Belfast City Council has launched a public consultation period regarding draft supplementary planning guidelines covering short-term let accommodation within the city limits.
This non-statutory document is designed to assist developers, landowners, planning agents and other parties involved in assessing and delivering planning proposals for short-term lets.
The proposed guidance will outline key planning considerations relevant to applications involving serviced apartments, apart-hotels, self-catering flats and short-term holiday rentals.
It aims to clarify the council's approach to planning policy while providing advice on how to navigate the assessment process for both new-build housing and changes of use to existing buildings.
The draft supplementary planning guidance is intended to be read alongside the city's Local Development Plan and the Department for Infrastructure's Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland.
Council officials note that short-term lets can take various forms, including serviced apartments and holiday homes, which contribute significantly to Belfast's tourism economy by offering visitors additional accommodation choices.
Beyond tourism, these properties also provide essential housing options for temporary workers and individuals with short-term residential needs.
However, the rapid growth in numbers has raised concerns regarding the availability of affordable buy-to-let and rental homes, as well as potential impacts on neighbourhood character and community cohesion where concentrations develop.
Interested parties may submit their views via email to the Belfast Planning Service or by post to the Cecil Ward Building in Linenhall Street.