Where an application for planning permission is made for construction work, it is possible for permission to be applied for in two stages, outline planning permission and approval of reserved matters. This is set out in Article 8 (1) of the Planning (General Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 1993. In an application for an outline permission, Planning Service can grant permission subject to a condition specifying reserved matters for Planning Service's subsequent approval. An application for approval of the reserved matters can then be made and will be accompanied by detailed plans and drawings in order to deal with the matters which have been reserved in the outline planning permission.
The advantages of an outline planning permission are that Planning Service is agreeing in principle to the type of development proposed but it is not necessary to go to the expense and to make a commitment to actual specific details such as design and siting.
The use of an outline application has to be carefully considered in relation to Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") development as sufficient detail of the scheme must be determined to allow for a full environmental impact assessment to take place. The flexibility of the outline application process is therefore impaired although a limited flexibility in the ultimate proposal to be constructed remains. The details set out below in relation to appeals apply both to outline planning applications and applications for approval of reserved matters.