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Edition 2 Release and SPPS (2015) Revocation
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
This publication marks the release of Edition 2 of the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) and follows the conclusion of a focused review of the former SPPS (2015) on the subject of renewable a
energyrenewablePPS 18: Renewable Energy Cancellation
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Planning Policy Statement 18: Renewable Energy (August 2009) is now cancelled. Its provisions shall cease to have effect and shall not be considered material from the date of this publication. However
energyrenewablePlanning System Restructuring and Two-Tier Delivery Model
1.1-1.2NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The planning system has been reformed and restructured from a unitary system where all planning powers rested with the Department, to a new two-tier model of delivery whereby councils have primary res
site-planningPurpose and Status of the SPPS
1.3-1.4NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The SPPS is a statement of the Department's policy on important planning matters that should be addressed across Northern Ireland. It reflects the Department's expectations for delivery of the plannin
site-planningApplication of SPPS Provisions and Review Timeline
1.5NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The provisions of the SPPS apply to the whole of Northern Ireland. They must be taken into account in the preparation of local development plans (LDP) and are material to all decisions on individual p
site-planningScope and Limitations of SPPS Coverage
1.6NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The SPPS should not be read as a full explanation of the variety of complex social, economic and environmental, and other factors (including those which have implications beyond the confines of the la
site-planningTransitional Arrangements for Planning Policy Statements
1.7NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The existing suite of Planning Policy Statements and the remaining provisions of 'A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland' will be cancelled when all eleven councils have adopted a new Plan Str
site-planningTransitional Arrangements Overview
1.8NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
A transitional period will operate until such times as a Plan Strategy for the whole of the council area has been adopted. During the transitional period planning authorities will apply existing polic
site-planningEffect of Plan Strategy Adoption
1.9NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Where a council adopts its Plan Strategy, existing policy retained under the transitional arrangements shall cease to have effect in the district of that council and shall not be material from that da
site-planningResolving Conflicts Between SPPS and Retained Policy
1.10NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Any conflict between the SPPS and any policy retained under the transitional arrangements must be resolved in the favour of the provisions of the SPPS. For example, where the SPPS introduces a change
site-planningRetained Policy Documents
1.11NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The policy provisions of the following documents are retained: • PPS 2: Natural Heritage • PPS 3: Access, Movement and Parking • PPS 3 (Clarification): Access, Movement and Parking • PPS 4: Planning a
site-planningMaterial Considerations - Departmental Planning Documents
1.12NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
All Departmental planning documents which will continue to be treated as material considerations during the transitional period (or as the case may be after the expiry of the transitional period) are
site-planningdesignresidentialcommercialenergyInterpretation of 'the Department' in Departmental Documents
1.13NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
For the purpose of preserving the materiality of the above-mentioned Departmental documents and those listed on the Department's website, references to 'the Department' within such documents should no
site-planningCancelled Departmental Publications
1.14NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Departmental publications cancelled by the introduction of the SPPS (September 2015) and this SPPS, Edition 2, are: • PPS 1: General Principles • PPS 5: Retailing and Town Centres • PPS 9: The Enforce
site-planningObjective of the Planning System
2.1NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The objective of the planning system, consistent with Part 1, Section 1 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (hereafter referred to as the 2011 Act), is to secure the orderly and consistent dev
site-planningPlace-Making and Sustainable Development
2.2NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Creating places where communities flourish and enjoy a shared sense of belonging, both now and into the future, is fundamentally what planning is about. In order to make positive change on the ground
site-planningPublic Interest and Private Interests in Planning
2.3NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The planning system operates in the public interest of local communities and the region as a whole, and encompasses the present as well as future needs of society. It does not exist to protect the pri
site-planningAlignment with Regional Development Strategy
2.4NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In furthering sustainable development and improving well-being it is crucial that our planning system supports the Executive's Programme for Government commitments and priorities as well as the aims a
site-planningSustainable development definition and principles
3.1, 3.2NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Sustainable development is at the heart of the SPPS and the planning system. Whilst there are a variety of expressions of the term sustainable development one of the more widely accepted definitions i
site-planningIntegration of sustainable development into planning decisions
3.3NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
For the planning system furthering sustainable development in the long term public interest requires the integration and balancing of complex social, economic and environmental factors when plan-makin
site-planningenergySustainable Development - Balancing Three Pillars
3.4NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The SPPS does not seek to promote any one of the three pillars of sustainable development over the other. In practice, the relevance of, and weight to be given to social, economic and environmental co
site-planningSustainable Housing Growth and Integration
3.5NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Housing, by way of example, is recognised as a key driver of physical, economic and social change in both urban and rural areas. In furthering sustainable development it is important to manage housing
dwellingsite-planningPlace-Making and Efficient Use of Land and Infrastructure
3.6NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
When place-making, planning authorities should make efficient use of existing capacities of land, buildings and infrastructure, including support for town centre and regeneration priorities in order t
site-planningSupporting Key Infrastructure Investment and Strategies
3.7NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Furthering sustainable development also means ensuring the planning system plays its part in supporting the Executive and wider government policy and strategies in efforts to address any existing or p
site-planningGuiding Principle for Determining Planning Applications
3.8NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Under the SPPS, the guiding principle for planning authorities in determining planning applications is that sustainable development should be permitted, having regard to the development plan and all o
site-planningPrecautionary Approach to Environmental Protection
3.9NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In formulating policies and plans and in determining planning applications planning authorities will also be guided by the precautionary approach that, where there are significant risks of damage to t
site-planningClimate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy
3.10, 3.11, 3.12NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
A central challenge in furthering sustainable development is mitigating and adapting to climate change, whilst improving air quality. This includes the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases tha
energysite-planningPlanning System Requirements for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
3.13NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The planning system should therefore help to mitigate and adapt to climate change by: • shaping new and existing developments in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and positively build communit
energysite-planningcoastaldwellingcommercialindustrialEcosystem Services and Sustainable Development
3.14NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Ecosystem services are the processes by which the environment produces resources used by people that are often taken for granted, such as clean air, water, food and materials. Our health and well-bein
site-planningopen-spaceenvironmental-protectionEnvironmental Quality and Economic Benefits
3.15NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
A great deal of progress has been made over recent years in understanding the role of the natural environment in contributing to our economic performance. Our environmental assets and a good quality e
site-planningopen-spaceclimate-resiliencedrainageIntegration of Ecosystem Services in Planning and Decision-Making
3.16NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Where appropriate, identifying the condition of ecosystems, the provision of services and their relationship to human well-being should be integrated into plan-making and decision-taking processes. Th
site-planningopen-spacestrategic-planningCore Planning Principles Overview
4.1, 4.2NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
When plan-making and decision-taking, planning authorities must balance and integrate a variety of complex social, economic, environmental and other matters that are in the long term public interest.
site-planningpublic-buildingImproving Health and Well-Being
4.3, 4.4NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The planning system has an active role to play in helping to better the lives of people and communities in Northern Ireland and in supporting the Executive's key priority of improving health and well-
site-planningexternal-spaceaccessPlanning Authorities' Contributions to Health and Well-Being
4.5NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Capitalising on the synergies that exist between spatial planning and health and well-being can provide better outcomes. When plan-making and decision-taking planning authorities should contribute pos
site-planningexternal-spaceaccessaccessibilitydwellingHealth and well-being considerations in planning
4.6NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Planning authorities may engage with relevant bodies and agencies with health remits in order to understand and take account of health issues and the needs of local communities where appropriate. This
planninghealth-and-wellbeingcommunitypublic-buildingsite-planningGreen infrastructure networks and multifunctional design
4.7NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Networks of green spaces, commonly referred to as green infrastructure, provide a wide range of environmental benefits (in both rural and urban areas) including flood water storage, urban cooling, imp
open-spacedrainageexternal-spaceruralsite-planningenvironmental-protectionProtection and provision of quality open space
4.8NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The protection of existing, and provision of new, quality open space within or close to settlements plays a vital role in promoting healthy living and tackling inequality through facilitating play, sp
open-spaceexternal-spacepublic-buildingPrivate, semi-private and public amenity space in residential development
4.9NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The need for adequate private, semi-private and public amenity space is a prime consideration in all residential development and contributes to mental and physical well-being and the strengthening of
dwellingresidentialexternal-spacehigh-riseNatural and heritage assets for health and well-being
4.10NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The natural and heritage assets of the countryside and coast need to be recognised for the contribution they make to enhancing human health and well-being. Conserving and, where possible, enhancing th
coastalruralconservationexternal-spaceaccessEnvironmental and amenity considerations for residential and work environments
4.11NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
There are a wide range of environment and amenity considerations, including noise and air quality, which should be taken into account by planning authorities when proposing policies or managing develo
soundenergysite-planningDesign and amenity considerations with health implications
4.12NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Other amenity considerations arising from development, that may have potential health and well-being implications, include design considerations, impacts relating to visual intrusion, general nuisance
drainagesite-planningprotection-from-fallingShared space and community cohesion
4.13NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The Executive through its "Together: Building a United Community" strategy is committed to addressing all barriers that prevent or interfere with the creation and maintenance of shared space, and ensu
open-spaceexternal-spaceaccessCreating shared communities and connected public spaces
4.15NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Planning authorities should utilise development planning, regeneration and development management powers to contribute to the creation of an environment that: is accessible to all and enhances opportu
public-buildingaccessaccessibilityexternal-spacesite-planningopen-spaceBalanced communities and mixed-tenure housing
4.16NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The planning process also has an important role to play in the delivery of good quality housing that supports the creation of more balanced communities. Balanced communities can contribute positively
dwellingflatssite-planningRemoval of barriers to shared space and interface planning
4.17NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Furthermore, the planning system can assist in the removal of barriers to shared space and maximise the accessibility of all areas within our community. The "Together: Building a United Community" str
accessaccessibilitysite-planningSupporting sustainable economic growth
4.18, 4.19NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
A modern, efficient and effective planning system is essential to supporting the Executive, and wider government policy, in its efforts to promote long term economic growth in the interests of all the
non-domesticcommercialsite-planningEconomic Assessment Proportionality
4.20NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
When assessing the positive and negative economic implications of planning applications planning authorities should ensure the approach followed is proportionate to the scale, complexity and impact of
site-planningBalancing Economic Growth with Environmental Protection
4.21NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Supporting sustainable economic growth through proactive planning does not mean compromising on environmental standards. The environment is an asset for economic growth in its own right and planning a
site-planningEngagement in Planning Process
4.22NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In addition, for the planning system to be fully effective in facilitating jobs and investment, everyone involved in the planning process such as applicants, public bodies, community organisations, an
site-planningGood Design Benefits
4.23NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Good design can change lives, communities and neighbourhoods for the better. It can create more successful places to live, bring communities together, and attract business investment. It can further s
site-planningaccessibility