Planning activity statistics

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Reports on the volume of planning applications received and decisions issued. They include geographic detail at the Local Government District and the Assembly Constituency levels.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistical Regulation (OSR).

Background

Since the transfer of planning powers to councils in April 2015, the quarterly bulletins present a summary of provisional Northern Ireland planning volumes and processing performance for the new district councils, and the  Department.

The provisional quarterly releases are then replaced by a final annual publication, which contains finalised figures on the volume of applications received and decided, including geographic detail at the district council level, and detail on areas of high public interest (including information on residential development in urban and rural areas), renewable energy and enforcement activity.  

Please note that there may be small differences between finalised figures for quarterly data and what has been reported in the provisional quarterly reports.  In keeping with Open Data, users should note that from 2015/16 it has been decided to retain provisional quarterly reports on the website.

Planning Statistics User Guidance

Data visualisation

Summary of the Northern Ireland planning statistics 2023/2024 (final annual figures).

Publications

2023/24

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

2022/23

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

2021/22

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

2020/21

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

2019/20

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

2018/19

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

2017/18

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

2016/17

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

2015/16

Annual - finalised results

Quarterly – provisional results

Note:  it was necessary to combine the second and third quarterly bulletins after planning hierarchy classification issues led to a delay in the second quarterly publication.

2014/15

Note: after April 2015 the monthly renewable energy release was incorporated into the Northern Ireland planning statistics bulletins.

2002/03 to 2013/14

Quality Reports

User Engagement

National Statistics designation

Between November 2019 and March 2020, the Northern Ireland planning statistics underwent an assessment by the Office for Statistics Regulation.  A report detailing the findings of this assessment was published in May 2020.

Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch have developed an action plan detailing how and by when the requirements identified in the assessment report were met.  This includes a forward work plan which outlines scheduled work and further developments over the coming years. This can be accessed below.

In December 2020, the UK Statistics Authority Regulatory Committee confirmed National Statistics designation for the Northern Ireland planning statistics. This designation means that the statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value as set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Investigating the feasibility of linking planning approvals to house building completions data

A report investigating the feasibility of linking planning approvals to house building completions data can be accessed below.

Forward work plan

Forward work plan which outlines scheduled work and further developments planned for 2024/25.  This can be accessed below.

Contact

For general enquiries, data requests and feedback, contact Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch

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