Region hub · Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland planning applications
18,704 applications. 96% approved. 95 days at the median council.
As of September 2026, PlanIndex holds 18,704 planning applications from 11 of the 11 local planning authorities in Northern Ireland. 6,835 were decided in the trailing 12 months, with 96% of clear-cut outcomes approved.
Every council in Northern Ireland
Applications on record, with each council's own approval rate and decision speed
| Council | On record | Last 12 months | Approved | Median days | Decision times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim and Newtownabbey | 1,068 | 745 | 93% | 79 | How long decisions take |
| Ards and North Down | 1,531 | 824 | 97% | 80 | How long decisions take |
| Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | 1,911 | 1,057 | 96% | 105 | How long decisions take |
| Belfast | 2,274 | 1,572 | 98% | 101 | How long decisions take |
| Causeway Coast and Glens | 1,936 | 1,066 | 96% | 88 | How long decisions take |
| Derry City and Strabane | 1,396 | 714 | 98% | 95 | How long decisions take |
| Fermanagh and Omagh | 1,618 | 929 | 98% | 48 | How long decisions take |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh | 1,389 | 815 | 96% | 95 | How long decisions take |
| Mid and East Antrim | 1,625 | 752 | 91% | 66 | How long decisions take |
| Mid Ulster | 2,092 | 1,233 | 98% | 98 | How long decisions take |
| Newry, Mourne and Down | 1,864 | 1,285 | 95% | 189 | How long decisions take |
Approval rates and median days come from the PlanIndex decision-times study; a dash means the council has too few timed decisions to measure fairly. Councils without a count are not yet ingested.
Latest applications in Northern Ireland
Data to September 2026
-
LA09/2026/0919/NMC Awaiting decision
16 Ballyknock Road Maghera BT46 5PH
Re-orientation of dwelling and garage within approved site curtilage
-
LA09/2026/0922/PAN Awaiting decision
Lands immediately Southeast of 57 Tobermore Road, Mullaghboy, Magherafel, Bt45 7Hj and immediately North of 6A Ballyheifer Road, Mullaghboy, Magherafelt, BT45 5EQ
B2 Industrial Building to facilitate the expansion of an existing food production facility, with associated loading, storage, office and ancillary accommodation
-
LA02/2026/0651/F Awaiting decision
75m SE of 100 Fenaghy Road, Galgorm, Ballymena, BT42 1JJ
Proposed replacement dwelling and garage with new access and retention of existing for storage
-
LA02/2026/0650/F Awaiting decision
70M SW OF 70 Glenravel Road, Martinstown
Stables
-
LA10/2026/0863/O Awaiting decision
Lands between 109 & 111 Corbo Road, and immediately adjacent and to the NW to 109 Corbo Road, Seskinore, BT78 2QP
Proposed dwelling (HOU 13)
-
LA10/2026/0864/F Awaiting decision
118 Glenlevan Road, Churchill, Derrygonnelly, Enniskillen, BT93 2DB
New access lane to approved dwelling
-
LA07/2026/1050/F Awaiting decision
2 John Mitchel Place, Newry, BT34 2BP
Refurbishment of hall (continuance of use within Class D2 for use as a cinema / dance / concert hall / theatre) to include a bar and the addition of roof solar panels and alterations to the entrance on John Mitchell Place to include a new shopfront.
-
LA07/2026/1049/DC Awaiting decision
Lands approximately 200m SE of No. 12 Crabtree Road, Ballynahinch, BT24 8RH
Discharge of Condition 9 of LA07/2024/0115/F
-
LA09/2026/0917/F Awaiting decision
90M Se of 66 Mullaghmarget Road Dungannon BT71 6QX
Proposed Agricultural Storage Shed
-
LA02/2026/0646/O Awaiting decision
Between 8 and 10 Granagh Road, Cullybackey
Site of dwelling and garage (Infill)
Common questions
How many local planning authorities are there in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has 11 local planning authorities listed on PlanIndex, 11 of which have applications indexed here. Each has its own hub with volumes, approval rates and the latest submissions.
How many planning applications does Northern Ireland decide?
In the 12 months to September 2026, councils in Northern Ireland decided 6,835 planning applications. 96% of clear-cut outcomes were approvals.
Which council in Northern Ireland decides planning applications fastest?
Of the 11 Northern Ireland councils ranked in the PlanIndex decision-times study, Fermanagh and Omagh had the fastest median in the year to September 2026 at 48 days from application to decision. The slowest was Newry, Mourne and Down at 189 days.
How long does a planning decision take in Northern Ireland?
Taking the median council in Northern Ireland, a planning decision takes 95 days from application to decision, measured across 6,710 decisions from 11 ranked councils. The figure is the median of each council's own median, so one large authority cannot move it on its own.
Which is the busiest council in Northern Ireland for planning applications?
Belfast recorded 1,572 applications in the 12 months to September 2026, the most of any council in Northern Ireland over that period.