Planning appeals decision numbers up almost 50% in last year

Belfast Telegraph

5 days ago

Some 309 cases were dealt by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) during 2024/25 – up considerably on 213 during the previous year.
However, the average time taken to clear appeals has increased – up to 72.7 weeks from 71 weeks a year earlier.
'We have increased the numbers of appeal decisions issued year-on-year,' the PAC said in its annual report.
'We have also implemented an action plan to lead to more timely decisions.'
The PAC says that the commission has moved to deal with other 'hear and report' cases, following the suspension of the major public inquiry into Dalradian's plans for a gold mine in Co Tyrone.
However, it was revealed in October last year that fresh planning appeal requests for major schemes from Stormont were 'on hold' until a report into the gold mine is completed or more resources become available.
The inquiry was postponed earlier this year after the Department for Infrastructure requested that the commission suspend the inquiries to allow transboundary consultation to take place.
'The resourcing implications of the Dalradian Inquiry continue to pose a challenge,' the PAC said in its annual review.
'It is important that the inquiry recommences at the earliest opportunity, but this is largely outside the control of the commission and is subject to external factors which have caused delay.
'While we have taken steps to allocate other 'hear and report' cases in light of the suspension of all works on the Inquiry; we must be mindful of the implications of its recommencement on commission resources in all forward planning.'
Speaking about its performance over the last year, the PAC's chief commissioner, Andrea Kells, said by the start of this year it returned to a full workforce of commissioners.
'This is the first time that we have been in this position since I was appointed in 2017,' she said.
'Accordingly, and given ongoing training and development we have seen significant improvements in performance.
'We have made significant progress this year and can look forward to the future with a positive mindset. We will continue to deliver to the best of our ability in line with the resources we have available.'
The PAC said out of the 109 cases in the system at the start of the financial year 'a small number remain'.
'Of these, the majority have been delayed for justifiable reasons, such as the submission of updated environmental information
'One action plan objective was to reduce the in-hand cases down to pre-COVID levels (201cases) by the end of the 2024/25 financial year. This was achieved by November 2024 with 191 cases in hand. We continue to improve in reducing the number of in-hand cases with 149 cases at year end.'