| Current status | Report forwarded to DFI |
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29 September 2021
The Commissioners’ report following independent examination of the draft Plan Strategy has been forwarded to the Department for Infrastructure.
Release of that report is solely a matter for the Department.
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8 March 2021
The public hearing sessions have now finished and the protocol for the remainder of the independent examination is set out on the closing notes. This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED016]
The Commissioners want to thank all participants for their valuable contribution to the process.
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25 February 2021
The Commission has published Version 7 of the Hearing Programme (ED014) the latest changes to the programme only relate to the arrangements for Monday 8th March 2021.
This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED014]
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23 February 2021
At the hearing session yesterday (Monday 22nd February 2021) the discussion regarding Employment land supply was not concluded.
The Commissioner will therefore continue this hearing session on Thursday 25th February 2021 starting at 11.00am and will deal with questions 18 - 22 as set out in the Examination Agenda. (ED015) This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here.
Those parties eligible to participate will receive an invitation in due course.
The session will also be live streamed on our YouTube channel above from 11:00am.
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19 February 2021
Belfast City Council have provided a number of Typographical errors and suggested minor modifications to Appendix A of the dPS.
These have been added in the Matters Arising webpage here (Document MA009).
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18 February 2021
The Commission has published Version 6 of the Hearing Programme (ED014)
This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED014]
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4 February 2021
Discussion of the issue of employment land supply is due to start on the afternoon of Wednesday 10th February and the published programme (ED014) makes provision for it to be continued on Monday 22nd February if necessary.
On this basis, there will only be a “roll-over” session on Thursday 11th February if discussion on the Built Heritage topic (17) has not been concluded by close of business on Tuesday 9th February and/or consideration of Topics 18-20 inclusive has not finished in the morning session on Wednesday 10th February.
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27 January 2021
At the hearing session yesterday (26th January 2021) the Commissioner was unable to finish the questions as set out in the Examination Agenda. (ED015) This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here
The Commissioner will therefore continue this hearing session on Thursday 28th January 2021 starting at 10.30am and will deal with the Issues (Protection of existing residential accommodation & Density of Residential Development) under Topic 14: Shaping a Liveable Place - Housing.
Those parties eligible to participate will receive an invitation in due course.
The session will also be live streamed on our YouTube channel above.
The Commission has also updated the Hearing Programme to Version 5. This document - ED014 - can be found on our Examination document page here
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20 January 2021
The Commission has published Version 4 of the Hearing Programme (ED014)
This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED014]
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15 January 2021
The Commission has received an email from Belfast City Council dated the 14th January 2021 regarding clarifications in relation to the question for weeks 3-5 and additional Documentation identified as being referred to / requested.
This email and the documents can be found on our Matters arising page here
The Commission has also updated the Hearing Programme to Version 3. This document - ED014 - can be found on our Examination document page here
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17th December 2020
The Commission has published the Examination Agenda (ED015) and Version 2 of the Hearing Programme (ED014) for the hearing sessions due to begin on the 18th January 2021.
These documents can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED015 & ED014]
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26th November 2020
The Commission has published version 2 of our Guidance Notes for participants document. [Ref ED009]
This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here.
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25th November 2020
Examination document ED014 correction.
A number of potential participants had been incorrectly added to the original version of examination document ED014 (Hearing Programme - January ~ March 2021 - Version 1) issued on the 20th November 2020. This error has been amended and the corrected version can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here
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20th November 2020
The Commission has published the draft Hearings Programme for the public hearing sessions to be conducted from Monday 18th January - Monday 15th March 2020. This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED014]
Matters arising webpage
During the course of the public hearing sessions matters may arise during discussion where the Commissioner may ask a participant to provide further information and/or documentation. These ‘Matters arising’ will be collated and published on a weekly basis to our Matters arising webpage
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18th November 2020
The Commission has also updated the Hearing Programme - November 2020 (Version 5) [ED010]
This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here
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13th November 2020
The Commission has set up a YouTube Channel to stream the hearing sessions live. Those wishing to view the sessions should go to
https://youtube.com/channel/UCOzcxPyBJzH3XbF13M_t52w
The Commission has also updated the Hearing Programme (Version 4) [ED010]
This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here
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11th November 2020
The Commission has updated the Hearing Programme (Version 3) [ED010]
This document can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here
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23rd October 2020
The Commission has published the Examination Agenda [ED011] and the Remote Hearings Protocol [ED012] for the initial public hearing sessions of the Independent examination, to be conducted from Monday 16th November - Friday 27th November 2020 inclusive.
The Commission has also updated the Hearing programme [ED010] and has contacted all those eligible to participate in the November hearing sessions to confirm who will be speaking.
These documents can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here
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17th September 2020
The Commission has published the Guidance Notes and the draft Hearings Programme for the initial public hearing sessions of the Independent examination, to be conducted from Monday 16th November - Friday 27th November 2020 inclusive. These documents can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED009 and ED010]
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11th September 2020
The Commission has responded to Belfast City Council’s letter dated 3rd September 2020 [ED007A]. This can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED008]
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4th September 2020
The Commission has received correspondence and documentation from Belfast City Council as requested in the Commission’s letter [ED003]. These can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED007.A ~ E]
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3rd September 2020
The Commission has responded to the email from Belfast City Council. This can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED006]
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2nd September 2020
The Commission has received an email from Belfast City Council. This can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED005]
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2nd September 2020
The Commission has sent correspondance letters, by post (and by email where address supplied) to those who made a representation to Belfast City Council on the draft Plan Strategy saying that it was unsound and who either:
- Completed the Belfast LDP 2035 – Plan Strategy pro forma and indicated at Q18 under Section 9. Type of Procedure that they wanted their representation to be dealt with by oral hearing (chose this procedure to present your representation orally at the public hearing event(s)); or
- If they chose not to submit a completed pro forma, made an unequivocally clear statement in their representation that they wanted it to be dealt with by oral hearing at the public hearing sessions.
A copy of the letters sent can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED004.A and ED004.B]
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27th August 2020
The Commission has responded to Belfast City Council’s letter dated 31st July 2020. The Commissions letter can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED003]
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3rd August 2020
The Commission has received Belfast City Council’s response to the Commission’s letter dated 3rd July 2020. This can be found on our BCC Examination Library page here [Ref ED002A and ED002B]
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6th July 2020
The presiding Commissioners have completed their initial assessment of the draft Plan Strategy and associated evidence base. This has given rise to some issues that, both individually and cumulatively, may have implications for its soundness. The Commission has written to Belfast City Council on 3rd July 2020 setting out the identified issues. Copies of the letter and associated table [Ref ED001A and ED001B] are available on our BCC Examination Library page here.
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6th February 2020
The Department for Infrastructure has appointed the Planning Appeals Commission to conduct an Independent Examination of the Belfast City Council Local Development Plan. Programme Officer, James Bickerstaff, has reviewed the draft Plan Strategy documents supplied directly by Belfast City Council and the Commission has assigned Commissioner Rosemary Daly and Commissioner Julie de-Courcey to perform the IE.
The Commissioners will proceed to undertaking a series of checks to ensure that all essential regulatory steps have been taken by the Council and to identify any fundamental concerns about the soundness of the plan. Following these checks, the Commissioners may request further written evidence and an exploratory meeting may be held. If an exploratory meeting is not required we will proceed to arrange the hearing sessions.
The Programme Officer will make contact with all parties who made representations in due course. All communications in relation to this examination should be directed to James Bickerstaff, on 028 9089 3919 or by sending an email to BCC.LDP@pacni.gov.uk .
Further information regarding the Commission’s procedures for Independent Examinations can be found in our procedures document here
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