Latest: New Council to have its own planning office

At present, DOE Planning for the Causeway Coast and Glens District Council area operates from two locations; Orchard House, Derry for Limavady and County Hall, Coleraine for Ballymoney, Coleraine and Moyle.

From next Monday planning services for Limavady will also be delivered from County Hall, Coleraine, giving the new Causeway Coast and Glens District council area its own dedicated planning office.

These new arrangements mark another important step in the preparation for the transfer of planning to councils on April 1.

Welcoming the changes Minister Durkan said: “Planning reform is about bringing forward improvements to the planning system, improvements that will bring planning closer to the public and make it easier for the public to access and participate in the planning process.

“This is part of the wider local government reform programme which will ultimately deliver local councils which are more effective, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of their local business and community.

“All 11 new councils need to be ready to assume their new responsibilities when planning functions are formally transferred to them in April. Aligning DOE planning services with the new council areas is another tangible step forward in this preparation.”

Presiding councillor of Causeway Coast and Glens District Council John Finlay said: “Substantial work has already been completed by Elected Members, Council Officers and Planning Staff to prepare for the transfer of the Planning Function to Local Government on 1 April 2015.

“The delivery of Planning services for Limavady from County Hall from Monday 9 February is an important milestone in the overall transfer process.”

All planning applications and queries for the Causeway Coast and Glens District Council area should be directed to County Hall, Coleraine from February 9.

All applications already in the system for the new council area will transfer to County Hall and planning officers will continue to process these as normal.

If you are unsure which new council area you are in, you can find out at the NIDirect websiteexternal link