Publication of Northern Ireland Planning Statistics: Third Quarter 2017/18 Statistical Bulletin

Provisional planning statistics for the third quarter of 2017/18 are now available. These data provide an overall view of planning activity. Alongside this there is a summary of council performance across the three statutory targets for major development applications, local development applications and enforcement cases as laid out in the Local Government (Performance Indicators and Standards) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015.

The publication is available on the Department for Infrastructure website at:  https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/planning-activity-statistics

The key points from the Northern Ireland Planning Statistics Third Quarter 2017/18 Statistical Bulletin are:

• There were 3,274 planning applications received during October to December 2017 (Q3), an increase of nearly 2% on the previous quarter (3,222) and up by just over 2% on the same period a year earlier (3,201).  This comprised 3,232 local, 41 major and one regionally significant development application. 
• During the third quarter of 2017/18, 3,067 planning applications were decided, a decrease of more than 1% over the previous quarter but an increase of nearly 7% when compared to the same period a year earlier.
• The average processing time for major applications during the first nine months of 2017/18 was just over 50 weeks across all councils; an improvement of nearly 20 weeks from the 70 weeks reported for the first nine months of 2016/17.  This is 20 weeks longer than the statutory processing time target of 30 weeks.
• The number of local planning applications received was 3,232, an increase of over 1% when compared to the previous quarter and up by more than 2% on the same period a year earlier.  Across councils, Belfast City (416), Newry, Mourne and Down (388) and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (353) received the highest number of local planning applications during Q3.
• In the first nine months of 2017/18 it took, on average, just above 15 weeks across councils to process local applications to decision or withdrawal which was just over one week shorter than the same period last year.  Six of the 11 councils were within the 15 week target during the first nine months of 2017/18. The shortest average processing time for local applications across councils was just below 10 weeks in Mid and East Antrim, whilst the longest was nearly 22 weeks in Lisburn and Castlereagh.
• The number of enforcement cases opened during Q3 was 760, down by more than 11% on the previous quarter but up by over 2% when compared to the same period a year earlier.  Across the councils, Antrim and Newtownabbey (106), Belfast City (96) and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (89) opened the largest number of cases in Q3.
• In the first nine months of 2017/18, more than three quarters (77%) of enforcement cases were concluded within 39 weeks. This was seven percentage points above the statutory target and over 4 percentage points lower than the equivalent period last year.  Nine of the 11 councils are on track to meet the target with performance ranging from a high of 95% concluded within 39 weeks in Antrim and Newtownabbey to 60% in Newry, Mourne and Down.
• The approval rate for all planning applications for the quarter was 93%, similar to the rates for the previous quarter and a year earlier.  Third quarter approval rates varied across councils from 85% to 98%.

Notes to editors: 

Background to Northern Ireland Planning Statistics Third Quarter 2017/18 Statistical Bulletin.

1. This is the latest in a regular series of statistical bulletins related to Development Management (Planning) functions. The Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 sets out the legislative framework for development management and provides that, from 1 April 2015, councils now largely have responsibility for this planning function. This statistical bulletin reports on activity and performance for the third quarter of 2017/18 (1st October 2017 – 31st December 2017). Year-to-date processing performance for the full nine month period (1st April 2017 – 31st December 2017) is also provided.

2. A new classification hierarchy for planning applications came into effect on 1st April 2014 in advance of the transfer of planning functions to local government from 1st April 2015. The development categories are – major and local development applications, processed by councils, and regionally significant development applications processed within the Department. Note that the ‘major development’ category is based on a completely different definition to the previous ‘major’ category so figures relating to this category should not be compared with those from earlier bulletins (i.e. pre-2014/15).

3. There are three legislative performance targets covered in the report related to the processing of local development decisions within an average of 15 weeks; major development decisions within an average of 30 weeks; and processing 70% of enforcement cases to target conclusion within 39 weeks.

4. The final records of all applications from 1st April 2017 – 31st December 2017 were transferred in February 2018 from a live database and inspected for consistency in coding before figures were prepared for publication. These figures are regarded as ‘provisional’ and will be subject to further scheduled revisions as further updates are made to records in the live database environment.  Finalised annual figures for 2017/18 will be released at the end of June 2018. Quarterly data are provided in more detailed accompanying Excel tables together with comparable data from the previous financial year, where possible.

5. Electronic copies of the Bulletin, associated Excel tables and summary infographic are available free of charge from: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/planning-activity-statistics

6. Official Statistics - This is an Official Statistics publication and therefore follows the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.  You can find further information about the Code of Practice at: http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/code-of-practice/index.html

7. For further information please contact:

• Tel (press enquiries): 028 9054 0007
• Tel (public enquiries): 028 9054 0223
• (Text relay prefix 18001)
• E-mail: ASRB@nisra.gov.uk

Website: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/planning-activity-statistics

8. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007.  Out of office hours, please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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