"Streamlining is Working"

The beleagured Northern Ireland planning system has one recent change that is working well. It is called "Streamlining"!

Used principally for smaller projects which are not considered contentious and which do not attract any neighbour objections, the system allows the planning office to determine the application and issue the decision notice without a formal Council Planning Committee consultation.

Council are notified of the application and have the option of requesting that the application is presented to the Council Planning Committee, however, if Council do not require this then Planning Service proceed with assessment of the scheme and issue of the decision.

Andrew Nesbitt architects have just obtained planning approval for their first Streamlined Application, which was submitted on 29th June 2010 and approved on 20th September 2010, within 12 weeks.

The benefits of the Streamlining process are immense for all parties and represent an efficient way of handling routine applications.

Andrew Nesbitt stated:

"The reduction in timescale from submission to approval is most welcome, however, our first Streamlined Approval within 12 weeks does not match our all time record of obtaining Full Approval for a "Vehicle Workshop, Parts Store, Shop & Offices with Sales Forecourt & Associated Site Works" on a Green Belt site, in 7 weeks and 2 days on 05th February 1993. We have never beaten that record since but we always aim to achieve planning results for our clients as soon as possible within the handicap of the current NI planning system!"