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Planning 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-planningcoastaldwellingcommercialindustrialNatural 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-spaceaccessWorld Heritage Sites (WHS) - Strategic Planning Policy
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
World Heritage Sites (WHS): WHSs are designated under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention of 1972 on the basis of their acknowledged 'Outstanding Universal Value'. The Giant's Causeway and Causeway C
site-planningconservationcoastalCoastal Development - Overview and Value
6.31NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Northern Ireland is valued for its beautiful and relatively unspoilt coast including well known features such as the Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast, Benone Strand, Antrim Coast Road, Strangford L
coastalconservationEconomic Importance of the Coast
6.32NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The coast is also of great economic importance to Northern Ireland. There are many settlements and local communities located on the coast, and its seaports provide strategic economic links to Britain
coastalCoastal Protection and Climate Change Adaptation
6.33NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The RDS recognises that coastal areas need to be protected from coastal squeeze, to safeguard against loss of distinctive habitats, and to help adaptation to climate change, and accordingly states the
coastalconservationSPPS Aim for Coastal Development
6.34NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The aim of the SPPS in relation to the coast is to protect the undeveloped coast from inappropriate development, consistent with the RDS; and to support the sensitive enhancement and regeneration of t
coastalRegional Strategic Objectives for Coastal Development
6.35NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The regional strategic objectives for coastal development are to: conserve the natural character and landscape of the undeveloped coast and to protect it from excessive, inappropriate or obtrusive dev
coastalCoastal location requirement and development direction
6.37NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
There are few types of development which require a coastal location and the undeveloped coast will rarely be an appropriate location for new development. Where new development requires a coastal locat
coastalsite-planningAssessment of coastal development proposals
6.38NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In dealing with proposals that require a coastal location, planning authorities, must carefully assess the need for such development, its benefits for the local or regional economy and potential impac
coastalsite-planningProtection of amenity and heritage areas on developed coast
6.39NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Within the developed coast, areas of amenity value (such as parks, outdoor sports/play areas and coastal walkways) and areas or features designated for their importance to the archaeological, built or
coastalsite-planningconservationPresumption in favour of urban waterfront development
6.40NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Within the developed coast there will be a presumption in favour of development that promotes the enhancement and regeneration of urban waterfronts.
coastalsite-planningPublic access and coastal walkways
6.41NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In considering development proposals within the developed or undeveloped coast attention must be paid to the retention of existing public accesses and coastal walkways. Development which would result
coastalsite-planningexternal-spaceRestriction on development in flood risk and unstable areas
6.42NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Development will not be permitted in areas of the coast known to be at risk from flooding (see Flood Risk), coastal erosion, or land instability.
coastalsite-planningLocal development plan provisions for coastal enhancement
6.43NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Local development plans (LDPs) should identify areas within coastal settlements or other parts of the developed coast where opportunities exist for enhancement or the regeneration of urban waterfronts
coastalsite-planningZoning for coastal-dependent uses in local development plans
6.44NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Some developments require a coastal location. Examples include ports, marinas, port-related industries and recreational projects. Where appropriate, LDPs should identify land to be zoned for such uses
coastalsite-planningcommercialindustrialIdentification of unsuitable coastal areas for development
6.45NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Some coastal areas may be unsuitable for development due to their amenity or landscape value, nature conservation interest or historical or archaeological importance. The LDP should identify areas whe
coastalcontextIdentification of areas at risk from flooding, erosion, or instability
6.46NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
LDPs should identify areas of the coast known to be at risk from flooding, coastal erosion, or land instability where new development should not be permitted.
coastalcontextProtection of public access to the coast
6.47NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
LDPs should also promote and protect public access to and along the coast where possible.
coastalcontextMitigation of adverse impacts in sensitive coastal locations
6.48NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Where development is permitted in sensitive locations, particularly in the undeveloped coast, it will be incumbent upon the planning authority to mitigate any adverse impacts through the use of approp
coastalcontextMarine plan compatibility with Local Development Plans
6.49NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The Department is currently engaged in the preparation of a marine plan for Northern Ireland's inshore and offshore areas, and in doing so is required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that such
coastalcontextCompliance with Marine Policy Statement and Marine Plans
6.50NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Of particular relevance to planning authorities, particularly those with an interface with the marine area, is the current legislative requirement that all public authorities taking authorisation or e
coastalcontextCoordination between terrestrial and marine planning in the inter-tidal area
6.51NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The terrestrial planning system and the marine planning and licensing system are legally and functionally separate but overlap in the inter-tidal area. Planning authorities should work closely with th
coastalcontextSpecial Countryside Areas and Exceptional Landscapes
6.75NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Some areas of the countryside exhibit exceptional landscapes, such as mountains, stretches of the coast or lough shores, and certain views or vistas, wherein the quality of the landscape and unique am
ruralcoastalconservationFlood Risk Overview and Context
6.99–6.100NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Flooding is a natural process that cannot be entirely prevented. Some areas are already susceptible to intermittent flooding from various sources, principally from rivers, the sea or surface water run
site-planningcoastalruralFlood Risk Management Objectives
6.104NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
• manage development in ways that are appropriate to the four main sources of flood risk in Northern Ireland, i.e. fluvial, coastal, surface water and water impoundment (reservoir) breach or failure;
site-planningdrainagecoastalDevelopment in River and Coastal Flood Plains
6.106NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Flood plains store and convey flood water during flood events. These functions are important in the wider flood management system. Development in flood plains should be avoided where possible, not onl
site-planningdrainagecoastalLand raising within flood plains
6.109NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Land raising, which involves permanently elevating a site to an acceptable level above the flood plain in order to facilitate development will not be acceptable within the fluvial flood plain, where d
site-planningdrainagecoastalPrecedence of fluvial and coastal flood plain policy
6.116NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Where the proposed development is also located within a fluvial or coastal flood plain, then the policy above on 'Development in River (Fluvial) and Coastal Flood Plains' will take precedence.
coastalflood-riskdrainageMarine Conservation Zones
6.183NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
A Marine Conservation Zone - sea areas, including the inter tidal zone, designated by the DAERA under Part 3 of the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013. They are established for the conservation of mar
coastalconservationConsiderations for zoning future open space needs
6.210NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Zonings for future needs should take into account the following: accessibility to and from existing and proposed housing areas; the potential for any detrimental impact on biodiversity or on sensitive
open-spacesite-planningaccesscoastalexternal-spaceCoordination for offshore renewable energy onshore development
6.240NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Where there is necessary onshore development associated with offshore renewable energy proposals, it is important for both terrestrial and marine planning authorities to work together. Great care must
energycoastalAssessment criteria for tourism development applications
6.273NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Applications for tourism development will also be assessed in accordance with normal planning criteria such as access arrangements, design, environmental and amenity impacts so as to ensure high quali
tourismcoastalaccessdesignplanning