THE north’s IT planning system is set for a £14 million overhaul, which will allow applications to be submitted online.
The TerraQuest consortium has been awarded the contract to replace the current Northern Ireland Planning Portal (NIPP) for the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and ten councils.
Mid Ulster District Council has opted out of the process and will instead procure its own separate system.
TerraQuest is comprised of Planning Portal, which is used by all local authorities in England in Wales, and DEF Software.
DfI said the new system system will facilitate a more responsive and efficient planning service across both local and central government, including bringing key services like the submission of applications online.
It is expected that the new system will be phased in from late 2021 to early 2022.
The current system deals with around 12,000 planning applications per year. It is used by over 700 staff, over 500 consultees and thousands of people annually.
A statement from DfI said: “This increased use of technology and on line processing will be of significant benefit, in supporting economic recovery in the context of COVID-19.
“Users will be informed of the changes within each council area, at the appropriate time.”
