FODC_Inform News_Winter 2022

As a local authority the Council is responsible for developing a Local Development Plan for the Fermanagh and Omagh district. The Council do this by working with local partners, to create a clear vision of how the Council area should develop and what it will look like in years to come. The Local Development Plan is born from the Council’s Corporate Plan and Community Plan to ensure that there is a shared vision for the area and our communities. Delivering on spatial planning, this integrative tool helps to shape land use and the social use of space from the Council’s Community Plan. The Local Development Plan, once adopted, will set out the long term social, economic and environmental objectives, ensuring that lands are appropriately zoned and designated, to meet the future development needs of all the people living within the district up to 2030. What stage are the Council at? A draft Plan Strategy was submitted for an Independent Examination to the Planning Appeals Commission during March 2022. It will prepare an advisory report for consideration by the Department for Infrastructure. The Department will then make a direction to the Council regarding the adoption of the draft Plan Strategy, to either adopt as originally prepared, adopt with modifications or withdraw the draft Plan Strategy in early 2023. Next steps - Local Policies Plan The Council has now started work on the second plan document called the Local Policies Plan. The Local Policies Plan will set out the Council’s local policies, including site specific proposals, designations and land use zonings required to deliver the Council’s vision, objectives and strategic policies. A new Regional Planning IT System, for Northern Ireland will be launched before the end of this financial year for all Councils in NI* and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI). This new platform will include the ability for customers to submit online planning applications, representations, Tree Preservation Order requests, enforcement complaints and requests in the portal for Regional Property Certificates. Included is a new enhanced public register where customers can search and view relevant planning applications across Northern Ireland* will also be provided including online payments. 10 in-FO in Fermanagh & Omagh | Winter 2022 Planning for the future Local Development Plan 2030 Update New NI Planning Portal in 2022 Keep up to date by visiting https://www.fermanaghomagh.com/ services/planning/local-development-plan/ i The key benefit of the new system will be the removal of paper-based transactions and processes, moving planning to a fully digital solution. *(excluding Mid Ulster District Council)