Review of The Planning (Development Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Overview

This public consultation is seeking your views on the review of The Planning (Development Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

The Department for Infrastructure is inviting views from the public and stakeholders to identify and inform potential changes to The Planning (Development Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015. 

The 2022 Review Report on the implementation of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 included several actions in relation to the above Regulations namely (a) a review of categories and thresholds for development; (b) removal of mandatory pre-determination hearings; and (c) incorporating online/digital aspects into the pre-application community consultation process.

These actions now form part of the Planning Improvement Programme (PIP) being brought forward by the Department, working closely with local government and partners, to improve current processes and the performance and delivery of the planning system.

This consultation will be of interest to all stakeholders in the planning system, including those affected by or with an interest in development in their area, applicants and their agents, councils, and statutory consultees.  

Why your views matter

The consultation focuses on a review of the existing classes of development and the corresponding thresholds for local, major and regionally significant development; proposals to make pre-determination hearings discretionary for councils; and proposals to provide for in-person and online/electronic engagement as part of pre-application community consultation.

To ensure the Development Management Regulations remain fit for purpose, relevant and consider current changing trends, the Department wishes to seek the views of the public to inform the nature and extent of any legislative change required.

The Department would encourage all those with a vested interest to contribute to this consultation process.

You are invited to submit your views online.   The closing date for receipt of comments is 3rd March 2024.

Equality Impact Assessment Screenings and an Initial Preliminary Regulatory Impact Assessment have been undertaken and are available to view or download at the link below.  The Department welcomes views and comments on whether the conclusions contained in these assessments are correct.

Copies in other languages and formats, (including Braille, large print etc.), can be made available on request. If it would assist you to access this document in an alternative format or language other than English, please contact us using the e-mail above.

Your response, and all other responses to this consultation, may also be disclosed on request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR); however, all disclosures will be in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (UK) 2016/679.  If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential, so that this may be considered if the Department should receive a request for the information under the FOIA or EIR.

What happens next

When the consultation closes, the responses will be analysed, and a report drafted for consideration.