Every rule your project must meet, found for you.
Search Northern Ireland’s planning and building-control guidance, ask a question in plain English, or generate a project compliance checklist — every answer cited to the source.
Working to a specific project? Generate a compliance checklist →
Answers, with citations
Ask in plain English and get an answer that links to the exact source clause — never an unsourced guess.
Scoped to your council
Overlay a council's local development plan on the Northern Ireland-wide regulations and policy.
Project compliance checklist
Characterise a project and get the requirements that apply, grouped by work area. Try it →
The library
Search the source guidance
21 results · filtered
Local Neighbourhood Facilities Provision
DM 17(f)Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
Adequate provision is made for necessary local neighbourhood facilities, to be provided by the developer as an integral part of the development; and
dwellingtopic-external-spaceResidential Extensions and Alterations - Policy Aim
7.74Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
The aim of this policy is to promote high quality, sympathetically designed, residential extensions and alterations which respect the character of the area in which they are situated and safeguard nei
dwellingtopic-external-spaceLandscaping and Vegetation for Biodiversity
9.16Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
The use of landscaping and vegetation is often a key element of a successful proposal and used effectively can significantly enhance biodiversity and help integrate new development into the environmen
topic-external-spacetopic-landscapebiodiversityExtensions subordinate to existing dwelling character
B7Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
the existing house and subordinate or integrated so as not to dominate the character of the existing property, although it is accepted that on occasion a larger extension may be required - for example
dwellingtopic-external-spaceUrban context extension design - massing and plot boundaries
B7Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
Proposals in an urban context should not overdevelop the site in terms of massing, plot size and proximity to boundaries thereby, for example, creating a visual 'terrace' effect. This is one of a numb
dwellingcontext-urbantopic-external-spaceSemi-detached dwelling side extensions - setback and setdown requirements
B8Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
A further concern may arise where a side extension to a semi-detached dwelling is proposed at the same height and follows the same building line as the block comprising an original pair of dwellings.
dwellingcontext-urbantopic-external-spaceFront elevation extensions and alterations design requirements
B9Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
Extensions or alterations to the front of a property require great care as the front elevation is often the most visible to public view. Poor design can upset the architectural integrity of the existi
dwellingtopic-external-spaceDesign of Garages and Associated Outbuildings
B11Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
Buildings within the residential curtilage, such as, garages, sheds and greenhouses can often require as much care in siting and design as works to the existing residential property. They should be su
dwellingtopic-external-spaceFront Garden Garages and Outbuildings
B12Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
Garages or outbuildings wholly located in front gardens or those that extend in front the established building line can over-dominate the front of the property and detract from the street scene and wi
dwellingtopic-external-spacetopic-site-planningAncillary Buildings in the Countryside
B13Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
In the countryside, ancillary buildings should be designed as part of the overall layout to result in an integrated rural group of buildings.
dwellingcontext-ruraltopic-external-spaceRoof Extensions Design
B14Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)
An extension or alteration which copies the roof type and angle of pitch of the original residential property will be more successful than those proposals that introduce a completely different type of
dwellingtopic-external-spaceIntensive sports use and local amenity impacts
10.1.24Belfast·LDP Plan Strategy 2035 (adopted 2023)
Whilst they are a valuable community resource, the intensive sports use has the potential to impact on local amenity, including by traffic, noise and light disturbance. Therefore their location has to
non-domestictopic-external-spacetopic-soundGreen and blue infrastructure improvements from intensive sports development
10.1.25Belfast·LDP Plan Strategy 2035 (adopted 2023)
The council will, where appropriate, seek to secure improvements to the green and blue infrastructure network as a result of new intensive sports development. This may include the carrying out of agre
non-domestictopic-external-spaceopen-spacePolicy OS6 - Facilities ancillary to water sports
Policy OS6Belfast·LDP Plan Strategy 2035 (adopted 2023)
Planning permission will be granted for the development of facilities ancillary to water sports uses adjacent to ponds, lakes, reservoirs and waterways. In terms of new built development and nature/in
non-domestictopic-external-spaceWater sports facilities justification and environmental considerations
10.1.26Belfast·LDP Plan Strategy 2035 (adopted 2023)
The council's policy seeks to support ancillary facilities required in connection with water sports on our rivers, reservoirs, lakes and canals. These are important recreational resources and limited
non-domestictopic-external-spaceGuidance on site layout and landscape design
7.33NI-wide·PPS 16 Tourism
Further guidance on site layout and landscape design is set out in Appendix 4.
topic-site-planningtopic-external-spaceActive Lifestyles and Sporting Facilities
ENV 7.1NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation
providing opportunities for more active lifestyles by maintaining and enhancing sporting facilities in the Region, creating networks of community greenways in cities and towns, developing cycle and pe
public-buildingtopic-accesstopic-external-spaceruralopen-spaceSustainable Access to Countryside and Public Open Spaces
ENV 1.4NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation
promoting sustainable access to the countryside taking account of the Northern Ireland Countryside Recreation Strategy and continuing to develop the network of public open spaces including country par
topic-accesstopic-external-spaceruralopen-spaceconservationQuality Initiative and Open Space in Residential Development
2.4NI-wide·PPS 8 Open Space Sport and Outdoor Recreation
In January 1996, the Government introduced the Quality Initiative to Northern Ireland with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of good design and quality in the built environment, particula
dwellingtopic-external-spacesite-planningExternal Materials and Detailing - Design Approach
4.2.1-4.2.2Belfast·SPG004 Residential Extensions and Alterations
An attempt to mirror the style of the existing property or reference aspects of its external appearance is advised as a form of good practice in order to create a harmonising addition. While in some c
dwellingtopic-external-spaceExternal Finishes and Detailing Consideration
4.2.3Belfast·SPG004 Residential Extensions and Alterations
Irrespective of whether the approach seeks to mirror the style of the existing property or employ a contemporary design solution, the external finishes and detailing of an extension or alteration must
dwellingtopic-external-space