A new £14million online planning portal for submitting and reviewing applications in Northern Ireland has been slammed by architects as "unacceptably poor and not fit for purpose".
The Royal Society of Ulster Architects said its members have experienced a raft of problems with the system which are causing delays in the processing of planning applications.
It warned that if the issues are not addressed, "it could act as a further brake on the local construction sector at a time when it is facing many other challenges".
Launched early last month, the new portal aimed to streamline the planning process and ensure a paperless system with the ability to submit applications online.
It was developed and funded by Stormont's Department for Infrastructure and 10 of the 11 councils. Mid Ulster District Council opted for its own separate online service.
Ciarán Fox, director of RSUA which has more than 1,000 members, said architects have expressed "enormous frustration" and added "many functions worked better on the old system".
He said: "The problems with the portal are resulting in delays because relevant information has not been uploaded to the new portal and so consultations are not being issued to statutory bodies.
"This is having a direct impact on many practices. In the short term it affects cashflow but in the medium term there is a real concern that it could act as a further brake on the local construction sector at a time when it is facing many other challenges."
RSUA listed multiple issues which have arisen including search problems, poor map functionality and difficulties in tracking applications.
It also reported being unable to update applications once they have been submitted, missing files which should have transferred from the old system, and view and download functions not working properly.
Mr Fox said: "Under the new system planning applications are no longer emailed in but uploaded through the planning portal. That's working fairly well, if a bit clunky and slow for submitted applications to appear on the site.
"From a user's perspective it's not as quick as emailing an application but I presume it will reduce administration costs in the planning office.
"Everyone would support this change if processing times were improved as a result of it. The introduction of auto-email notification of updates has also been welcomed.
“However, there are many problems. It's like a beta version has been released as the final version. It has been described by members who are using it day in, day out, as unacceptably poor and not fit for purpose ."
Mr Fox said testing of the system was "too late and insufficiently rigorous".
"RSUA offered to help test the system during the development phase. In September the department ran a testing session which one architect was invited to but when it came to editing an application the system failed. The process was abandoned and there was no follow-up," he said.
Mr Fox called on the department to "engage intensively" with architects and other portal users to address the problems "as a matter of urgency".
With over 12,000 planning applications submitted each year, the planning portal has been described as the largest ever joint IT project between central and local government in Northern Ireland.
The Department for Infrastructure said it was working with the supplier to address "some initial problems" with the system.
A spokesman said: "The aim of the new portal which cost £14million, to deliver and support up to 2030, is to facilitate a more responsive and efficient planning service across both local and central government, including bringing key services like the submission of applications online.
"This increased use of technology and online processing will be of significant benefit, in supporting economic recovery across Northern Ireland.
"Like many large-scale system implementations, with multiple organisations and stakeholders involved, there have been some initial problems which all partners are working with the supplier to urgently resolve.
"Processing of applications is proceeding and issues are being resolved on an ongoing basis.
"Further releases of the software are expected next month which will continue to improve the service for our customers."
READ NEXT:
- No paper trail of key decisions in £1.5m legal dispute with whistleblowing vet, Stormont report finds
- DUP councillor in clothing expenses probe says she will not be seeking re-election
- Sinn Fein MPs don't need to declare party wages on register, says parliamentary standards watchdog
- Adoption and social care legislation in Northern Ireland stalled due to Stormont's collapse
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
