Pay
Report
Apply
Date: 24 August 2026
Category: Planning
Council is currently consulting on draft supplementary planning guidelines for short-term lets in the city.
This non-statutory guidance is aimed for use by developers, landowners, planning agents and anyone else seeking advice with the assessment and delivery of planning proposals for short-term let developments within the city, whether for new-build housing or for change of use of existing buildings.
The guidance will highlight the key planning considerations that can arise in relation to planning applications for short-term lets and provide advice on council’s approach to relevant planning policy.
The information set out in this draft SPG is deemed a material consideration in determining planning applications and should be read in conjunction with the existing planning framework, mostly notably the DfI’s Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for Northern Ireland and council’s Local Development Plan (LDP).
Short-term let accommodation can take many forms from serviced apartments, apart-hotels, self-catering apartments and short-term holiday lets.
They can make an important contribution to the tourism economy in Belfast offering more accommodation choice for visitors to the city.
They also provide short-term accommodation choice in a range of circumstances beyond tourism, such as accommodation for temporary workers or for short-term residential needs.
However, in common with other cities, the popularity of short-term lets and their rise in number can also raise issues in relation to the availability of residential and affordable homes to buy/rent and the impact on neighbourhood character and community cohesion where concentrations of such accommodation have developed.
The draft supplementary planning guidance is available to view online at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/LDP and https://ow.ly/G0xL50ZEH4z or in person at the council’s Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, city centre, during normal business hours.
Submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or by post to Belfast Planning Service at the Cecil Ward Building in Linenhall Street.
The public consultation will run for 12 weeks until Monday 16 November and can also be accessed on our Your Say platform at https://yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/