Section 76 provides Northern Ireland's statutory planning-agreement mechanism.

The Department for Infrastructure's Development Management Practice Note 21 explains the legislative requirements and good practice for agreements under section 76 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

Use an agreement for a defined planning purpose, not as a substitute for analysing the proposal.

A campaign should identify the harm or infrastructure requirement being addressed, why an agreement is needed and how the proposed obligation relates to the development.

Check whether a condition would provide the appropriate control.

Planning conditions and section 76 agreements are different mechanisms. The authority should use the mechanism suited to the requirement and the applicable statutory framework.

Read the actual terms.

Where a decision relies on an agreement, identify the parties, land, obligations, triggers, payments or works, enforcement provisions and any provisions dealing with modification or release.

Distinguish the agreement from voluntary benefits.

An applicant's voluntary community arrangement should not be confused with a planning agreement relied upon to make a development acceptable in planning terms.

Sources and further information

Department for Infrastructure - Development Management Practice Note 21: Section 76 Planning Agreements

Department for Infrastructure - Development Management Practice Notes

Last checked: 26 September 2026

Use Development Management Practice Note 20 as the procedural starting point.

The Department for Infrastructure publishes specific guidance on the use of planning conditions as part of its Development Management Practice Note series.

Connect each condition to the planning issue it is supposed to control.

For construction, noise, access, drainage, ecology, landscaping or other mitigation, identify the predicted effect and the exact condition relied upon.

Test whether compliance can be demonstrated.

Look for a clear trigger, measurable requirement, plan or standard, approving authority and implementation duty. Vague wording can make later compliance difficult to establish.

Pay attention to conditions requiring later submissions.

Check whether enough information exists at decision stage to establish that an acceptable solution is available and whether the condition requires approval before the relevant impact can occur.

Keep the final decision notice and approved details together.

If permission is granted, subsequent condition approvals can become essential evidence when checking whether development is proceeding lawfully.

Sources and further information

Department for Infrastructure - Development Management Practice Notes

Last checked: 26 September 2026