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Department for Infrastructure Department for Infrastructure An Roinn Bonneagair Depairtment fur Infrastructure

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  • Planning Practice Notes

    Topics:
    • Planning, 
    • Planning Guidance

    The Planning Practice Notes are guidance documents relating to the planning legislative framework that came into being on 1st April 2015, which introduced a two-tier planning system whereby each district council is a local planning authority and the Department for Infrastructure is the regional planning authority in Northern Ireland.

    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:

    • Development Plan Practice Notes
    • Development Management Practice Notes
    • Enforcement Practice Notes

    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 Furthermore, the departmental contact details recorded in those practice notes have been superseded by those of the Department for Infrastructure.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.

    Related content

    • Conservation Area Guides (A-Z list)
    • Development Control Advice Notes (DCANs)
    • Other Supplementary Planning Guidance
    • Overview of Planning Enforcement Responsibilities
    • Planning Advice Notes (PANs)
    • Planning Fraud Risks Guide
    • Planning guidance from statutory consultees for developers
    • Planning guidance from statutory consultees for planning officers
    • Update on Extant Planning Guidance Prepared by DoE
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