Derry and Strabane planning committee decisions
51 decisions from the committee's minutes, 3 Sep 2025 to 2 Sep 2026. Each sets out what was proposed, what officers advised, what was said and how the committee decided.
1 in 4 decisions went against officer advice
2.3 times the rate across all 346 councils with committee decisions on Plota (11.1%), 16th highest of 205 councils with at least 15 decisions.
- Decisions
- 51
- Approved
- 74.5%
- Against officer advice
- 25.5%
- Unanimous
- 100%
How Derry and Strabane compares
Share of decisions against officer advice at the 205 councils with at least 15 decisions on Plota. Each dot is a council.
| 14 | Fife | 26.3% | 5 of 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Broxtowe | 25.6% | 11 of 43 |
| 16 | Derry and Strabane | 25.5% | 13 of 51 |
| 17 | BCP | 25% | 12 of 48 |
| 18 | North West Leicestershire | 25% | 6 of 24 |
Source: Plota analysis of committee minutes from 346 councils.
More or less favourable than its officers?
Derry and Strabane's committee is more favourable to applicants than its officers. Officers recommended approval in 77.3% of these decisions; the committee approved 86.4%, 9.1 points more.
Across all 346 councils, committees approve 2.6 points fewer than their officers recommend, so Derry and Strabane leans further towards applicants than most.
Over the 44 decided applications with a clear officer recommendation.
Source: Plota analysis of Derry and Strabane's planning committee minutes and officer reports.
What it decides
74.5% approved and 17.6% refused. Of 33 decisions with a recorded vote, 33 were unanimous.
Show as a table
| Month | Approved | Refused | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Oct 25 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Nov 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Dec 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Jan 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 26 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Jul 26 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
Source: Plota analysis of Derry and Strabane's planning committee minutes.
When it overrules its officers
13 of 51 decisions went against the planning officers' recommendation.
Which way
What kind of application
From the 13 of 13 with a recorded application type; one application can count under more than one.
Source: Plota analysis of Derry and Strabane's planning committee minutes and officer reports.
Recent decisions against officer advice
- Four-bed HMO24 Hawthorn Terrace, LondonderryOfficers advised approval for retaining the four-bed HMO use, which they assessed against planning policy and material considerations.Refused
- Four-bedroom HMO27 Hawthorn Terrace, DerryOfficers advised approval because the four-bedroom HMO would remain below the 30% street threshold and would not cause significant harm.Refused
- One dwelling siteSite adjacent to (10 M. North West of) No. 15 McLean Road, Eglinton, LondonderryOfficers advised refusal because the dwelling would extend ribbon development in the Green Belt and the personal circumstances case lacked sufficient evidence.Approved
- 41 housesLands directly South of 87B Newbuildings Industrial Estate, Victoria Road, L'DerryOfficers advised refusal because the scheme would create unacceptable road-safety and access problems and failed several policy requirements.Approved
- Boutique hotel extension11-15 Strand Road, DerryOfficers advised refusal because the extension harmed the listed building’s scale, character and setting.Approved
- Four-bedroom HMO2 Marlborough Terrace, DerryOfficers advised approval because the four-bedroom HMO met relevant policy requirements and would not harm the area’s residential character.Refused
Latest decisions
Newest first. Each links to the full write-up: the proposal, the officers' advice, what was said and the vote.
September 2026 7
- Airport security extensionCity Of Derry Airport, Airport Road, Eglinton, LondonderryApproved
- Four-bed HMO24 Hawthorn Terrace, LondonderryRefused
- Four-bed HMO with extension37 Governor Road, LondonderryApproved
- Four-bedroom HMO27 Hawthorn Terrace, DerryRefused
- Four-bedroom shared house24 Ernest Street, LondonderryApproved
- One dwelling siteSite adjacent to (10 M. North West of) No. 15 McLean Road, Eglinton, LondonderryApproved
- 47 residential unitsLands situated 150 metres to the West of Hawthorn Drive fronting onto Springtown RoadRefused
July 2026 3
- Teaching and student centreLands within Ulster University, to the North of Clarence Avenue, adjacent to No. 21 Northland Road and East of 8, 8a and 8b Northland Road, DerryApproved
- Dwelling and garageLands at Sallowilly Road, Approx. 80M SE of No.68 Lower Ballyartan Road, DerryDeferred
- Samaritans office16 Buncrana Road, LondonderryApproved