Community planning: influencing how your local area is shaped

Last updated: 2 July 2025

The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 requires all councils to undertake community planning. Community planning is a collaborative process led by each of the 11 councils in Northern Ireland, working together with partners and local communities to create and carry out a long-term plan for their areas. The goal is to improve all parts of community life by planning and delivering better services that make a real difference to people's lives.  

Each council is responsible for setting up a Community Planning Partnership, which involves bringing together a range of partners, including 11 public bodies named in legislation (known as statutory partners), government departments, agencies, businesses, and community and voluntary organisations.  

Community Planning Partnerships meet regularly to discuss local needs and plan how they can work together to meet those needs. They identify long-term objectives for improving the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of their areas.  

Each Community Planning Partnership must develop a long-term community plan for its area, which is a document that sets out key issues and the actions that the Partnership will take to address those issues and improve the local area.  

The Partnerships agree the outcomes they wish to achieve and monitor the community plan regularly; publishing progress reports every two years. Every four years they review the plan and update it if needed, to ensure they are working towards their agreed outcomes. 

There is a statutory link between the community plan and a council’s local development plan (LDP). LDPs must show how the community plan’s goals are reflected in their land use and development proposals.  

Community planning allows residents to voice their opinions on council matters that affect them, helping to drive meaningful change and enhance the quality of life and wellbeing in their local areas. It enables people to take part in addressing a broad range of social, economic and environmental issues that impact their neighbourhoods – from land use and housing to community facilities, play areas, transport, and public services. 

By getting involved in community planning you may be able to influence the location and type of new housing and promote the designation and protection of local green space and other areas important for nature. 

Community Planning Partnerships encourage local residents to participate in the process through various methods, including open invitations in local media, public workshops, pop-up events, and conferences. 

To find out more about community planning in your area, take a look at your council’s community plan.  

Department for Communities - Community Planning guidance