Belfast City Council's Planning Committee has received a comprehensive update detailing the significant benefits generated by developer contributions between 2020 and 2025.

Elected Members were briefed on the impact of Section 76 Planning Agreements, which allow the Council to secure infrastructure improvements or financial contributions to ensure new developments benefit the wider community. Since the Council became a Planning Authority in 2015, these agreements have generated more than £4.4 million for social and environmental projects.

Key achievements highlighted in the report for the period between 2020/21 and 2024/25 include:

• 1,738 new affordable homes approved to meet city housing demands.

• 51 Travel Plans established to promote greener transport alternatives.

• 44 schemes providing Travel Cards to encourage public transport use.

• Approximately 3,860 Belfast Bike Scheme memberships and 33 car club initiatives.

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Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of the Planning Committee, welcomed the progress: "It's very pleasing to see the tangible benefits that the planning process is having in Belfast through the policy provisions set out in the Belfast Local Development Plan – Plan Strategy 2035, which was adopted in 2023."

He continued: "As a Council, we have granted planning permission for over 1,700 much needed new affordable homes for the city. This is helping to achieve sustainable communities by creating mixed tenure housing at appropriate densities that helps to meet the housing needs of all our citizens. We are also ensuring that our new developments are sustainable with a significant commitment to green travel to help tackle climate change."

During the same session, the Committee approved several new applications, including a council-led project to create walking trails connecting the Black Mountain Shared Space project on Ballygomartin Road with Moyard Parade and Upper Whiterock Road. This initiative aims to improve local access to the Belfast Hills with new seating, signage, and landscaping.

Additionally, approvals were granted for new ballstop fencing at Dixon, Falls, Clarendon, and Woodland playing fields.

This public consultation closes on Thursday 29 January and can be accessed on the Your Say channel at yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/ldp-sailortown-and-cathedral-quarter-doa

For more information on the Local Development Plan and the Planning Service, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/planning