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Date: 28 May 2025
Belfast City Council has just published a ‘Planning Application Validation Checklist’ to assist applicants and planning agents when making their submissions.
The development is one of many improvements to the city’s planning system since planning powers were transferred from the Department for Infrastructure (formerly the Department of the Environment) under Local Government Reform, ten years ago.
The checklist is aimed at improving the quality of applications submitted, leading to quicker decision times and a more efficient consultee process.
Councillor Arder Carson, Chair of the Planning Committee, said: “Council took on new planning powers ten years ago – marking the start of a journey where we have laid foundations for a more inclusive, sustainable city and delivered vital new development and infrastructure, during this time.
“Over the last decade, we have strengthened our community engagement, improved transparency and placed sustainability at the heart of decision-making. We’ve worked to deliver the vision and ambitions as set out in our city’s community plan - Belfast Agenda - through our Local Development Plan (LDP), with the LDP Plan Strategy adopted in May 2023.
“The LDP is shaping how land in the city is used and developed up to 2035 and, through this long-term vision, council has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that climate resilience, design excellence, environmental protection and inclusive growth continues to guide every planning decision.”
Since 2015, the council’s Planning Service has overseen more than 15,000 planning applications, helping bring life to landmark regeneration projects, new homes, innovative workplaces and vital community facilities.
Around 12,000 residential housing units have been approved across Belfast with over 6,000 units built in that time. The LDP now requires that 20% of all housing, coming forward, is delivered as ‘affordable housing’ to address this significant need in the city.
Among major developments over the last ten years, Ulster University’s new Belfast campus was approved and opened in 2022 and over 11,000 student bed spaces have been given permission to support an ever-expanding higher education sector.
Several of these developments have included the conversion of some of the city’s finest old buildings, such as the former Belfast Metropolitan College in College Square East (now John Bell House) and refurbishment/restoration of the former Ewart warehouse building in Bedford Street, next to the renovated Grand Central Hotel (formerly Windsor House site).
Councillor Carson added: “Major developments approved over the last ten years in Belfast include 24 hotels which is great news for visitors to the city.
“One of the first planning applications given the green light by our new Planning Committee, in 2015, was the Titanic Hotel – seeing the conversion and development of the former Harland and Wolff headquarters.
“We have also approved 61 Major Grade A office developments, 63 Major residential schemes and 3 Major leisure centres. We have determined over 300 Major applications, in total, at an approval rate of around 95%, demonstrating our commitment to working with applicants, developers and other customers to bring forward new development that benefits the city.
“From the restoration of heritage buildings to the creation of modern, green spaces, planning has been central to delivering a vibrant and resilient city.”
Referring to the Planning Application Validation Checklist now, Councillor Carson said this development was part of the “continuous improvement” of the council’s planning function.
“Our council has championed the need for validation checklists in Northern Ireland for many years and continues to be at the forefront of pushing for further change and improvement to the NI planning system,” he said.
“This checklist will assist applicants and planning agents with the information needed to be submitted with planning applications – above the previous minimum mandatory guidance.
“It sets out the information, plans or evidence, which must accompany applications – so that they can registered as “valid” and considered by our Planning Service.
“It will provide certainty and clarity to applicants and improve the quality of planning applications on submission – leading to quicker decisions and more efficient consultee responses.
“The checklist is available on our website and also upon request from our Planning team.”
For more information on council’s Planning Service visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/planning and to view the Validation Checklist, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/applicationchecklist