This public consultation is open from xxx April to xxx xxx July 2025.
Why are we consulting?
On 1 October 2024, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) made a Statutory Rule, The Planning (General Development Procedure) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024, which enables councils to publish a Planning Application Validation Checklist.
The Planning Application Validation Checklist is one of the measures aimed at creating a more efficient, effective, and transparent planning system.
In line with this legislation change we are taking time to prepare and consult on our proposed statutory validation checklists within the Lisburn and Castlereagh area.
What is a Planning Application Validation Checklist?
The Planning Application Validation Checklist sets out the information, plans or evidence which must be submitted with your planning application to make it a ‘valid’ application and enable it to be processed by our planning team. It will improve the quality of applications entering the system and will reduce the number of times that new information needs to requested and submitted which can then result in additional advertising, neighbour notification and consultations needing to be carried out.
Through the new legislation, the basic level of information that must be included with a planning application will increase. Whenever a planning application becomes ‘valid’ the timeframe for processing the application begins.
The extent of information sought will be proportionate to the scale and nature of the development proposed. It is acknowledged there may be site specific instances when a particular survey, report or assessment may not be required. Planning agents are encouraged to discuss any queries with a planning officer. While the number of requirements will increase with the complexity and scale of a planning application, it would be rare that all
validation requirements would be required for any one application.
Who we are consulting?
We are seeking your views on a draft Planning Application Validation Checklist. It will set out the information, plans or evidence which must be submitted with your planning application. The consultation response will take xxx minutes to complete.
Access our consultation