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FOI/EIR 25/26-427-Planning Discharge of Conditions
Details of discharge of condition planning applications for past three years
Request received: 2 December 2025
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request the following information for each of the past three financial years (2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025-26 to date):
- The number of applications submitted to discharge any of the following types of planning conditions attached to residential developments involving new-build dwellings:
- Pre-commencement conditions
- Pre-slab / pre-foundation conditions
- Above-ground conditions (i.e., conditions that must be discharged before development can progress above ground floor level)
- For each of the categories listed above, the number of discharge applications determined within the statutory 8-week period.
- For each of the categories listed above, the average, minimum, and maximum determination times (in calendar days) for discharge-of-condition applications.
Response due: 2 January 2025
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide this information within the appropriate time limit.
In the past 3 financial years we have had 644 Discharge of Condition applications submitted. In order to find out the information requested, we would need to go into every application, locate the Decision Notice and identify whether this relates to the below :
•Pre-commencement conditions
•Pre-slab / pre-foundation conditions
•Above-ground conditions (i.e., conditions that must be discharged before development can progress above ground floor level)
We anticipate Q1 alone would take approximately 30 minutes per application; with additional time for the other two points on the FOI relating to determination timescales.
This information is exempt from disclosure under Section 12(4)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In respect of those requests that are answered in full, partially or the total refused, please take this as notice under FOIA, that we:
a) Consider the information as exempt from disclosure under the Act.
b) Claim exempt under sections of the Act:
Section 12(4)(b) Manifestly Unreasonable
c) State why the exemption applies:
12(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), a public authority may refuse to disclose information to the extent that – (b) the request for information is manifestly unreasonable