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Environmental 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-resiliencedrainageGreen 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-protectionDesign 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-fallingCountryside Development - Siting and Design Requirements
6.77NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In all circumstances proposals for development in the countryside must be sited and designed to integrate sympathetically with their surroundings, must not have an adverse impact on the rural characte
ruralsite-planningdrainageaccessRegional Development Strategy Flood Risk Approach
6.102NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The Regional Development Strategy 2035 (RDS) also recognises the need to avoid, where possible, the selection of flood prone land for employment and housing growth. It urges the planning system to ado
site-planningdrainageFlood 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-planningdrainagecoastalDevelopment in flood plains - general presumption against
6.107NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Accordingly, built development must not be permitted within the flood plains of rivers or the sea unless the following circumstances apply: • the development proposal constitutes a valid exception to
site-planningdrainageTypes of development presumed against in flood plains
6.108NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Even where the proposal constitutes an exception to the policy there should be a presumption against certain types of development in the flood plain including bespoke development for vulnerable groups
site-planningdrainageLand 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-planningdrainagecoastalFlood protection and management measures
6.110NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Other flood protection/management measures involving new flood defences or flood compensation storage works will not be acceptable unless carried out by DfI Rivers or other statutory body.
site-planningdrainageFlood Risk Assessment requirements
6.111NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Where the principle of development within the flood plain is accepted by the planning authority, the applicant is required to submit a flood risk assessment (FRA). Planning permission will only be gra
site-planningdrainageSurface Water (Pluvial) Flood Risk outside Flood Plains
6.112NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Surface water or pluvial flooding occurs as a result of high intensity rainfall which overwhelms natural or man-made drainage systems resulting in water flowing overland and ponding in depressions in
flood-risksurface-waterdrainageurbanDevelopment Control in Areas with Surface Water Flooding History
6.113NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Planning authorities should only facilitate development in areas where there is evidence of a history of surface water flooding when a developer is able to demonstrate, through a drainage assessment (
flood-risksurface-waterdrainagesite-planningDrainage Assessment thresholds for residential and land-use development
6.114NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
A DA will be required for all development proposals that exceed any of the following thresholds: a residential development comprising of 10 or more dwelling units; a development site in excess of 1 he
dwellingnon-domesticdrainageflood-riskDrainage Assessment approval and flood risk mitigation
6.115NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
A development requiring a DA will be permitted where it is demonstrated through the DA that adequate measures will be put in place so as to effectively mitigate the flood risk to the proposed developm
drainageflood-riskPrecedence 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-riskdrainageAssessment of potential surface water flooding risk
6.117NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In some areas there may be potential for surface water flooding, as opposed to a known history of this type of flooding. Where there is potential for surface water flooding, for example as indicated b
drainageflood-riskSustainable Drainage Systems as preferred drainage solution
6.118NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In managing development, particularly in areas susceptible to surface water flooding, planning authorities should encourage developers to use sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) as the preferred drain
drainageflood-riskexternal-spaceProtection of flood defence and drainage infrastructure
6.123NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Flood defence and drainage infrastructure are critical in providing a level of flood protection to people and property and adequate land drainage. Accordingly, development proposals that would impede
site-planningdrainageflood-riskArtificial modification of watercourses - environmental impacts
6.124NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
While culverting may in some instances alleviate local flood risk, it cannot eliminate it and often increases the flood risk downstream by the accumulation of higher flows. The artificial modification
site-planningdrainageflood-riskExceptional circumstances for artificial modification of watercourses
6.125NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Planning authorities should only permit the artificial modification of a watercourse in the exceptional circumstances where culverting of a short length of a watercourse (usually less than 10m) is nec
site-planningdrainageEngagement and Joined-Up Approach to Flood Risk Management
6.126NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The preparation of a LDP affords the opportunity to engage with relevant government departments and agencies with responsibility for various aspects of flood risk management thereby fostering a necess
site-planningdrainageFlood Risk Considerations in LDP Preparation
6.127NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
LDPs must take account of the potential risks from flooding over the plan period and beyond as this is likely to influence decisions on such matters as the zoning of land for development or the design
site-planningdrainageopen-spaceFlood Risk Information and Consultation Requirements
6.128NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
LDPs must take account of the most up to date information on flood risk, in particular that which is available on the Strategic Flood Map. There should also be consultation with DfI Rivers from an ear
site-planningdrainagePrecautionary Approach to Development in Flood Risk Areas
6.129NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
LDPs should apply a precautionary approach to development in areas that may be subject to flood risk presently or in the future as a result of climate change predictions. Consequently, LDPs should not
site-planningdrainageFlood Risk as a Material Consideration in Planning Applications
6.130NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The susceptibility of land to flooding is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. New development may be directly at risk of flooding from a number of sources and/or ma
site-planningdrainageDeveloper Responsibility for Flood Risk Assessment
6.131NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The onus rests with the developer to identify and consider the potential flood risk to the proposed development by referring to the Strategic Flood Map. Where flooding is identified as a potential dev
site-planningdrainageFlood risk information and consultation requirements
6.132NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
All planning applications will be determined with reference to the most up to date flood risk information available. The planning authority should consult DfI Rivers and other relevant bodies as appro
drainagesite-planningDesign Concept for New Housing Development
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
A design concept should be sought from and agreed with the developer incorporating sustainable elements such as good linkage of housing with schools, community facilities and public transport; provisi
dwellingtopic-site-planningenergydrainageRegional Strategic Objectives for Minerals Development
6.152NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The regional strategic objectives for minerals development are to: • facilitate sustainable minerals development through balancing the need for specific minerals development proposals against the need
industrialsite-planningruraldrainageMitigation of visual and environmental impacts from mineral workings
6.165NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Visual intrusion is often the most significant environmental impact associated with mineral workings and where permission is granted, landscape quality should be protected by attaching conditions desi
industrialsite-planningdrainageKey considerations for waste management decision-taking
6.328NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
When decision-taking important considerations will include: the types of waste to be deposited or treated and the proposed method of disposal; impacts on human health and the environment (including en
site-planningdrainageexternal-spaceconservation