Decisions on almost 30,000 planning applications were made in 2006/07, according to statistics released today by the Department of the Environment.
Commenting on the Planning Service’s first annual statistics report, the Environment Minister, Arlene Foster said that Planning Service processed and issued almost 30,000 decisions, including 3,000 applications carried forward from previous years.
Minister Foster announced in November 2007 her intention to bring forward proposals on wide ranging reform of the planning system. A public consultation on these will take place later in 2008. In the meantime, a number of short-term measures are being put in place to contribute positively to the economy by expediting the processing of planning applications. These include the establishment of multi-disciplinary teams to expedite the processing of strategically important planning applications; arrangements for pre-application discussions between Planning Service, key consultees and applicants to assist the process of major applications, improved application validation and appeals handling; looking to improve consultation arrangements with councils.