The Department published the Modernising Planning Processes - Consultation Paper in February 2002, in which it proposed that Reserved Matters submissions and Householder Development applications be advertised thus reflecting the public interest in development proposals. The same document also proposed that a checklist be published to help the public meet the basic requirements for submitting planning applications. 

Both of these proposals received widespread support, so the Department, in the subsequent Implementation Plan, published in February 2003, made a commitment to implement both by June 2003.   

Since the publication of this commitment the Department has being putting in place the necessary legislative and procedural steps to realise these objectives, which will have an operative target date of 30^th June 2003.  

The advertisement of Householder Developments required legislative changes through the publication of The Planning Applications (Exemptions from Publication) (Revocation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2003.  This Order revokes the current exemption from publication in respect of Householder applications and thereby provides that planning applications for such development proposals shall be published by notice in the appropriate newspaper or newspapers. The new Statutory Rule was made on 3^rd June 2003 and comes into operation on 30^th June 2003.  Copies of the new Statutory Rule are available from The Stationary Office, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4PS or from the HMSO website at www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk.     

The advertisement of Reserved Matters submissions and Householder Developments both required internal procedural changes, and these were put in place by 30^th June 2003. 

The Department has also prepared a checklist to aid the public in the submission of planning applications, which was released on 30th June 2003 and thus contributes to reducing the considerable delays that often occur at the start of the application process.