Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Planning Department is delighted to launch its new Efficient Processing of Planning Applications Protocol, reaffirming its commitment to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to deliver a more proactive and streamlined planning service.
Launching this June, the new process has been adopted by Council’s Planning Committee as part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality, consistency, and efficiency of planning applications and associated processes.
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 to continue to improve our planning application processes.
“Recent figures show we already rank very highly with a 96.9% approval rate and first across all Councils in the time taken to process major applications, 27.2 weeks.
“In terms of local planning applications we are continually improving our processing times with an average processing time of 17.6 weeks, 5 weeks faster than the same period the year before.”
“It is hoped that the protocol will improve already excellent approval rates and processing times.”
Chair of Causeway Coast and Glens Planning Committee, Councillor Lee Kane said: “This is a positive step towards making the planning process more efficient, effective and transparent for applicants, agents and the wider community.
“By encouraging early engagement and clearly setting out expectations from the outset, the protocol will help ensure that applications can progress through the system more quickly.
“It will also help identify potential issues at an earlier stage, giving applicants the opportunity to make any necessary amendments to meet planning policy requirements and avoid unnecessary delays.”
Principal Planner Jennifer Lundy added: “The new Protocol encourages early engagement from the start of the application process.”
“It sets out what should be carried out in the preparation of an application and encourages the use of Pre Application Discussions.
“It provides clarity for all stakeholders of the difference stages a planning application follows and the processes at each stage. It reinforces our commitment to process complete applications in an efficient and timely manner as possible taking account of the legislative and planning policy framework.”
The Efficient Processing of Planning Applications Protocol will be adopted from Monday 1st June following a very successful consultation period with the RSUA and RTPI. The Protocol follows the adoption of the Enhanced Validation Checklist and the New Pre- application Discussion process, some of the many improvements to planning that have been supported through Councils Planning Departments joint working relationships with members from the Royal Town Planning Institute and Royal Society Ulster Architects.
The documents are available to view: Efficient-Processing-of-Planning-Applications-v1.5.pdf
PIC: Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, Jennifer Lundy, Principal Planner and Chair of Council's Planning Committee, Councillor Lee Kane.