Northern Ireland's Development Management Statistical Bulletin for the second quarter of 2010/11 has now been published.

It contains statistics on planning applications received and processed for the period July 1 to September 30 this year.

The statistical bulletin contains data on a variety of performance indicators for the Planning Service related to the processing of planning applications and issuing decisions on planning applications.

The key points to note in the bulletin are that in the second quarter of 2010/11, Planning Service received 4,428 planning applications.

This represents a decrease of 12% compared with the same quarter in 2009/10.

The Local Government District (LGD) with the greatest decrease in the number of applications received when compared with the September 2009 quarter was Londonderry LGD which fell by 94 applications from 231 to 137, a decrease of 41%.

Planning Service issued decisions on 4,582 applications in the second quarter of 2010/11, 9% fewer than the same period last year (5,011).

The number of decisions issued for outline planning applications increased by 106 from 526 to 632 when compared with the same quarter of 2009/10, representing an increase of 20%.

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The number of decisions issued for full planning applications decreased by 202 from 3,655 to 3,453 when compared with the same period last year, representing a 6% decrease.

On applications approved, overall, 87% of all applications decided in quarter 2 of 2010/11 were approved. Approval rates varied across Local Government Districts, from 63% in Fermanagh LGD, to 98% in Ards LGD.

On applications received for residential development the Planning Service received 1,301 planning applications for residential development in urban areas in quarter 2 of 2010/11 compared with 1,456 in quarter 2 of 2009/10, a decrease of 11%.

Planning Service received 1,718 planning applications for residential development in rural areas in the second quarter of 2010/11 compared with 2,294 in the second quarter of 2009/10, a decrease of a quarter (25%).

On applications decided for residential development, the number of decisions issued for residential development in urban areas in quarter 2 of 2010/11 was 1,327 compared with 1,792 in quarter 2 of 2009/10, a decrease of 26% and the number of decisions issued for residential development in rural areas in quarter 2 of 2010/11 was 2,019 compared with 2,029 in quarter 2 of 2009/10.

Planning Service met its three PSA targets by processing target for major planning applications (predominantly housing developments, commercial and retail development) which are to decide 60% of major applications to decision or withdrawal in 23 weeks.

In quarter 2 of 2010/11, 64% of major applications were processed in 23 weeks.

The PSA processing target for Intermediate planning applications (predominantly single houses) is to decide 70% of intermediate applications to decision or withdrawal in 31 weeks. In quarter 2 of 2010/11, 78% of intermediate applications were processed in 31 weeks.

The PSA processing target for Minor planning applications (predominantly alterations and extensions to houses) is to decide 80% of minor applications to decision or withdrawal in 18 weeks. In quarter 2 of 2009/10, 83% of minor applications were processed in 18 weeks.

(BMcC/GK)