Belfast City Council is currently consulting on draft supplementary planning guidelines for short-term lets in the city.
This non-statutory guidance is aiming to be used by developers, landowners, planning agents and anyone else seeking advice with the assessment and delivery of planning proposals for short-term let developments within the city, whether for new-build housing or for change of use of existing buildings.
The guidance will highlight the key planning considerations that can arise in relation to planning applications for short-term lets and provide advice on council’s approach to relevant planning policy.
The information set out in this draft SPG is deemed a material consideration in determining planning applications and should be read in conjunction with the existing planning framework, mostly notably the DfI’s Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for Northern Ireland and council’s Local Development Plan (LDP).
Short-term let accommodation can take many forms from serviced apartments, apart-hotels, self-catering apartments and short-term holiday lets.
However, in common with other cities, the popularity of short-term lets and their rise in number can also raise issues in relation to the availability of residential and affordable homes to buy/rent and the impact on neighbourhood character and community cohesion where concentrations of such accommodation have developed.
The draft supplementary planning guidance is available to view online or in person at the council’s Cecil Ward Building.
The public consultation will run for 12 weeks until Monday 16 November and will also be published on the council’s Your Say platform.
