Making a planning application

You can apply for a planning application yourself or if you wish, you can appoint an agent to make it for you. Please note that you must provide a site location map to scale not less than 1:2500 showing the application site.

Requesting an application

If you think you might need to apply for planning permission you can contact your local area planning office for advice. If they think you need to apply for planning permission, ask them for an application form. They will tell you how many copies of the form, what drawings you will need to send back and how much the application fee will be. Ask if they foresee any difficulties which could be overcome by amending your proposal. It can save time or trouble later if the proposals you want to carry out also reflect what Planning would like to see.

Choose the appropriate application you need to make. In most cases this will be a full application. But there are a few circumstances when you may want to make an outline application - for example, if you want to see what the Planning thinks of the building work you intend to carry out before you go to the trouble of making detailed drawings, but you will still need to submit details at a later stage.

Send the completed application forms to your local area planning office, together with the necessary drawings and correct fee. You can find contact details through the link below:

Planning (contacts section)

Getting a map

When making your planning application, you will need five or seven copies of an accurate, up-to-date Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland® map, to scale not less than 1:2500, showing the boundary of the application site in red. You can buy these maps at the Land & Property Services (LPS) map shop:

Buy Ordnance Survey maps

In addition, you will need to provide further plans and drawings to scale, showing the proposed development. Details of these can be found on the relevant planning application form.

The decision process

Planning should determine your application within eight weeks. Large or complex applications may take longer. Planning should be able to give you an idea about the likely timetable. If your application is not determined within eight weeks you can appeal to the Planning Appeals Commission.

Do I need to appoint an agent/consultant?

You are under no obligation to use an agent or planning consultant. However if you are unfamiliar with the planning process in Northern Ireland, you may wish to consider appointing an agent or planning consultant to act on your behalf.

Where do I find a planning consultant?

Information on planning consultants in Northern Ireland can be obtained by using the attached link to the Royal Town Planning Institute's (RTPI) website:

Online directory on planning consultants - RTPI 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: