Local planning pack - Northern Ireland
We've got some useful documents available to download to help better guide you through the maze of the planning system.
Useful planning information
To help you make the most of your voice, we've produced a set of leaflets to give you the power to influence local decisions and protect the wildlife which is important to you.
Please see our downloadable documents for more help and information.
What to do before a case
Use your local knowledge to influence development at an early stage.
By understanding the planning system and how to respond to planning applications, you may be able to prevent a harmful development, or even enhance a proposal's value to wildlife.
What to do now
When dealing with a live planning application, you will need to be objective and decide if there is a genuine case. Wasting time on a weak element of your campaign may undermine other legitimate planning concerns.
Find out the key questions you need to ask in order to build a case for protecting wildlife through the planning system.
How to gain local support
The more people who know what you are trying to achieve, the more support you will likely get for your campaign. Find out how to get your local media and local politicians involved.
Downloads
Under the current planning system, new building and major changes to the local environment or existing buildings require planning permission PDF, 409Kb
The planning system in Northern IrelandThis leaflet will help you to assess the value of your wildlife site in your local area. PDF, 513Kb
How important is your wildlife site?This leaflet explains what can and cannot be done to protect birds, their nests and habitat from development proposals and other threats. PDF, 413Kb
Protecting birds from developmentWhen you are objecting to a planning application, or looking to secure protection for an area as a wildlife site, consider other animals and plants found there. PDF, 325Kb
Protecting other wildlife from developmentPDF, 526Kb
Addressing climate change through planningPDF, 386Kb
Getting involved in planning applicationsPDF, 542Kb
How to get involved with development plansPDF, 490Kb
Involving politicians and the mediaPDF, 521Kb
Protecting hedgerows, trees and woodlandUseful contacts
Get more information on specific species, as well as more detailed planning advice from our list of useful contacts.
Key contacts to find out more:
- British Trust for Ornithology
- Butterfly Conservation
- Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR)
- Community Places
- Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland
- Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC)
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
- Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Planning
- Dragonfly Ireland
- Forest Service Northern Ireland
- Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
- Groundwork NI
- Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
- National Trust Northern Ireland
- NI Water
- Northern Ireland bat group
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency
- Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL)
- Northern Ireland Ornithologists' Club
- Planning Appeals Commission (PAC)
- Plantlife
- Rivers Agency Northern Ireland
- Transport NI
- The Mammal Society
- Ulster Wildlife
- USPCA
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
- Woodland Trust
- WWF
Environmental Impact Assessment FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions around Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in Northern Ireland, including what they are and what they're used for.
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