To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail local councils’ powers under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to request the convening of a public hearing following the service of a notice of opinion indicating an intended decision on; (i) a planning application dealt with under 'call in' procedures; and (ii) currently undetermined planning applications retained and being dealt with by his Department after Local Government Reform.

Under section 29 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011, where the Department serves a notice of opinion indicating an intended decision for a called-in application or a retained application (which is treated as a called-in application) the council may within the period specified in the notice request a hearing. The Department must afford the council the opportunity of appearing before and being heard by the Planning Appeals Commission or a person appointed by the Department.

For further guidance I would refer the Member to the Department’s Development Management Practice Note 13: Notification and Call In of Applications which is available on the Planning Portal.