More than 2,300 planning applications were received during the second quarter of 2024/25 in Northern Ireland, according to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

The DfI published the country's provisional planning statistics for the second quarter of 2024/25 today and included within the data is a summary of council performance across the three statutory targets, for major development applications, local development applications and enforcement.

It also provides an overall view of planning activity in the country and application approval rates.

Key points from today's publication include:

• There were 2,371 planning applications received during the second quarter of 2024/25; a decrease of six percent on the previous quarter and a similar number as the same period a year earlier. This comprised of 2,330 local and 41 major applications.

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• In the second quarter of 2024/25, 2,297 planning applications were decided, a decrease of one percent from the previous quarter and down by two percent from the same period a year earlier. Decisions were issued on 2,259 local and 38 major applications during the most recent quarter.

• The average processing time for local applications brought to a decision or withdrawal during the first six months of 2024/25 was 18.8 weeks across all councils. This exceeds the 15 week target but represents a slight decrease from the average processing time reported for the same period a year earlier (19.4 weeks). Four of the 11 councils were within the 15 week target after the first six months of 2024/25.

• The average processing time for major applications brought to a decision or withdrawal during the first six months of 2024/25 was 42.0 weeks across all councils. This exceeds the 30 week target and is an increase of six weeks compared with the same period a year earlier.

• Across councils 68.1% of enforcement cases were concluded within 39 weeks during the first six months of 2024/25. This represents a decrease from the rate recorded in 2023/24 (77.5%). Individually, six of the 11 councils were meeting the 70% target in after the first six months of 2024/25.

The publication can be found on the Department for Infrastructure website.