each LDP.

Please contact Angela Wiggam or Emma Walker if you have any queries on the LDP process.

28 April 2021