Planning applications in Belfast

Planning in Belfast

Refusals in Belfast have become rare. In 2025 only 26 applications were refused, about 1 in 44, compared with about 1 in 17 in the three years before, and well below the 1 in 7 seen across the areas we cover. Over the whole record since 2016 the rate is about 1 in 14, which is still lenient. The number of applications has not changed much, at 1,671 in 2025 against an average of about 1,660 a year before, so the shift is in how they are decided rather than in how many arrive.

Extensions are almost never turned down. Rear extensions, the biggest category with more than 5,000 applications, are refused about 1 in 80 times, and side extensions and front extensions and porches both about 1 in 66. Garden rooms and outbuildings are about 1 in 44, windows and doors about 1 in 39, and loft conversions and dormers about 1 in 35.

The projects with the highest refusal rates are still better than the national picture. Fences, walls and gates are refused about 1 in 20 times and driveways and dropped kerbs about 1 in 17, the highest rates among the common projects here, but a long way from the 1 in 5 seen nationally for driveways. If you are planning either, it is still worth checking what has been approved nearby, but the odds are good.

When Belfast does refuse, the reasons are varied. Of 142 recent refusals we read, about four in ten mentioned the size or design of the work, and about a third said not enough information had been supplied. Around three in ten raised neighbours’ light, privacy or outlook, about a quarter the look of the street or area, and about one in five parking, access or road safety. Heritage came up in about one refusal in ten. Making sure the application is complete and the plans are clear about the scale of the work is the simplest way to avoid the more avoidable reasons.

The busiest year was 2018, with 2,145 applications.

Figures in this section as of 9 October 2026.