New rules will streamline Planning process in Mid Ulster

MID Ulster Planning Committee is set to take a more streamlined approach to planning applications after agreeing to raise the threshold for objections required to trigger a full committee hearing from one to five.

The move follows figures revealing that Mid Ulster received 255 planning applications for committee determination during 2025/26 – more than double the 120 recorded by the next highest council, Newry, Mourne & Down.

Under the revised Scheme of Delegation, planning officers will be able to make decisions on applications attracting fewer than five valid objections, reducing the number of cases requiring consideration by elected members.

The scale of the change is highlighted by last year's figures, which show that just five applications attracted five or more objections, compared with 31 receiving a single objection and a further 16 attracting between two and four.

The proposal was discussed at the committee's November 3 meeting, where members were told the change would help ease the considerable workload facing Mid Ulster's Planning Committee and support a more efficient planning service.

Addressing committee members, Planning Service Lead, Karen Doyle said: “You will recall we had a workshop in September, and information I gave you in terms of making amendments to the scheme of delegation.

“I’ve highlighted in the report that in 2025/26 we brought a total of 255 planning applications to this committee, which is more than double the next Council.

“I’ve provided a breakdown in the report of those that were brought because of objections received, and as part of the amendments to the scheme of delegation we’re proposing, it’s recommended we amend so that only those with five or more objections are brought to the committee.”

The recommendation to approve the new planning rules was proposed by Committee Chair, Councillor Gavin Bell (Sinn Féin, Cookstown DEA) and seconded by Council Chair, Councillor Deirdre Varsani.

She commented: “The chart does show how much work is going on, so I want to commend the team for that and just recognise that we do need to do everything we can to support the movement here. So, happy to second on that basis.”