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Northern Ireland: Local Development Plan update August 2025

As we move into the third quarter of 2025, we provide an update on recent progress made on Local Development Plans (LDPs) and other key changes in the planning system across Northern Ireland.

Our last update, in April 2025, looked back on ten years since the devolution of planning powers and we  provided an overview of how Local Development Plans have been produced, outlined the progress made to date, and set out what we expect to see in the coming years.

Plan Strategy Updates

Notable progress has been made in recent weeks, with two councils formally adopting their Plan Strategy in early July:

  • Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council (ANBC) adopted its Plan Strategy on 3 July 2025 following its Independent Examination in May/June 2022.
  • Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) adopted its Plan Strategy on 10 July 2025 following Independent Examination in September/October 2023.

These adoptions represent a significant milestone for the individual councils in their plan making process, with six out of eleven councils in Northern Ireland now having adopted a Plan Strategy, providing an up-to-date policy framework for the area. These councils now shift to preparations for their Local Policies Plan (LPP).

We would expect that in advance of the Local Policies Plan (LPP) publication, the councils will issue a ‘Call for Sites’ which will provide an opportunity for site promotion and help identify land that will support the councils in achieving the growth targets in their Plan Strategy.

In June 2025, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council published its Draft Plan Strategy for consultation. This provides an opportunity to engage in the plan making process and influence future planning policies for the area. If you have any questions or interests in this council area, please get in touch.

Summary of Local Development Plan Key Dates

Three councils have yet to publish their Plan Strategy and Mid Ulster are still waiting to proceed to Independent Examination of their draft Plan Strategy.

We will continue to monitor progress and provide updates on key consultation periods and opportunities for input.

Validation checklists

Earlier in the year, amendments were made to the Planning (General Development Procedure) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (GDPO) which saw new powers granted to all 11 local councils in Northern Ireland, allowing them to develop and publish their own planning application validation checklists.

These changes took effect on 1 April 2025, and each council is now able to define the additional documentation and information required to accompany various types of planning applications. These requirements must be clear, proportionate, and tailored to reflect the nature, scale, and location of the proposed development. The statutory minimum requirements under the GDPO remain unaffected by these changes.

The table below outlines which councils have implemented validation checklists under the new legislation, to date.

Council Area and Validation Checklist: Fermanagh & Omagh District Council - Published; Belfast City Council - Published; Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council - Draft was consulted on April - July 2025; Mid & East Antrim Borough Council - No Validation Checklist; Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council - No Validation Checklist - currently being prepared; Derry City & Strabane District Council - No Validation Checklist; Mid Ulster District Council - No Validation Checklist; Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council - Published; Newry, Mourne & Down District Council - Draft was consulted on March - May 2025; Ards and North Down Borough Council - Non statutory checklist in place; Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council - Published

Pre-Application Community Consultation (PACC)

On 1 August 2025, new legislative requirements took effect for the Pre-Application Community Consultation (PACC) process. Developers submitting major planning applications will be legally required to provide a dedicated website that presents details of the proposed development and offers a platform for the public to submit feedback online. While many applicants have previously used websites voluntarily, this digital engagement is now a statutory requirement.

The purpose of this change is to strengthen the PACC process by adopting methods that increase public awareness of proposed developments and increase opportunities for community and stakeholder involvement during the early stages of planning.

It’s important to note that this requirement applies to all major applications that have not been formally submitted by 1 August 2025, regardless of whether a public information event has already been held and a website provided.

Should you have any queries about the above or what it might mean for your project, please get in touch with Philip Stinson or Aoife Byrne.

8 August 2025

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