Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has welcomed significant improvements in the processing times for planning applications across Northern Ireland during the 2024/25 financial year.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has been actively engaged with local government and other key stakeholders over the past two years through the "Planning Improvement Programme," aiming to enhance and make a tangible difference to the planning system.

Commenting on the latest statistics, Minister Kimmins stated: "Significant progress has been achieved so far and I now welcome the improvement in processing times for both local and major applications in 2024/25. It is particularly pleasing to see a significant improvement in the average processing times for major applications which has seen its lowest annual processing time since the transfer of planning powers in 2015 and a decrease of 6.9 weeks compared with 2023/24."

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According to recently published annual statistics for 2024/25, the average processing time for major applications brought to a decision or withdrawal was 39.6 weeks across all councils. While this still exceeds the 30-week target, it represents a notable improvement from previous years. For local applications, the average processing time was 19.0 weeks, a decrease of 1.8 weeks from the previous year, though still above the 15-week target.

Minister Kimmins has designated "Plan To Improve" as one of her Department’s "Seven Foundations for a Better Future," underscoring its critical role in the DfI's ongoing work. She added: "With the next phase of the Planning Improvement Programme underway we are continuing our efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning system in the North, given its importance in protecting the environment, local communities and the economy."

The Minister recently hosted a "Plan to Improve: Pathway to Progress" round table event in Belfast, bringing together a diverse array of organisations from business, education, the public sector, environment, councils, and legal professions. This event fostered open and collaborative dialogue on the planning system, discussing key themes related to its performance and future resilience. DfI officials are currently reviewing the perspectives, ideas, and key messages from this event to inform and prioritise future actions.

Minister Kimmins concluded by emphasising the importance of collective effort: "The importance of working collectively to make improvements cannot be underestimated and by engaging regularly, sharing insight and expertise, both within the planning profession and across various sectors, we can all shape the path forward to deliver the best planning service possible for the North."