Belfast planning committee decisions
66 decisions from the committee's minutes, 13 May 2025 to 19 May 2026. Each sets out what was proposed, what officers advised, what was said and how the committee decided.
1 in 9 decisions went against officer advice
Below the rate across all 346 councils with committee decisions on Plota (11.1%), 86th highest of 205 councils with at least 15 decisions.
- Decisions
- 66
- Approved
- 84.8%
- Against officer advice
- 10.6%
- Unanimous
- 16.7%
How Belfast compares
Share of decisions against officer advice at the 205 councils with at least 15 decisions on Plota. Each dot is a council.
More or less favourable than its officers?
Belfast's committee is less favourable to applicants than its officers. Officers recommended approval in 96.8% of these decisions; the committee approved 88.9%, 7.9 points fewer.
Across all 346 councils, committees approve 2.6 points fewer than their officers recommend, so Belfast leans further against applicants than most.
Over the 63 decided applications with a clear officer recommendation.
Source: Plota analysis of Belfast's planning committee minutes and officer reports.
What it decides
84.8% approved and 10.6% refused. Of 6 decisions with a recorded vote, 1 were unanimous.
Show as a table
| Month | Approved | Refused | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 25 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 25 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Sep 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 26 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 26 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| May 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Source: Plota analysis of Belfast's planning committee minutes.
When it overrules its officers
7 of 66 decisions went against the planning officers' recommendation.
Which way
What kind of application
From the 7 of 7 with a recorded application type; one application can count under more than one.
Source: Plota analysis of Belfast's planning committee minutes and officer reports.
Recent decisions against officer advice
- Petrol station extension46-50 Gilnahirk Road, BelfastOfficers advised approval because the proposal was acceptable having regard to the development plan and other material considerations.Refused
- 5-person HMO29 GLENCAIRN STREET EDENDERRY BELFASTOfficers advised approval because the proposal met the HMO threshold and was not expected to harm parking, amenity or the area.Refused
- Two semi-detached homesLands Between 14 and 16 Lancedean Road, BelfastOfficers advised approval because the proposal was acceptable, subject to conditions, including measures addressing design, amenity, trees and parking.Refused
- Three detached dwellingsLand between No 22 Squires View and Nos 57 & 59 Squires Hill Road, Belfast.Officers advised refusal because the homes would harm open space, local character and design quality through major engineering works.Approved
- 7-bed HMO conversion432 Falls Road, BelfastOfficers advised approval because the proposal met the relevant policies and would not harm parking, residential amenity or the surrounding area.Refused
- Retail unit and six-bed HMO41 Rosetta Road, BelfastOfficers advised approval because the proposal was acceptable, including on HMO numbers, parking, amenity and design.Refused
Latest decisions
Newest first. Each links to the full write-up: the proposal, the officers' advice, what was said and the vote.
May 2026 5
- Driveway widening and hardstanding38 Hillhead Avenue, BelfastApproved
- Floating pontoon replacementRiver bank approximately 150m north east of Shaws Bridge Car Park, BelfastApproved
- Petrol station extension46-50 Gilnahirk Road, BelfastRefused
- Temporary motorhome campsiteLands at the Titanic Quarter, between Hamilton Road, Queens Road and Sydenham Road. Immediately NE, E and SE of Belfast Metropolitan College, approximately 150m SE of Titanic Hotel, 8 Queens Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT.Approved
- Phased sports centreThe Maynard Sinclair Pavilion Stormont Estate, BelfastApproved
April 2026 5
- Blitz memorial sculptureWestbourne Presbyterian Church 149a Newtownards Road BelfastApproved
- Public house and events venueCommon Market 16-20 Dunbar Street, BelfastApproved
- Rotating parking bay1 Wellington Park Terrace, BelfastApproved
- Sports hall and PE facilitySt. Marys Christian Brothers Grammar School St Marys Christian Brothers Grammar School 147a Glen Road, Andersonstown, BelfastApproved
- Noise condition variationLand adjacent to Quay Gate House 15 Scrabo Street Belfast BT5 4D: footpaths and public realm at Scrabo Street Station Street and Middlepath Street.Approved
Other committees nearby
- Antrim and Newtownabbey planning committee
- Ards and North Down planning committee
- Armagh Banbridge Craigavon planning committee
- Causeway and Glens planning committee
- Derry and Strabane planning committee
- Fermanagh and Omagh planning committee
- Mid Ulster planning committee
- Newry Mourne Down planning committee