Only five out of 11 local councils in Northern Ireland are meeting their planning decision targets, according to new figures from the Department of Infrastructure.

During the first three months of 2018, six local authorities did not meet their 15-week target. The shortest average processing time for local applications was just over six weeks in Mid and East Antrim, whilst the longest was nearly 24 weeks in Causeway Coast and Glens.

SDLP Spokesperson for Infrastructure, Sinead Bradley MLA, said "serious questions" must be asked over the "woeful delays" in processing planning applications.

-- Advertisement --

"The rationale behind transferring planning powers to local councils was steeped in the understanding that decisions would be taken more in line with the desires and needs of local communities," she said.

"These waiting times, as they currently sit, are wholly unacceptable. Delays in planning applications are more than merely a slight inconvenience, they have a knock-on effect across communities in terms of building much needed housing developments in areas of need, economic regeneration and community renewal, all of which are dependent upon an efficient planning application process."

Overall, there were 3,254 planning applications received during April to June, up by 4% on previous quarter, but down by 2% on the same period a year earlier. A total of 3,002 planning applications were decided, an increase of more than 6% over the quarter but a decrease of over 9% when compared to the same period a year earlier.

(LM/MH)