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Status of Planning Policy Statements
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) set out the policies of the Department of the Environment on particular aspects of land-use planning and apply to the whole of Northern Ireland. Their contents will b
site-planningPurpose and Scope of PPS 4
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
This Planning Policy Statement (PPS), PPS 4 'Planning and Economic Development' sets out the Department's planning policies for economic development uses and indicates how growth associated with such
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningRole of planning system in economic development
1.3NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The planning system has a key role to play in achieving a vibrant economy. It seeks to promote sustainable economic development through supportive planning policies, zoning land for development, ident
site-planningnon-domesticPPS 4 aim: economic development with environmental protection
1.4NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The key aim of this PPS is to facilitate the economic development needs of the Region in ways consistent with protection of the environment and the principles of sustainable development. Safeguarding
site-planningenergyconservationRegional gateways for economic development
2.6NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Great importance is placed on the identified regional gateways as suitable locations for major economic development, freight distribution activities and additional employment generation. The RDS empha
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningBalanced community development and rural settlement
2.7NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
An additional objective of the Spatial Development Strategy is to promote balanced community development. It seeks to sustain a vibrant rural community living in revitalised small towns, villages and
ruralopen-spacesite-planningSustainable Development Strategy priorities
2.9NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The Northern Ireland Executive's 'Everyone's Involved – Sustainable Development Strategy' (SDS) published in May 2010 recognises the aim to bring viability, stability and opportunity to Northern Irela
site-planningTransport integration with land use planning
2.10NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The Government's transport strategy for the Region is committed to greater integration of transport with land use planning in order to support more sustainable transport choices and reduce the need to
site-planningEconomic Development Location and Travel Reduction
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
dependent predominantly on access by car. Decisions on the location of economic development, therefore, should take account of access to services and the overall need to reduce travel.
economic-developmentsite-planningtransportDevelopment Plans and Anti-Poverty Strategy Implementation
2.13NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Within the context of the PPS this will be achieved primarily through development plans which, in their role of facilitating economic development and creating a framework which will allow investment i
economic-developmentsite-planningsocial-inclusionPolicy Objectives for Planning and Economic Development
3.1NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The objectives of this Statement are: • to promote sustainable economic development in an environmentally sensitive manner; • to tackle disadvantage and facilitate job creation by ensuring the provisi
non-domesticcommercialindustrialruralsite-planningeconomic-developmentDevelopment Plans Purpose and Framework
4.1, 4.3NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Development plans set out how future development will be accommodated during the plan period within the overarching strategic framework provided by the RDS. Within this framework, development plans w
site-planningnon-domesticcommercialRDS Economic Development Strategy
4.2NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
In terms of economic development, the RDS, while seeking to promote the balanced spread of opportunities across Northern Ireland by focusing on the Belfast Metropolitan Area, Londonderry and Craigavon
site-planningcommercialruralRDS Spatial Development Strategy and Regional Framework
4.4, 4.5, 4.6NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The RDS aims to create conditions conducive to achieving further sustainable economic growth, and includes a Spatial Development Strategy that provides the framework for identifying "a range of develo
site-planningcommercialnon-domesticTown Centre Priority for Development
4.7NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
RDS direction continues to indicate that city/town centres should be the first choice for various types of development, particularly retail, office and service developments, in order to reinforce the
site-planningcommercialnon-domesticMajor mixed use sites with industrial and business development
4.12NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
It is important that major mixed use sites involving industrial and business development that would attract a significant number of trips should be in locations that are well served by public transpor
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningLocational Requirements for Storage and Distribution Sites
4.13NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The RDS policy guidance in TRAN 3.1 seeks to "locate major distribution sites at the edge of urban areas, with good connections to the Key Transport Corridors within the RSTN". While in most cases sto
commercialindustrialnon-domesticsite-planningClustering of Engineering and High Technology Industry
4.14NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The RDS seeks to facilitate the clustering of engineering and high technology type industry/businesses such as those found in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and biotechnology, in orde
industrialcommercialnon-domesticsite-planningHazardous Substances and Major-Accident Hazards
4.15NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
When considering hazardous substances, it is necessary to meet the requirements of the Planning (Control of Major-Accident Hazards) Regulations 2000. These amend Planning (Development Plans) Regulatio
non-domesticindustrialsite-planningSafeguarding Economic Development Land and Monitoring Supply
4.16NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The RDS also recognises that there is a need to safeguard the supply of land currently used for existing economic development from other competing uses in the urban area including housing, while takin
commercialindustrialnon-domesticsite-planningConcept plans, planning agreements and key site requirements for economic development
4.17–4.18NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
When developing land for economic purposes, there is a growing awareness of the need to ensure quality development, in order to achieve the required environmental quality and design standards expected
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningMatters to assess when preparing development plans for economic development
4.19NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
In order to achieve the objectives of this PPS and in light of strategic guidance and current trends as set out above, the following matters should be assessed as appropriate in the course of preparin
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningSite Selection Criteria for Economic Development
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
- accessibility to all members of the community and in particular the most disadvantaged areas; - accessibility to the regional transportation network; - accessibility by a variety of transport modes;
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningaccessRange of Acceptable Employment Uses in Designated Economic Development Areas
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
- the flexibility that is appropriate with regard to business uses, while taking into account the need to safeguard established city/town centres; - the benefits of promoting mixed use development whe
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningSupporting Actions for Economic Development Delivery
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
- design guidance and environmental improvements; - infrastructure provision by developers; and - concept master plans and planning agreements.
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningDevelopment Constraints Near Hazardous Substance Establishments
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
- the need to constrain development of land in the vicinity of establishments where hazardous substances are or may be present;
non-domesticsite-planningPlan Proposals for Economic Development
4.21NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
In order to achieve the objectives of this PPS and other relevant strategic policy or guidance and in light of the assessment undertaken during the course of preparation, development plan proposals wi
non-domesticcommercialsite-planningPollution Control and Sensitive Land Uses
(l)NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
specify, as may be appropriate, where any particular type of economic development use is to be subject to size restriction;
non-domesticindustrialsite-planningHazardous Substances Control
(m)NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
take into account the siting of establishments where the hazardous substances are used or stored, and provide appropriate controls as may be necessary for the development of land within the vicinity o
non-domesticindustrialsite-planningDesign, Layout and Landscaping Guidance
(n)NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
provide guidance in terms of key design, layout and landscaping requirements of new or existing economic development sites through an appropriate combination of, design policies, key site requirements
non-domesticsite-planningexternal-spaceKey Site Requirements for Infrastructure
(o)NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
specify key site requirements with regard to the main, but not necessarily all the infrastructure requirements that developers will be expected to meet on economic development sites. These may include
non-domesticsite-planningaccessdrainageConcept Master Plan Requirement
(p)NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
stipulate where appropriate a requirement for a concept master plan to facilitate comprehensive development; and
non-domesticsite-planningPlanning Agreements
(q)NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
stipulate where planning agreements may be necessary to ensure quality development or to secure an appropriate mixture of uses.
non-domesticsite-planningPlanning Policy Assessment Framework
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
In exercise of its responsibility for development management in Northern Ireland the Department assesses development proposals against all planning policies and other material considerations that are
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningPolicy Prevailing Conditions
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The provisions of these policies will prevail unless there are other overriding policy or material considerations which outweigh them and justify a contrary decision.
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningClass B1 Business Use Elsewhere in Cities and Towns
Policy PED 1NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Elsewhere in cities and towns a development proposal for a Class B1 business use will only be permitted where all the following criteria are met: (a) there is no suitable site within the city or town
commercialnon-domesticsite-planningClass B2 Light Industrial and Class B3 General Industrial Use
Policy PED 1NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
A development proposal for a Class B2 light industrial use or Class B3 general industrial use will be permitted in an area specifically allocated for such purposes in a development plan or in an exist
industrialnon-domesticsite-planningClass B4 Storage or Distribution Use
Policy PED 1NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
A development proposal for a Class B4 storage or distribution use will be permitted in an area specifically allocated for such purposes in a development plan.
industrialnon-domesticsite-planningClass B4 Development in Industrial/Employment Areas
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
In addition a Class B4 development will also be permitted in an existing or proposed industrial/employment area where it can be demonstrated: that the proposal is compatible with the predominant indus
commercialindustrialsite-planningClass B1 Business Use in Villages and Smaller Rural Settlements
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
A development proposal for small-scale Class B1 business use will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that: the nature and design of the proposal are appropriate to the character of the settleme
commercialruralsite-planningClass B2 Light Industrial and Class B3 General Industrial Use in Villages and Smaller Rural Settlements
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
A development proposal for a Class B2 light industrial use or Class B3 general industrial use will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that the scale, nature and design of the proposal are appro
industrialruralsite-planningClass B4 Storage or Distribution Use in Villages and Smaller Rural Settlements
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
A development proposal for a Class B4 storage or distribution use will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that the scale, nature and design of the proposal are appropriate to the character of t
industrialruralsite-planningExtensions to Existing Economic Development Uses
NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
A development proposal to extend an existing economic development use or premises within settlements will be determined on its individual merits having regard to Policy PED9.
commercialindustrialsite-planningLand supply for economic development in larger settlements
5.2NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The Department will ensure through development plans that an ample supply of land is available for economic development purposes in a wide range of suitable sites within larger settlements to meet the
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningEconomic development in small rural settlements
5.3NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Within small rural settlements, the Department will not normally zone land for economic development purposes in the interests of flexibility. Favourable consideration will be given to applications for
non-domesticcommercialindustrialruralsite-planningReallocation of zoned but undeveloped land
5.4NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Decisions on the reallocation of land zoned but undeveloped for industrial, business, storage and distribution purposes, when necessary, will be made through the development plan process.
non-domesticcommercialindustrialsite-planningService employment and Class B1 development focus
5.5NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
City and town centres will continue to be the primary focus for expanding service employment, as advocated by the RDS. The Department, however, also recognises that some Class B1 development centred o
non-domesticcommercialsite-planningIndustrial or business park criteria for Class B1 development
5.6NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Where an area for an industrial/business park is identified in a development plan, the plan will specify the criteria under which Class B1(a) development may be acceptable.
non-domesticcommercialsite-planningClass B1 uses in larger settlements outside town centres
5.7NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
The development plan may also, on occasion, specify areas in larger settlements outside town centres or business parks where Class B1 uses will be acceptable.
non-domesticcommercialsite-planningExceptional consideration for new Class B1 office development
5.8NI-wide·PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development
Exceptionally where there is a definite rather than a speculative proposal for a new Class B1 office development which would make a substantial contribution to the economy of a particular town and no
non-domesticcommercialsite-planning