New Planning Portal for Northern Ireland

Updated: 21 November 2022

A new Planning Portal will be launched on Monday 5 December for 10 of the 11 councils in Northern Ireland (including us) and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

The new Planning Portal will allow you to:

• submit planning applications online
• view, comment on and track live planning applications online
• submit Tree Preservation Order requests online
• report breaches of planning control online (enforcement complaints)
• submit requests for regional property certificates online

The new Planning Portal will provide an enhanced public register, where you can search for and view historical planning applications across Northern Ireland. 

The current Public Access Portal (link opens in new window) is available but limited to read-only access for most users.

There may be some delays in processing applications during this time. The current public access website will be available to view applications during the switchover, but you won’t be able to submit comments. You should submit comments on planning applications by email to planning@belfastcity.gov.uk or by post to:

Belfast Planning Service
Ground Floor
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP

We will continue to accept new planning applications during the transition period, but copies of the submitted forms and plans for new applications will not be available online until the new Planning Portal is launched.

If you submit a new planning application during the transition period, it will be advertised, neighbours notified, and consultations issued when the new Planning Portal is launched.

If you have a registered account on the existing planning portal, this account will close. You will need to create a user account on the new Planning Portal to submit an application, track or comment on live applications.

We will publish any updates about the new Planning Portal on this webpage. The Department for Infrastructure has also published a newsletter which provides updates on the new Planning Portal. View the most recent edition of the newsletter (link opens in new window)