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Date: 20 January 2026
Belfast’s City Council’s Planning Committee have been updated on the positive impact of developer contributions secured through the planning process from 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Elected Members heard an update on Section 76 Planning Agreements at this evening’s meeting.
Developer contributions can be either infrastructure-related or take the form of other measures put in place by developers to make their development proposals acceptable. They can cover the cost of delivering the infrastructure or “in kind” contributions whereby the developer delivers the contribution directly.
They can include improvements to public realm, provision of new or improved open space, sustainable transport, supporting local employment initiatives and commitments towards inclusive growth.
Since becoming a Planning Authority in 2015, Council has secured over £4.4 million worth of financial developer contributions to fund environmental and social improvements across the city.
Recent examples include open space improvements at Lenadoon Millennium Park and public realm improvements at Botanic Studios student accommodation on the Dublin Road with the installation of planters and planting including trees and shrubs, and maintenance.
The report highlighted that between 2020/21 and 2024/25, Council secured the following other developer contributions and planning obligations through the planning process:
- 1,738 affordable homes
- 51 Travel Plans to promote greener alternatives to single person car-use
- 44 schemes requiring Travel Cards to encourage use of public transport
- Around 3,860 Belfast Bike Scheme memberships and 33 car club schemes to further promote green travel
Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of the Council’s Planning Committee, said: “It’s very pleasing to see the tangible benefits that the planning process is having in Belfast through the policy provisions set out in the Belfast Local Development Plan - Plan Strategy 2035, which was adopted in 2023.
“As a Council, we have granted planning permission for over 1,700 much needed new affordable homes for the city. This is helping to achieve sustainable communities by creating mixed tenure housing at appropriate densities that helps to meet the housing needs of all our citizens.
“We are also ensuring that our new developments are sustainable with a significant commitment to green travel to help tackle climate change.
“We are further committed to the inclusive growth of our communities through securing developer commitments to promoting and supporting employability and skills initiatives for the benefit of local people.
“This Section 76 Planning Agreements monitoring report demonstrates how the city’s new Local Development Plan, is having a very positive impact in managing growth and change in our city. Belfast City Council continues to lead the way for securing developer contributions and other planning obligations through the planning process.”
At the Committee meeting this evening, the Planning Committee also approved a number of planning applications.
Among these was a council application for the development of new walking trails linking Black Mountain Shared Space project building on the Ballygomartin Road with the Upper Whiterock Road and Moyard Parade.
The development is designed to provide access to the Belfast Hills for local communities and link with the wider path network in the hills.
The plan includes gated accesses, fencing, seated areas, information signage, landscaping and associated site works.
The proposed development will also improve the network of green infrastructure within the Council area and improve access to open space for residents and visitors.
The Planning Committee further approved applications for ballstop fencing around the pitches at Falls Park, Woodland Playing Fields, Dixon Playing Fields and Clarendon Playing Fields.
Meanwhile, Council is continuing to welcome feedback on two draft Supplementary Planning Guidance masterplans identifying ‘Development Opportunity Areas’ in the Cathedral and Northeast Quarter of the city centre, and the Sailortown, Greater Clarendon and City Quays areas, of the city.
This public consultation closes on Thursday 29 January and can be accessed on the Your Say channel at https://yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/ldp-sailortown-and-cathedral-quarter-doa
For more information on the Local Development Plan and the Planning Service, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/planning