HC Deb 22 January 2003 vol 398 cc378-9W
Mr. Peter Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning applications submitted to the Department have not been determined after (a) three, (b) six, (c) nine and (d) 12 months; and for those over 12 months, how long it is since they were first submitted. [91366]

Angela Smith

The total number of planning applications received by the Planning Service has increased from 19,771 in 1997–98 to 24,504 in 2001–02, an increase of 24 per cent. within five years. The result of this continuing increase has been an increase in the numbers of live applications in the system. At 31 December 2002, there were 11,361 live applications.

Planning Service is committed to reducing the numbers of live applications, and in order to deal with this significant increase in workload, additional staff have been put in place and further staff are currently being recruited.

Of the 11,361 live applications at 31 December 2002:

  • 5,305 were submitted three months or less ago;
  • 2,203 were submitted between three and six months ago;
  • 1,239 were submitted between six and nine months ago;
  • 637 were submitted between nine and 12 months ago; and
  • 1,977 were submitted over a year ago.

Aggregating these figures to deal with the specific questions:

  • 6,056 applications have not been determined after three months;
  • 3,853 applications have not been determined after six months;
  • 2,614 applications have not been determined after nine months; and
  • 1,977 applications have not been determined after 12 months.

Of the 1,977 applications older than 12 months:

  • 375 were submitted between 12 and 15 months ago;
  • 224 were submitted between 15 and 18 months ago;
  • 216 were submitted between 18 and 21 months ago; and
  • 177 were submitted between 21 and 24 months ago, with the remaining 985 older than two years.

The number of cases live for longer than two years include major applications being processed under the Article 31 procedure and other contentious cases. Article 31 cases include applications which have led to public inquiries or hearings before the Planning Appeals Commission, and applications which require the submission of an Environmental Statement. The processing of other contentious cases is often extended where Planning Service is involved in protracted discussions with applicants, local communities and elected representatives in order to seek acceptable solutions to matters causing local concern.