Planning decisions in the Mid and East Antrim Borough are made in less time than anywhere else in Northern Ireland, it has been found.

The DfI Northern Ireland Planning Monitoring Framework 2018/19 annual statistical bulletin reveals Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as Northern Ireland's top local planning authority. It includes details of Council's performance across the three statutory targets for major development applications, local development applications and enforcement cases alongside a suite of additional indicators that are intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of planning performance.

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The average local application in Mid and East Antrim takes just 7.8 weeks to complete. The Council has also delivered on 88.2 per cent of enforcement cases within the 39 weeks' timeframe against a target of 70 per cent.

Chair of the Council’s Planning Committee, Cllr Robert Logan, said: "As a Council, we are passionate about sustaining, protecting and enhancing our natural environment, safeguarding our built heritage, driving retail growth and addressing our housing needs. I am pleased to hear we are setting the standard with an efficient planning system in place, brought about by our staff working at all levels, that allows for decisions to be made in a timely manner.

"An efficient planning system is crucial to delivering on council's number one strategic priority – growing the economy and as a council we will continue to do our utmost to provide the best possible conditions for businesses to flourish."

(CM/MH)