The deadline is fast approaching for the Planning Application Validation Checklist consultation which is being hosted by Belfast City Council.

The consultation, which closes on Monday, February 10, allows the public to have their say on how the council should shape the checklist that will help applicants and planning agents with the information required to be submitted with planning applications – above the current minimum mandatory guidance, which remains unchanged.

The checklist will benefit stakeholders including consultees, communities and businesses in providing more clarity to the information needed with planning applications, at the start of the planning process.

The public consultation on the draft Planning Application Validation Checklist opened at the start of December.

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It follows legislation, published by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) on October 1, that now permits councils to publish a Validation Checklist for planning applications.

This new legislation will come into operation on April 1 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: "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.

"We will also provide a guide to typical information requirements by type of planning application."

Feedback can be provided on the draft Planning Application Validation Checklist on Your Say Belfast.

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

It will set out the information that should be submitted, having regard to the nature, scale and location of the proposal. The Checklist will be applied on a case-by-case basis. For further details, go to https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/planning