Planning permission co.down

Planning

Looking for some advice while I try to consider options.

Few details:
I own a small holding about 20 acres and have done so for about 20 odd years
I had previously leased this but have stopped doing this in the last year or so.
Have a valid farm (business) ID and a flock number and am the claimant of SFP.
No other houses have ever been built on my lands nor has any land been sold for any purpose.

I have applied for outline planning for a house on a farm for myself but a decision on this application has not yet been made, this application has been with planning for nearly 1 year.

Other applications within the planning area similar to mine have been received and decisions have been made on these.

I have been advised that the delay is due to possible changes in the application of the planning policies - however planning office can not advise what these changes may be or when they will be in force

I paid my fee and was put on the streamlined application track but my goodness this can not be considered streamlined!!

I'm wondering does anyone know what I can do about this

Thanks for reading

A.L.D.A

Did you lodge the application yourself or through an agent?

If yourself write in, or phone, and ask what progress has been made. If you phone you will not get through to the Planning Officer but they will phone you back in due course. Be diplomatic.

The Planning Policy is probably in Planning Policy Statement 21. Read it, if you have not already done so, and have a clear idea why they should be granting you permission and under what policy. There may be something about your site that differs from others nearby. Check the reasons for approval around you.

You could go to appeal under non determination, but that is negating one of your possibly Avenues of Approval and will take about 8-9 months.

If the application is through an Agent ask them.

It can be utterly frustrating dealing with the Planning Service , they are not consistent and can be extremely slow. Be patient and do not get flustered nor accusatory.