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Commenting on appeals

There is no third party right of appeal in Northern Ireland, however, if the person who was refused planning permission submits an appeal, anyone who lives near the appeal site or has an interest in the appeal can become involved in the appeal process.

Who to contact should you wish to get involved

Planning appeals may be made for a number of reasons, but most are made because Planning has refused planning permission for a development. If you had an interest in an application, whether you were for or against it, you will probably be interested in the outcome of the appeal, for example you may live close to the area or be a member of a residents' association or a special interest group.

Appeals are handled by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) - not the DOE Planning. If you wish to get involved in an appeal you will need to make your views known to the PAC:

Planning Appeals Commission
87 - 91 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7AG

Commenting on a planning appeal

DOE Planning will send the Commission copies of any letters they have received about the site. If you made representations to Planning  then the Commission will invite you to take part in the appeal process.

If you have not written about the matter before, or you have something new to say, you can write to the Commission. It will publish details of the appeal in the local press. Representations must be made within 14 days of the advertisement being published.

The way you make your views known on a planning appeal will depend on the way in which the appeal is being handled by the Commission. There are currently four procedures which the appellant may choose from, these are:

  • Written Representations
  • Written Representations with accompanied site visit
  • Informal Hearing
  • Formal Hearing

If the appeal is to be decided by the written representations procedure, you will be invited to submit a statement of case to the Commission.

If there is a hearing you will still be able to submit a statement of case but you may also want to go to the hearing and take part. The Commission will let you know when and where the hearing will take place, provided you are registered with the Commission as an interested party.

For more information on the appeals process please check the attached link:

Getting involved in an enforcement appeal

If DOE Planning has served an enforcement notice and there is a valid appeal against it, the Commission will advertise details of the appeal in the local press.

Any interested parties wishing to make representations may do so by writing to the Commission within 14 days of the notice being published. Details of any subsequent hearing arrangements will then be placed on the Planning Appeals Commission's website.

More useful links