AQW 28777/17-22 Written question to the Minister for Infrastructure
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to list the descriptions and planning reference numbers for all (i) Regionally Significant Developments; and (ii) Called-in Applications currently being considered by her Department, alongside the number of weeks since each application was received or called-in.
Asked by Andrew Muir MLA on 26 January 2022
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 26 January 2022
- Answer due by
- 10 February 2022
- Answered
- 10 February 202215 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Infrastructure
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Data extracted from my Department’s Planning Portal shows the following list of live regionally Significant and Called-in planning applications (including retained applications) with my Department up to 30 September 2021. This is taken from the latest published information.
Figures up until the end of December 2021 will be published on 31 March 2022.
CALLED IN APPLICATIONS
| Application No. | Description | Weeks since called in | ||
| T/2005/0977/F (retained) | Construction of a Waste Transfer & Recycling Facility for Construction & Demolition Wastes (Amended proposal and Receipt of Further Environmental Information) | 825 | ||
| T/2005/1054/F (retained) | Landfill Facility for inert Construction and Demolition Wastes (Amended Proposal and Receipt of Further Environmental Information) | 821 | ||
| H/2009/0270/F | Works to listed buildings to include: the extension, and conversion of the former Art Deco Building into a new factory (extending to 4,030 sq metres); change of use and retention of 1a for car parking; change of use and retention of 14a as a communal space | 328 | ||
| H/2009/0271/LB | Works to listed buildings to include: the extension, and conversion of the former Art Deco Building into a new factory (extending to 4,030 sq metres); change of use and retention of 1a for car parking; change of use and retention of 14a as a communal space | 328 | ||
| LA04/2017/0541/HSC | The storage/use of Gas Oil, Propane/Butane, Hydrogen and Natural Gas. | 227 | ||
| LA01/2017/0689/F | Retention and Part refurbishment/restoration of the structural walls, shop fronts and roofs of both No 39 and 41 Main Street and demolition of the residual elements of the listed building within the full extent of the site at 39-41 Main Street and 2 Atlantic Avenue Portrush, so as to erect a three to five storey, 87 bedroom hotel with a restaurant, bar and all associated ancillary services (Additional Information received : Bat Roost Potential Survey received 29 June 2020) | 109 | ||
| LA01/2018/0446/LBC | Retention and part refurbishment/restoration of the structural walls, shop fronts and roofs of both No. 39 and 41 Main Street and demolition of the residual elements of the listed building within the full extent of the site at 39-41 Main Street and 2 Atlantic Avenue Portrush, so as to erect a three to five storey, 87 bedroom hotel with a restaurant, bar and all associated ancillary services (Additional Information received : Bat Roost Potential Survey received 29 June 2020) | 109 | ||
| LA10/2019/1386/F | 33kV power line involving both construction of above ground 33kV overhead line supported by wooden poles and underground 33kV cable laid below ground level in ducts, to serve Curraghinalt mine (currently under consideration planning application LA10/2017/1249/F) | 92 | ||
| LA11/2019/1000/F | 33kV power line involving both construction of above ground 33kV overhead line supported by wooden poles and underground 33kV cable laid below ground level in ducts, to serve Curraghinalt mine (currently under consideration planning application LA10/2017/1249/F) | 92 | ||
| LA09/2019/0024/O | Outline planning application to support future mixed use and enterprise centre/ business units which will be subject to Reserved Matters Planning Applications submitted by purchasers of plots from Mid Ulster District Council | 48 | ||
| LA09/2019/0025/F | Proposed development of existing brown field site for development of new internal access road/footpaths, improved access include right hand turning lane, alteration of existing levels to provide platforms for future development, installation of utilities, installation of site fencing, clearance of undergrowth vegetation and associated site works to support future mixed use and enterprise centre/business units (As amended) | 48 | ||
REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT APPLICATIONS
| Application No | Description | No of weeks in system |
| LA03/2015/0234/F | Construction and operation of a solar farm. Development comprises photo-voltaic panels on mounting frames; 1 No. substation; 18 No. Inverter stations; 21 No. CCTV cameras (3m high poles); 2.45m high perimeter fence; upgrading of 2 No. existing accesses onto Whappstown Road; internal service tracks; 2 No. temporary construction compounds; and additional landscaping to augment existing. | 327 |
| LA10/2017/1249/F | Underground valuable minerals mining and exploration, surface level development including processing plant and other associated development and ancillary works, Greencastle, County Tyrone. Please see application form P1, sheet 1 for full project description | 201 |
| LA02/2020/0458/F | Erection of a windfarm comprising 14 (three-bladed) horizontal axis wind turbines, each up to a maximum of 149.9 m to tip height, with a total installed capacity of up to 58.8 MW. The Development would include an upgraded site entrance, access tracks, crane hardstandings, control building and substation compound, electricity transformers, underground cabling, energy storage containers and drainage works. During construction and commissioning there will be a number of temporary works including enabling works compound and construction compound with car parking, temporary parts of crane hardstanding, welfare facilities and off-site road widenings into 3rd party lands on the Brustin Brae Road, Ballycoose Road and Feystown Road. | 53 |
| H/2009/0264/O (retained) | Demolition of unlisted buildings to facilitate the heritage led regeneration (restoration and retention of listed mill buildings) of the former William Clark and Sons Linen Mill complex incorporating: residential development, leisure and recreational uses community facilities including museum/exhibition space and other associated site works. | 646 |
| P/2015/0218/F (retained) | Construction of a wind farm comprising 8 no. wind turbines (tip height not exceeding 142.5 metres), and electrical substation and control building, construction of internal access tracks, spoil deposition areas, temporary construction compound, formation of passing bays on Mullaghgarriff Road, delivery route improvements at Rostrevor Road, junction improvements at Rostrevor/Mullaghgarriff Road and all associated ancillary works. | 340 |
My Department’s Strategic Planning Directorate is also continuing to process the arc21 planning application (T/2014/0114/F), which was remitted back to the Department by the Courts following the original grant of permission.
You will note the extensive timescales taken to process some of these applications. The timescales reflect the inherent complexity and often controversial nature of some of these applications, the volume of information comprising the application, the level of representations received, the conducting of Inquiry and Hearings into the applications and the tendency for legal challenges to a number of these controversial proposals. For example, the two oldest called in applications have previously been recommended for approval by the Department but those decisions have been contested and so the applications remain live.
I very much recognise the need to improve performance in the planning system, and my Department is undertaking a number of actions to address this. My Department commissioned a report into the role of statutory consultees in the planning process, which contained a number of recommendations with the aim of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the planning process, particularly with regard to major and “economically sensitive” planning applications.
I am also aware of the pressures across the planning system and that statutory consultees are currently facing unprecedented increases in consultations (both statutory and non-statutory), and ever more complex consultations, all within constrained resources. I have recently raised the resourcing issue around planning consultations with the Finance Minister, and a funding requirement for the additional staff needed within my Department to ensure that this important work is placed on a sustainable and improved footing has also been included as an inescapable resource bid in the 2022/25 budget exercise.