Annual decline in processing of planning applications

Northern Ireland continues to see an overall decline in planning applications when compared with figures of the previous financial year.

The region has also seen a reduction in decided applications but has seen an increase in the number of applications that were received. There have been a variety of events which has impacted on the planning and activity processing performance in Northern Ireland. Varying Covid restrictions which remained in place up until February 2022 inevitably haltered planning progress, some users did not have the accessibility to the planning system in January and February 2022, and there was a significant change in IT planning systems in June and December 2022, all of which contributed to the decline in planning statistics that were published in October 2024.

The findings come from the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) annual Northern Ireland Planning Statistics Bulletin. In Q1 of the 2023/2024 financial year, the region received 2,635 applications, but only received 2,538 applications in Q1 of the 2024/2025 financial year, marking a 4 per cent annual decrease.

There was also a 12 per cent decrease in the number of applications decided when comparing the first quarters of the two previous financial years as well as a 13 per cent decrease in the number of applications approved.

These figures mark a continued trend from the previous financial year when there were 10,025 planning applications received during 2023/24, an 11 per cent decrease from the previous financial year.

Comparing Q1 In 2024/25 with the same period in 2023/24, eight of the 11 local councils reported a decrease in the number of applications decided, with the largest percentage decrease in Ards and North Down (-33.7 per cent). However, the remaining councils reported an increase over the year, with the greatest increase in Newry, Mourne and Down (8.7 per cent).

Statutory targets

The bulletin also indicates that some local councils remain inconsistent in adhering to its statutory targets under the Planning Act 2011. One of the targets is for “each council to ensure that major development planning applications will be processed from the date valid to the decision issued or withdrawal date, within an average of 30 weeks”.

The average processing time for major applications brought to a decision or withdrawal during the first three months of 2024/25 was 38.6 weeks across all councils. While exceeding the 30 week target, this represents a decrease of 21 weeks compared with the same period in 2023/24 (59.6 weeks).

Furthermore, it is a statutory target for each council to ensure that local development planning applications will be processed from the date valid to a decision issued or withdrawal date within an average of 15 weeks.

The average processing time for local applications brought to a decision or withdrawal during the first three months of 2024/25, was 19 weeks; this is the same time as recorded for the same period a year earlier and still exceeds the statutory target of 15 weeks.

Six of the 11 councils did not adhere to the 15-week target after the first three months of 2024/25.

Another statutory target is to ensure that 70 per cent of all enforcement cases are dealt with by councils and are progressed to target conclusion within 39 weeks of receipt of a complaint.

Across all councils, 69.7 per cent of enforcement cases were concluded within 39 weeks during the first quarter of 2024/25, representing a decrease from the rate reported for the same period last year (77.2 per cent).

Like previous years, the region has failed to meet its planning targets but there some signs of improvement. While the processing time for planning applications remains around 19 weeks, only three councils met the 15 week target in 2023/24. Moreover, for enforcement cases, the region is projected to soon meet its target of dealing with 70 per cent of all enforcement cases come the next financial year.