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Updated: 21 November 2024

Consultation on draft Purpose Built Managed Student Accommodation Supplementary Planning Guidance

We make a commitment in the Plan Strategy (PS) to prepare Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to support and clarify policies included within the Local Development Plan (LDP). This is set out in appendix E of the PS (page 321).

SPG represents non-statutory planning guidance. It is intended to be read in conjunction with the existing planning policy framework, most notably the Belfast LDP Plan Strategy and the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for Northern Ireland. They apply to Belfast local government district and are intended for use by developers, the public and by planning officers to support the assessment and delivery of planning proposals.

We recently consulted on changes to the Purpose Built Managed Student Accommodation (PBMSA) SPG which will complement Policy HOU12 of the PS. Once adopted, this will replace the existing SPG on PBMSA introduced in 2016.

Read more about the PBMSA Consultation (link opens in new window)

The consultation ran from Thursday 29 August until Thursday 21 November 2024.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 028 9050 0510.


Belfast Local Development Plan 2035 – Call for Sites

Following the adoption of the Belfast Local Development Plan (LDP) Plan Strategy on 2 May 2023, we are commencing work in relation to the Local Policies Plan (LPP). 

The LPP will contain local policies and site-specific proposals in relation to the development and use of land. It will contain the local policies, including site specific proposals, designations and land use zonings required to deliver the council’s vision, objectives and strategic policies, as set out in the Plan Strategy.

The ‘Call for Sites’ was an early opportunity for individuals, landowners and developers to suggest sites within the Council area for new development up to 2035. Proposals for any use (such as housing, commercial, retail etc) could be put forward to help identify a pool of sites for further consideration. The ‘Call for Sites’ exercise will not determine whether a site should be allocated for development, but will help provide information that will inform the development of the LPP.

For further information, visit the Local Development Plan hub on ‘Your Say’ where you will find a link to the ‘Call for Sites’ section.

The Call for Sites consultation closed at 5pm on 1 March 2024.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 028 9050 0510.

Updated: Wednesday 15 November 2023

Revised Local Development Plan Timetable

Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and Planning (Local Development Plan) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

Section 7 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 places a statutory duty on councils to prepare and keep under review a Timetable for the preparation and adoption of the council’s Local Development Plan.

Belfast City Council adopted its initial Local Development Plan Timetable on 1 June 2016.  This Timetable has been subject to continual review as the council progresses through the LDP process. Statutory revisions were adopted and published in April 2018, November 2018 and July 2020. Following the adoption of the Belfast LDP Plan Strategy on 2 May 2023, the Timetable has been further revised and was approved by the Department for Infrastructure in October 2023.

In accordance with Regulation 8 of the Planning (Local Development Plan) Regulations (NI) 2015, Belfast City Council hereby gives notice of the adoption of its revised Local Development Plan Timetable.

The revised Timetable may be examined between the hours of 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday) at Belfast City Council, Planning Service, Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BP.

View the revised Timetable. Copies can be obtained, by writing to the above address, by emailing [email protected] or call 028 9050 0510.  

Adoption of Plan Strategy (May 2023)

In accordance with section 12 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, on 3 April 2023, we resolved to adopt the Belfast Local Development Plan – Plan Strategy (May 2023). This followed the Direction issued by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to adopt the Plan Strategy with specified modifications. The Plan Strategy was adopted on 2 May 2023 and took effect from that date.

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