Every rule your project must meet, found for you.
Search Northern Ireland’s planning and building-control guidance, ask a question in plain English, or generate a project compliance checklist — every answer cited to the source.
Working to a specific project? Generate a compliance checklist →
Answers, with citations
Ask in plain English and get an answer that links to the exact source clause — never an unsourced guess.
Scoped to your council
Overlay a council's local development plan on the Northern Ireland-wide regulations and policy.
Project compliance checklist
Characterise a project and get the requirements that apply, grouped by work area. Try it →
The library
Search the source guidance
50 results · filtered
Preamble - Purpose and Status of PPS 12
Preamble, paragraphs 1-3NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
On 20 September 2001, the Department for Regional Development (DRD) published Shaping Our Future: the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025 (RDS). The RDS will guide the future devel
dwellingsite-planningScope of PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
4NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The policy guidance in this statement applies to all residential development proposals within cities, towns, villages and small settlements in Northern Ireland. This policy document does not apply to
dwellingsite-planningRegional Development Strategy Overview and Housing Policy Framework
15-16NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The RDS recognises that the availability of quality housing in appropriate locations makes a vital contribution to the key policy objectives of government. It is a vital consideration in promoting eco
dwellingsite-planningHousing Planning Policy Principles
18NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The principles that underpin housing planning policy, outlined in the RDS, include the need to: • widen opportunity and choice; • improve the supply and quality of housing; and • promote sustainable d
dwellingsite-planningRegional Housing Growth Targets and Distribution
20NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
For the period up to the first review in 2010, the RDS sets a regional target of 60% of new housing to be located within existing urban areas of cities and towns of over 5,000 population. The carrying
dwellingsite-planningurbanSpatial Development Strategy Principles for Housing
21NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The approach to the location of future housing development, set out in the RDS is consistent with the spatial development strategy and reflects the guiding principles of the RDS by: integrating housin
dwellingsite-planningsustainabilityMajor RDS Themes on Housing
22NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
There are three major themes in the RDS that relate to housing: Managing housing growth and distribution (SPG-HOU 1 – SPG-HOU 3) In managing housing growth and its distribution, a balance has to be st
dwellingsite-planningSupporting urban renaissance
SPG-HOU 4 – SPG-HOU 5NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The promotion of more sustainable forms of development by encouraging compact and more attractive urban forms and increased housing within existing urban areas, supports the urban renaissance drive an
dwellingsite-planningurban-developmentAchieving balanced communities
SPG-HOU 6NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The strategy encourages the creation of more balanced local communities. These may be characterised by development patterns that contribute to greater community spirit, neighbourliness and a sense of
dwellingsite-planningPolicy Objectives
24NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The objectives of this PPS are: • to manage housing growth in response to changing housing need; • to direct and manage future housing growth to achieve more sustainable patterns of residential develo
dwellingsite-planningDevelopment Plans and Housing Land Assessment
25NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The development plan process is the main vehicle for assessing future housing land requirements. The development plan will also identify the settlement hierarchy in the plan area. The definition, of w
site-planningdwellingProcesses for Allocating Housing Land
26NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Housing allocations in development plans will be determined by the: a) application of the housing growth indicators (HGIs); b) allowance for existing commitments (including dwellings already built); c
site-planningdwellingApplication of the Housing Growth Indicators
27NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The RDS provides a HGI for each district council area (in the case of the Belfast Metropolitan Area the HGI relates to the entire plan area, covering six councils). This indicator covers urban and rur
site-planningdwellingruralAllowance for Existing Commitments
29NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
In order to complete the calculation of the amount of new housing required for the settlements within the plan area, it is necessary to take into account housing already constructed, existing housing
site-planningdwellingDevelopment plan housing site identification
32NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The development plan will identify sites for housing to meet the requirements for individual settlements taking into account the policy direction outlined in this PPS. It will also take account of loc
dwellingsite-planningSequential approach application to settlements
33NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The sequential approach should apply to settlements above this threshold, but there may be circumstances where it may be appropriate to apply the sequential approach below this threshold to settlement
dwellingsite-planningSequential approach for housing site identification
34NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The sequential approach will be used in the search for and the identification of housing sites through the development plan process. This will focus on the re-use of previously developed land and buil
dwellingsite-planningHousing site search sequence
Figure 2NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Step 1: Use previously developed and undeveloped land within the urban footprint, informed by urban capacity studies Step 2: Extensions to cities and towns Step 3: Exceptional major expansion of a vil
dwellingsite-planningCriteria for Identifying Suitable Housing Development Sites
35NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
All of the following criteria will be considered in the identification of suitable sites: • the need for urban expansion, informed by allowances for existing commitments; • the physical and environmen
dwellingsite-planningaccessaccessibilityenvironmentalinfrastructureIdentification of Land Beyond Urban Footprint
36NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
It is not expected that every site identified will satisfy all of the above criteria, however, the approach taken must be both reasonable and justifiable. The requirement for identification of further
dwellingsite-planningHousing Needs Assessment Role in Development Planning
37NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) will provide a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) in relation to identified areas of the housing market to assist DOE Planning Service in their preparation of
dwellingsite-planningHousing Needs Assessment Publication and Examination
38NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The HNA will be published as a technical supplement in support of the development plan. The HNA may be subject to examination at the public inquiry in connection with an objection.
dwellingsite-planningHousing Needs Assessment Content Requirements
39NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The HNA will: • set the regional housing market context within which such specific housing needs exist; • highlight housing trends to provide a descriptive baseline and draw attention to any issues th
dwellingsite-planningHousing Needs Assessment Categories
41NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The NIHE will carry out regular monitoring and review of the data and trends for the various categories within the HNA. • Regeneration. • Social housing. • Affordable private rented. • Affordable own
dwellingflatshousing-supplyAffordable Housing Definition and Role
42-43NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The availability of affordable housing (see Glossary) is one part of the drive to help create mixed and inclusive communities. The planning system has an important role to play in creating communities
dwellingaffordable-housingsite-planningAffordable Housing Assessment and Hotspot Identification
44-45NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
In particular any hotspots for affordable owner occupation, high social demand or concentrations of private rented housing benefit accommodation will be identified in the HNA. The potential impacts of
dwellingaffordable-housingsite-planningAffordable Housing Delivery Mechanisms
46NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Outside of development plans the delivery of affordable housing to meet the needs of different household types in Northern Ireland can at present be met by the following housing mechanisms: • social r
dwellingnon-domesticCo-ownership Low Cost Owner Occupation Scheme
47NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
At present the main delivery mechanism for affordable housing is the co-ownership low cost owner occupation scheme. This represents a very successful single product approach, which has helped over 18,
dwellingSocial Housing Sales Scheme and Mixed Communities
48NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
In addition, the social housing sales scheme also assists in achieving more balanced communities through achieving a mix of housing tenures and house types as it enables those on low incomes to make t
dwellingAdditional Mechanisms for Local Affordability Hotspots
49NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Where a local affordability hot spot occurs, as identified by the HNA and meeting the affordable housing need within the immediate area presents a problem of delivery, a range of other additional mech
dwellingsite-planningopen-spaceAffordable Housing Context in Northern Ireland
50NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Affordable housing is being delivered through the private housing market, particularly in the South East of England, where there is a severe lack of affordable housing for key workers. However, in Nor
dwellingaccessAffordable Housing Policy Approach
51NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
It is considered that it is not appropriate at present, to impose an arbitrary level of affordable housing to be delivered by the private market. This situation however will be monitored and kept unde
dwellingPlanning System Role in Affordability
52NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The planning system also has a part to play in addressing the issue of affordability. At present this will be through the identification of land for social housing purposes.
dwellingsite-planningSocial Housing Land Reservation
53NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The reservation of land for social housing will be achieved either through the zoning of land or the outlining of key site requirements through the development plan process. This will not preclude oth
dwellingsite-planningSocial Housing Needs Assessment and Coordination
54NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Following the completion of the urban capacity studies and HNA, development plans will give consideration to the social housing needs detailed in the HNA. Planning Service, in accordance with the iden
dwellingsite-planningSupported Housing Definition
55NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The term 'supported housing' relates to accommodation with complementary housing support services to cater for people with a
dwellingDistinguishing General Needs Housing from Specialised Supported Accommodation
56NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
For PPS 12 purposes it is necessary to distinguish between general needs housing where support needs are provided on a peripatetic/floating basis and the provision of specialised supported accommodati
dwellinghousingPerson-Centred Housing Support Services
57NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Increasingly, housing support services will be individual and person-centred and will not necessarily have specialised accommodation solutions and associated implications for landuse.
dwellinghousingLanduse Requirements for Supported Housing in Housing Needs Assessment
58NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The landuse requirements for supported housing will be identified in the HNA. However, the HNA will only relate to that accommodation, which cannot be provided in a general needs housing solution (wit
dwellinghousingsite-planningTravellers Accommodation Needs Assessment and Strategic Role
59-60NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
In 1999 the DOE (NI) gave the NIHE the strategic role in relation to the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of the Traveller community (see Glossary). Subsequently, the NIHE produced a repor
dwellinghousingThree Categories of Travellers Accommodation
61NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
There are three broad categories of Travellers accommodation (see Glossary): • grouped housing; • serviced sites; and • transit sites.
dwellinghousingHousing Needs Assessment Requirements
63NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
In particular, the number, type and location of the required accommodation will be highlighted to meet the need. This information will be taken into account in the preparation of the development plan.
dwellingsite-planningAllowance for Windfall Housing within the Urban Footprint
64NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Over the course of the plan period, windfall housing (see Glossary) can make up an important part of the supply of housing. In line with the objectives of the RDS, it is necessary to make allowance fo
dwellingsite-planningWindfall Allowance Assessment Method
65NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The scale of the allowance for windfall housing will vary from area to area and may depend on the approach taken in the urban capacity study. Allowance can be made on the basis of examining past trend
dwellingsite-planningResidual Housing Need Identification
66NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
The need, if any, for further identification of land beyond the urban footprint in a settlement will be that which is residual after taking account of the urban capacity yield, windfall allowance and
dwellingsite-planningMeasures to be contained in Development Plans
67NI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
In order to address the areas set out above and achieve the objectives of this PPS, a menu of measures are outlined below. The following measures will, as appropriate, be accommodated in the plan prop
dwellingsite-planninghousing-supplyCriteria for Promoting Higher Density Housing
paragraph 22, point jNI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
Particular attention should be paid to promoting higher density housing on sites that meet the following criteria: • inner urban locations; • linked to public transport and adjacent to public transpor
dwellingsite-planningurban-regenerationMaximum Density Levels
paragraph 22, point jNI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
set maximum density levels for sites or defined areas, as appropriate. This may be necessary in areas where higher density developments would have a significant adverse impact on the established chara
dwellingsite-planningTown Centre Residential Protection
paragraph 22, point kNI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
identify areas within town centres where existing residential development will be protected, in support of the 'town centre living' concept
dwellingsite-planningTransport Assessments for Residential Sites
paragraph 22, point lNI-wide·PPS 12 Housing in Settlements
introduce a requirement for transport assessments to be carried out when considering certain sites for inclusion for residential use, where it is regarded as necessary to achieve increased integration
dwellingsite-planning