A public consultation regarding Belfast City Council's draft Planning Application Validation Checklist is now open.

The checklist will act as an assisting tool to applicants regarding the accompanying information required to be submitted alongside planning applications above the current minimum mandatory guidance, which remains unchanged.

It will provide clarity to applicants as well as improve the quality of planning applications on submission - leading to quicker decisions and more efficient consultee responses.

The public consultation on the council's draft Planning Application Validation Checklist follows legislation, published by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) on October 1, 2024, that now permits councils to publish a Validation Checklist for planning applications.

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The new legislation will come into operation on April 1, 2025 which will enable councils time to prepare and consult on their proposed Validation Checklists.

Councillor Arder Carson, Chair of Belfast City Council's Planning Committee, said: "We welcome the new legislation by the DfI which allows councils to publish a 'Planning Application Validation Checklist' from April 1.

"Its purpose will be to provide certainty and clarity to applicants as well as improve the quality of planning applications on submission - leading to quicker decisions and more efficient consultee responses.

"The draft Planning Application Validation Checklist, we will be consulting on, is based on our own non-mandatory 'Application Checklist' which has been in place since 2018 and has become established for planning applications in Belfast," he added.

The Planning Application Validation Checklist will apply to planning applications for full permission, outline permission and approval of reserved matters.

The public consultation on the draft Planning Application Validation Checklist will run for 10 weeks until February 10, 2025. To take part, visit Your Say Belfast.