They are designed to guide planning officers and others engaged in the planning system through the preparation of a Local Development Plan, the legislation and procedures associated with development management and planning enforcement. The guidance is advisory and includes advice and recommendations on operational procedures and good practice where appropriate.
Links to the suite of published practice notes on development plan, development management and enforcement are as follows:
The Department will add to its suite of published practice notes as and when required.
Practice Notes published between 1st April 2015 and 15th May 2016 were done so by the then Department of the Environment. However, it was dissolved on 16th May 2016 and on the same date the Department for Infrastructure was established. References in those practice notes to the Department of the Environment should be read as the Department for Infrastructure. Furthermore, the departmental contact details recorded in those practice notes have been superseded by those of the Department for Infrastructure. Therefore, if you have a query relating to planning guidance, please contact us.
Further advice on enforcement responsibilities in Northern Ireland has been provided in the Overview of Planning Enforcement Responsibilities document.