LCCC and the Planning Committee Agenda

For 3.5 years we have engaged with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) on planning matters. In all that time, not once has the Council published the Planning Committee agenda and documents within the timescale set out in its own Standing Orders.

The Council’s own rules could not be clearer. The Protocol for the Operation of the Planning Committee states:

“The following will be published on the Council’s website at least 5 working days in advance of the meeting:
– Committee meeting dates and times; and
– The Schedule of Applications to be determined by the Planning Committee.”
(Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Protocol for the Operation of the Planning Committee, Standing Orders, p. 62–63)

That is five working days. Weekends do not count.

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What Actually Happened

We became aware that our case is scheduled to be considered at the 8 September Planning Committee meeting, on Wednesday 3 September 2025

A very short timescale of 2 full working days to read hundreds of pages of material, prepare rebuttals, seek speaking rights and provide our speaking notes by noon on Friday 5 September for the Planning Committee Meeting.

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Why This Matters

• This is not a technicality. Rules exist to protect the public’s right to know and to ensure fair participation in decisions that will impact them.
• LCCC has restricted public scrutiny and tilted the process in favour of developers with professional teams and advance notice by not adhering to its own deadlines.
• Planning law requires transparency and accountability. Publishing agendas late potentially undermines both.

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Our Question

Is the public consultation process valued by LCCC?

A Council must adhere to its own minimum standard of at least five working days to facilitate input from its rate payers. Restricting response times means rate payers are left with the near impossible task of responding to major planning decisions within a highly restrictive timescale. We consider it unfair and an infringement of our rights.

While we will continue to hold LCCC to account, it is also time for the Council to hold itself to account especially in relation to compliance with its Standing Orders.