Guide
Decision status of planning application
The Planning Authority, alongside various Committees, takes decisions on development applications that vary depending on the proposal's nature and its compliance with regulations. These decisions guide the next steps for developers, agents, and stakeholders involved in the process. The following sections elaborate on each type of decision status and its implications for the development process.
Decision Status
The different type of decisions taken by Committees and the Planning Authority Board varies and are as follows;
Approved
This is considered as a final decision, whereby permission to initiate implementation of development is released formally with conditions.
Refused
This is considered as a final decision with rationale for refusal, against which appeal can be made to the Planning Authority’s Appeal Board.
Approved in principle
Whilst not a final decision, this decision is taken, when the proposal is first considered and is generally found to be acceptable. However, comments from the referral agencies have not yet been received. The approval in principle can change, once the necessary comments are received. It is also a decision issued, when the development proposals are generally acceptable but there needs to be minor revision(s) made to the drawings, in the form of a resubmission from the Agent.
Deferred
This is not a final decision, but rather a Status given to applications when feedback from the referral agencies is awaited.
Withdrawn
This is not a final decision and is done upon request from agents or developers when applications are superseded by the submission of another development proposal, requested by the owner/developer. Applications are also withdrawn automatically, upon expiry of the 6 weeks’ timeframe, after agents fail to provide resubmissions/amendments/additional information requested by the Planning Authority. Once withdrawn, applications can be re-instated, provided that a re-instatement fee is paid.
Resubmission
The term ‘Resubmission’ is used when agents are requested to submit revision to address certain issues, which then, substitutes drawings, that were submitted originally.