Planning Application Fees
From Fees Section
| Category of Development | Fee Payable (£) |
|---|---|
| 1. All buildings (other than a single house) – Outline Applications | £307 per 0.1 ha of site area (max £12,280) |
| 2. Single house – Outline Applications | £515 |
| 3. Building a House | (a) Reserved matters for single house – £515 (b) Full matters for single house – £1,035 (c) Full & Reserved for 2 or more houses – up to 50 houses = £1,215 for first 2 + £434 for each of the rest – more than 50 houses = £22,047 + £129 per extra house after 50 (max £323,133) |
| 4. Extension or alteration of existing house (including walls, gates etc.) | £347 per house |
| 5. Industrial, commercial, community or other non-residential buildings | (a) Where no new floor space is created = £220 (b) Where new floor space created ≤ 40 m² = £220 (c) Where new floor space created > 40 ≤ 75 m² = £434 (d) Where new floor space created > 75 ≤ 3,750 m² = £434 per 75 m² (e) Where new floor space created > 3,750 m² = £21,700 + £129 per extra 75 m² (max £322,915) |
| 6. Plant and machinery / telecoms / wind turbines / wind farms | (a) Where site ≤ 5 ha = £434 per 0.1 ha (b) Where site > 5 ha = £21,700 + £129 per extra 0.1 ha (max £322,915) |
| 7. Agricultural buildings and glasshouses | £1,153 per 500 m² of floor space (max £15,287) |
| 8. Winning and working of peat | £2,294 per 5 ha (max £41,292) |
| 9. Minerals (other than peat), exploratory drilling, waste disposal or storage | £444 per 0.1 ha (max £49,728) |
| 10. Single-level car parks / service roads / access for existing undertaking | £307 |
| 11. Applications to continue a use or vary conditions of previous permission | £307 |
| 12. Material change of use | (a) Houses – £842 for first house + £307 for each extra house (max £15,350) (b) Other uses – £307 per 75 m² (max £15,350) |
| 13. Any other application not listed above | £1,010 |
Other Miscellaneous Fees
| Presence of hazardous substances on, over or under land | (a) (i) Where Section 111(1) of the 2011 Act applies (new consent without previous conditions) = £414 (ii) Where section 111(1) of the 2011 Act does not apply and the quantity specified in the application as the maximum quantity proposed to be present exceeds twice the controlled quantity = £518; (iii) in all other cases = £414. (b) A fee of £827 shall be paid for an application for the continuation of hazardous substances consent under Section 116 of the 2011 Act. |
| Reduced Fee for permitted development under Article 3 and Schedule 1 | £78 |
| Reduced fee for an application made under Article 3(5) | 25% of normal fee |
| General consent to display advertisements | £231 |
| EIA development [Regulation 11] that requires an environmental statement | £12,924 |
When Do I Need to apply for Planning Permission?
You’ll need to apply for planning permission when you need to:
- Add to or extend a flat, including those converted from houses
- Divide part of your house for use as a separate home (for example, a self-contained flat or bed-sit)
- Use a building or caravan in your garden as a separate residence for someone else
- Build a separate house in your garden
- Build something which isn’t allowed under the original planning permission for your house (e.g, a planning condition imposed to stop you building a wall or fence in the front garden because the house is in an ”open plan” estate)
If in doubt, reach out to your local council for a pre-application consultation using the contacts below.
Where Do I Apply for Planning Permission?
A. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Haughey House, Unit 19, Rampart Road, Greenbank Industrial Estate, Newry, BT34 2QU
📞 Tel – 0330 137 4036
📧 Email – Planning@nmandd.org
🌐 Website – https://www.newrymournedown.org
Downliad the application form HERE
B. Ards & North Down Borough
2 Church Street, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4AF
📞 Tel – 028 9182 4006
📧 Email – planning@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
🌐 Website – https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
- Application forms can also be downloaded HERE or submitted digitally through the NI Planning Portal.
- First, you will need to create an account HERE.
What are the Types of Applications for Planning Permission?
- Outline Planning Permission
- Full Planning Permission
- Reserved Matters Applications
- Renewal of Planning Permission
- Applications for Mineral Workings
How Do I Apply for Planning Permission?
- Download and Complete the Application Form.
Access the relevant application form by typing the building site’s postcode on the Official Planning Portal
- Select the relevant type of form
- Download the form.
2. Prepare the Required Documents.
- A written description of the development.
- The postal address of the land to be developed.
- Neighbour Notification
- The name and address of the applicant and where applicable, the name and address of the agent.
- A plan sufficient to identify the land and shows the land in relation to its surrounding locality, in particular neighbouring land. (1:1250 or 1:2500 )
- A plan identifying any neighbouring land owned by the applicant.
- A Certificate of Ownership (Very important)
- 3 additional copies of the application forms / plans and the appropriate application fee.
- A pre-application community consultation report, an access statement and/or a design and access statement as appropriate.
Read more HERE.
3. Submit via E-Planning or Post.
- Online – NI Planning Portal.
- Post / Deliver by hand in the relavant address above
Planning Permission for Major Developments
For all major developments, applicants must carry out pre-application community consultation before a planning application is submitted.
Twelve weeks before an application is submitted, applicants must submit a proposal of application notice (PAN) demonstrating how the community consultation will be carried out. The minimum standards for PAN include:
- At least one public event held in the area where the proposal is located;
- At least one newspaper advert in a local newspaper at least 7 days before the public event.
What Happens after my Application is Submitted?
Once a planning application has been submitted, the application can be viewed at the local planning office or online through the planning portal. Most councils aim to provide a decision within 8 weeks.
Also, once you submit your application, the council will carry out consultations by:
- Publishing a notice of the application in the local press (The Down Recorder, County Down Spectator, Down Democrat etc.) or other major newspapers
- Notify neighbours of the application by letter
- Publish notice of the application on the Planning pages of the Council’s website
- Notify relevant statutory consultees, such as DfI Roads, NI Water etc
- Notify relevant non-statutory consultees such as the Council’s own Environmental Health Section or Tree Officer if needed.
Who Can Apply?
Anyone can apply for planning permission to develop land.
You do not need to have any legal interest in the land to which the application relates when you apply for planning permission, nor do you require the consent of the owner.
However, if you apply for planning permission (which is the main topic of this article), you must either:
- Own the land in question.
- Or provide a Certificate of Ownership which states your legal interest in the land, along with your application
How is a Decision Made/Approved?
Your proposals will be assessed and may be granted either with or without conditions attached. If proposals are found to be unacceptable, permission will be refused.
However, the council will provide very clear reasons for refusal. You should check which planning policies are relevant to your proposal on the council or Department’s website.
You may also wish to discuss your proposal before you submit your application by requesting a pre-application discussion with your
local council or the Department where appropriate.
Viewing and Tracking Applications
You can view current and historical applications at:
- Newry, Mourne & Down District Council
- Weekly Planning Permissions List (From 2021)
- Ards & North Down Council
- Weekly Planning Permissions List
Before You Apply – Quick Checklist
✅ Confirm if planning permission is required.
✅ Ensure correct permission type (full, outline, retention).
✅ Prepare site and elevation drawings.
✅ Publish and display valid notices (if major development).
✅ Include fee and ownership documentation.
✅ Submit online or in person.
Alternatively, you can access and download the full Down Council guide/checklist HERE.
