CIH Northern Ireland responds to latest planning statistics

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland has responded to the latest planning statistics, expressing concern over the sluggish pace of residential development and the persistent challenges within the region's planning system.

The statistical release from the Department for Infrastructure, highlights a concerning downward trend in residential planning applications and approvals, coupled with ongoing delays in processing times. While there has been a marginal improvement in overall local application processing, the figures underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to accelerate housing delivery.

Key points from the release, with a focus on residential development, include:

• Decline in residential applications: Residential applications, which constitute over three-fifths (62.7 per cent) of all applications, are contributing to the overall decline in application numbers. This slowdown presents a significant obstacle to addressing Northern Ireland's housing needs.
• Processing time delays: The average processing time for local applications, which are predominantly residential, remains above the 15-week statutory target, at 19.2 weeks. This delay, while improved from last year's 20.4 weeks, is still significantly impacting the speed at which new homes can be delivered.
• Council performance variation: Only three out of eleven councils are meeting the 15-week statutory target for local application processing, highlighting significant regional disparities in efficiency.

Justin Cartwright, national director for CIH Northern Ireland said:

"The persistent downward trend in planning applications, particularly for residential development, presents a significant challenge to our ability to meet the growing housing need and demand in Northern Ireland. While we welcome the slight improvement in processing times, it is crucial that we accelerate efforts to meet statutory targets.

“Ramping up residential development is essential to address the pressing housing requirements and ensure sustainable communities for the future. We must address the issues that are slowing down the process, and ensure that we are building the homes that are needed."