Introduction
A guide for customers who intend to submit a planning application
We’re committed to helping our customers get a timely planning decision that benefits the city.
To help achieve this, we want to make sure planning applications are supported by the right information at the start of the process.
Having all the relevant information from the outset enables us to assess applications properly. If supporting information is missing, it can lead to delays or could even result in refusal of your application.
This Planning Application Validation Checklist sets out the information that you need to submit with your application for it to be 'valid' and processed by us.
The information we need will fall into two categories:
- Basic information – this information is set regionally and applies to the whole of Northern Ireland (Appendix 2).
- Additional information – additional information required by us to fully assess applications in Belfast (Appendix 3).
Basic information
Planning legislationFootnote one sets out the minimum information that you must submit when making a planning application. Without this information, your application is not valid and we cannot lawfully process it.
Table 1 below provides a summary of the types of basic information that may be required with your application depending on its nature, scale and location.
Appendix 2 of this checklist provides detailed guidance on which Basic information you will need to submit. This explains the different information types and which are needed by type of application.
| Application form |
| Ownership certificate |
| Site location plan |
| Plans and drawings |
| Pre-application community consultation reportFootnote two |
| Design and access statementFootnote three |
| Fee (where required) |
Additional information
New legislationFootnote four enables a council to publish a Planning Application Validation Checklist that sets out additional information requirements above the basic information.
Additional information may be specified by our council where it is reasonable having regard to the 'nature', 'scale' and 'location' of the proposal.
Table 2 below lists the additional requirements you may need to provide with your application and when.
Appendix 3b provides detailed guidance on which information is required. It only applies to applications for full and outline planning permission, and approval of reserved matters following an outline planning permission.
| Table 2: Additional information – Validation Checklist (see Appendix 3b) | |
|---|---|
| 1. Adaptable and Accessible Accommodation Statement | 27. Marketing Statement |
| 2. Affordable Housing Proposal Form | 28. Masterplanning Statement |
| 3. Ambient Air Quality Impact Assessment (AQIA) | 29. Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) |
| 4. Archaeological Impact Assessment | 30. Odour Impact Assessment |
| 5. Archaeological Site Evaluation | 31. Office Impact Assessment |
| 6. Biodiversity Checklist | 32. Open Space Statement |
| 7. Biodiversity Survey | 33. Parking Survey |
| 8. Climate Change Statement | 34. PBMSA Statement |
| 9. Community Cohesion and Good Relations Statement | 35. Phasing Plan |
| 10. (Outline) Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) | 36. Planning Agreement (Heads of Terms Form) |
| 11. Contaminated Land Assessment | 37. Planning Statement |
| 12. Contextual Design Information | 38. Residential Quality Statement |
| 13. Daylight, Sunlight and Overshadowing Assessment | 39. Retail Impact Assessment (and Assessment of Need) |
| 14. Demolition Justification Statement | 40. Sequential Test (main town centre uses) |
| 15. Drainage Assessment | 41. Short-term Let Accommodation Statement |
| 16. Economic Statement | 42. Specialist Housing Statement |
| 17. Employability and Skills Profile | 43. Tall Buildings Design Statement |
| 18. Event Management Plan | 44. Tele-communications Supporting Statement |
| 19. Environmental Statement (EIA) | 45. Transport Assessment |
| 20. Flood Risk Assessment | 46. Transport Assessment Form |
| 21. Health Impact Assessment (HIA) | 47. Travel Plan |
| 22. Heritage Impact Assessment | 48. Tree Report |
| 23. Housing Mix Statement | 49. Viability Assessment |
| 24. Landscape/Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) | 50. Waste Management Plan |
| 25. Landscape/Townscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) | 51. Waste Storage Plan |
| 26. Lighting Impact Assessment | 52. Wind Energy Statement |
Please note that there are no additional information requirements for householderFootnote five applications – only basic information is required for those applications.
When we receive your application, we will decide whether additional information is required, on a case-by-case basis according to the nature, scale and location of the proposal.
We will only request information where it is reasonable and proportionate and it will enable us to make an effective decision.
Indicative Guide
To help you provide the right information at the outset, we have provided an Indicative Guide to the additional information that should be submitted by type of application at Appendix 3a.
Requesting additional information
If we believe that any additional information in Table 2 is necessary and you have not provided it with the application, we will write to you and ask you to submit it within 14 days.
If you are unable to provide the information in time, we will arrange for the application to be returned (including the fee where paid) so that you can submit it again when all the information we require is ready.
If you believe that the additional information is not necessary, please let us know and we will discuss this with you.
Can I appeal?
Yes, if agreement is not reached between our council and the applicant (or their agent) on the need for the additional information, we will issue a notice of invalid application to the applicant formally confirming that the application is invalid.
The applicant may lodge an appeal to the Planning Appeals Commission concerning the council’s decision to make the application invalid 14 days of the date of the Notice.
What form should the additional information take?
We recommend that each information type is provided as a separate document.
Alternatively, it can be provided as part of another document such as a Planning Statement or Design and Access Statement.
Where provided as part of another document, you should clearly state in a covering letter where the information can be found.
Can the council ask for any further information once the application is valid?
Yes, if we consider that further information is required to make an effective decision, we can ask you to submit it later in the process.
How do I submit an application to you?
About 97% of our applications are submitted online via the NI Planning Portal (link opens in new window)
We strongly encourage you to submit your application online as it allows us to deal with your application more quickly and efficiently.
Information Checklist
As well as our Indicative Guide (Appendix 3a), our Information Checklist at Appendix 1 is a useful tool to prompt you to consider the information you may need to provide with your application.
We ask that you complete it in all cases and submit it with your application, as missing information can lead to delays or could even result in refusal of your application.
You can cross reference with Appendices 2 and 3 to help you.
Pre-Application Discussions
We offer a Pre-Application Discussion (PAD) service so you can discuss your proposal with a planning officer before submitting a planning application.
This helps to identify any issues at an early stage. As part of this process, you can clarify which information you need to submit with your application in accordance with this Planning Application Validation Checklist.
Amended plans and supporting information
If you are submitting amended plans and supporting information, please explain in a covering letter what the changes are and why you are making them.
We ask you to label the drawing with a revision number to the original drawing number (e.g. Revision A, B, C, D etc.) and include a revision schedule on the drawing or cover letter that shows the revision number, description of the change and the date it was made.
Where the original application was made online, amended plans and supporting information should also be submitted online.
Planning application process
For further guidance on how we deal with planning applications please see our guide to processing planning applications.
Non-technical glossary
A non-technical glossary that uses plain language where possible can be found at Appendix 4 .
Footnotes
Footnote one: Planning (General Development Procedure) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015
Footnote two: Required with all applications for Major development
Footnote three: Required with certain types of application – see Appendix 2 (“Design and Access Statement”)
Footnote four: Planning (General Development Procedure) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024
Footnote five: Householder applications include domestic extensions, garages, outbuildings, satellite dishes etc.
