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Local Development Plans in Northern Ireland: Progress update Q2 2023

Q2 2023 has seen further progress on Local Development Plans (LDPs) across Northern Ireland, this update reports on the position of each.

The Belfast plan strategy was adopted on 2 May 2023 and the implications of that are coming into focus on planning applications across the council area. Further progress has been made in Derry City and Strabane (DCSDC), Lisburn & Castlereagh (LCCC), and Mid & East Antrim (MEA) council areas during Q2 2023.

Upon adoption of the plan strategy, each council will move to the preparation of the Local Policies Plan (LPP). In preparing the LPP, councils will look in detail at land zonings and will be establishing key site requirements for the delivery of development.

Q2 2023 has been a particularly busy period for LCCC. They received direction from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to adopt the draft plan strategy subject to modifications. The adoption of the plan is anticipated to occur by the end of September 2023.

MEA are continuing with the progress of their draft plan strategy and have received direction from the department to progress with the preparation of four key documents, prior to the adoption of their plan strategy.

Our update summarises the main activities undertaken from the start of the year and outlines the activities we expect to see throughout the remainder of 2023.

Adopted plans

Fermanagh and Omagh (FODC)

FODC are in the early stages of preparing the LPP, which is the next stage in the LDP process.

Belfast City Council (BCC)

Since the previous update, BCC has concluded its consultation on the proposed amendments to the plan strategy and has adopted its plan strategy. The plan strategy will apply to all current developments and all developments coming forward within the BCC area. Additionally, the council has also published a suite of Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPGs) documents that sit alongside the plan strategy. These SPGs include more detailed guidance to support relevant policies within the plan strategy.

The existing suite of Planning Policy Statements no longer apply to development proposals within Belfast. Moving forward developers should look to the plan strategy to inform new proposals.

For both BCC and FODC, the next step is the preparation of the Local Policies Plan. This stage of the LDP process is more site-specific and will include the zoning of land for a range of uses and the identification of key site requirements. It will be important for the development sector to engage in consultation on this part of the LDP as it will impact on individual sites.

Independent Examinations (IE)

DCSDC are set to progress into IE sessions. The council have received confirmation from the department that IE sessions will commence on the 5 September 2023. When the PAC concludes its independent examination (IE) of a draft plan strategy, it provides the DfI with a report into the soundness of the plan. DfI then considers the feedback and will either direct the council that the plan can be adopted, needs further revisions, or needs to be redrafted.

Of the three councils in Northern Ireland that have currently been able to advance through the IE stage:

• Lisburn City and Castlereagh Council (LCCC) – LCCC have received direction from the department to adopt their draft plan strategy subject to minor modifications. We anticipate adoption of the plan to occur before the end of Q3 2023.
• Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council (ANBC) – The release of the commissioner’s report was expected in February 2023, however, this has been delayed. The PAC have not yet published a date for this report to be released.
• Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEA) – MEA have received direction from the department and PAC to prepare amendments to the following key documents prior to the adoption of the plan. These will be published for consultation prior to the adoption taking place:

- Draft Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) - August 2023
- Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating SEA) Report - Second Addendum
- Draft Equality Screening Report - Second Addendum
- Rural Needs Impact Assessment - Second Addendum

Draft plan strategy

Draft plan strategies awaiting referral to the PAC

Following consultation on the draft plan strategy, councils submit the plan to DfI who will then determine if it can be issued to the PAC to commence the Independent Examination (IE) process. As part of the IE process, the PAC hold dedicated sessions to discuss specific topics based on their review of points raised in written submissions to the draft plan strategy. Typically, there are four sessions per plan, with each lasting for around two weeks.

Below is a summary of the draft plan strategies that have been submitted to DfI.

Draft plan strategies to be published

Of the 11 council areas, four have yet to publish a draft plan strategy for consultation. The table below summarises the status of those plan strategies.

Q3/4 2023 has the potential to be a busy period for these councils if their plan strategies are published for consultation.

Should you have any queries about or interests in any of the above-mentioned council areas, or any of the plans in Northern Ireland, please get in touch with Angela Wiggam, Philip Stinson or Conor Campbell.

22 August 2023