The team in Causeway Coast and Glens Planning Department are delighted to launch their new enhanced validation checklist, specially designed to streamline planning applications for all.

The new process launches this Monday 9th June, with Council’s Planning Committee adopting the checklist to further improve the quality and efficiency of planning applications.

Council’s Planning Department, in latest published statistics for the period October to December 2024, have ranked in the top five highest received applications across all 11 Councils; and for the same period the Department was also highlighted as having the 2nd highest number of applications decided with an overall approval rate of over 95%.

It is hoped that the enhanced checklist will improve already excellent approval rates and processing times.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor Oliver McMullan, who also sits on the Planning Committee said: “It is important to us that our Council and the Planning Department offers our residents a professional and streamlined planning application service.

“Recent figures show we already rank very highly with a 95% approval rate and this new process will not only help maintain our already excellent processing rates, but also help to ensure applications are front-loaded, resulting in better processing times and more efficient consultee responses.”

Principal Planner Jennifer Lundy said: “The new enhanced checklist will provide certainty and transparency to all our customers, providing clarity on the reports and plans needed to accompany different types of applications.

“This will help assist the planning office in the processing of the application with meaningful consultations leading to quicker decisions.”

The Enhanced Validation Checklist will be adopted from Monday 9th June following a very successful public consultation period. This is just one of many improvements to planning that have been supported through the Councils Planning Departments joint working relationships with members from the Royal Town Planning Institute and Royal Society Ulster Architects.

The Planning Department have also provided an advice note to accompany the checklist that sets out how to determine what information should be submitted with your application.

For more information visit: https://causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/live/planning. Documents will be available to view from Monday 9th June.