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Community involvement

Planning seeks to clarify how and when the community can get involved in the preparation of development plans and in the processing of planning applications, the groups of people that can get involved and why community involvement is important.

Community involvement in Development Plans

There are five main ways you can get involved:

  • making representations on planning applications
  • making representations on planning appeals
  • participating in the preparation of development plans and strategies
  • participating in the preparation of other policy documents or guidance
  • reporting breaches of planning control

You can get involved individually or as part of a community or interest group in the preparation of a development plan for your area at various stages by:

  • submitting written comments at the outset of the plan
  • submitting written comments following publication of the Issues Paper (a strategic document designed to stimulate debate on key issues) or attending a consultation event held at this stage
  • submitting written comments or an objection following publication of the draft plan and subsequent participation in the independent examination into the plan

More information on the stages of the development plan process is provided on the link below:

More information on participating in independant examinations can be found in the link below to the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) website:

Planning advice for communities and individuals

Community Places provides free, impartial advice and information on planning issues for community groups and individuals who cannot afford to go to engage a private consultant.

Typical issues the advice covers include:

  • how to get information about planning proposals
  • understanding planning proposals
  • making objections to proposals
  • how decisions are made
  • the complaints and appeals procedures

Community Places is an independent organisation with full-time staff which offers advice on planning issues and project support for fully formed groups meeting Community Places eligibility criteria. More information can be found online, using the following link:

You can also contact them as follows:

Community Places
2 Downshire Place
Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7JQ

More useful links