Planning applications in Armagh Banbridge Craigavon

Planning in Armagh Banbridge Craigavon

Garden rooms and outbuildings dominate planning applications in Armagh Banbridge Craigavon. More than 4,600 have been decided since 2016, over three times as many as rear extensions, and about 1 in 16 was refused, matching the council’s overall rate. Across all 14,000 or so applications, about 1 in 16 was refused, which is more lenient than the 1 in 7 seen across the areas we cover.

Extensions are very rarely refused. Rear extensions are refused about 1 in 106 times, side extensions about 1 in 92 and front extensions and porches about 1 in 111. Windows and doors are about 1 in 25, fences, walls and gates about 1 in 22, and solar panels about 1 in 42. If you are asking about planning permission for an extension, the record here is excellent.

The projects to look at more carefully are driveways and dropped kerbs, refused about 1 in 14 times, and loft conversions and dormers, about 1 in 15. Both are better than the national rates (about 1 in 5 for each), but they are the weakest of the common projects in this council, and driveways are refused more often than the council overall.

The reasons given for refusals are dominated by location and paperwork. Of 210 recent refusals we read, more than half mentioned building outside towns and villages, and a similar share, about 49%, said not enough information had been supplied. Around three in ten mentioned neighbours’ light, privacy or outlook, about one in five the size or design of the work, and a similar share parking, access or road safety. Few mentioned the look of the street, heritage, trees or flooding. A complete application with a clear plan of the site is the best defence.

Activity peaked in 2021 with 1,519 applications. In 2025 there were 1,166, about the same as the average of 1,150 a year in the three years before, but refusals fell, to about 1 in 23 from about 1 in 16.

Figures in this section as of 9 October 2026.