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Ecosystem 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-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-buildingShared 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-spaceLocal Landscape Policy Areas (LLPAs)
6.30NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
These consist of those features and areas within and adjoining settlements considered to be of greatest amenity value, landscape quality or local significance and therefore worthy of protection from u
conservationsite-planningopen-spaceexternal-spaceFlood 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-spaceSequential Approach for Settlement Site Identification
Diagram 3NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Diagram 3: Application of a sequential approach and identification of suitable sites Step 1: Use previously developed and undeveloped land within the urban footprint, informed by urban capacity studie
site-planningopen-spaceLocal Development Plan Policies for Minerals Development
6.155NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In preparing LDPs councils should bring forward appropriate policies and proposals that must reflect the policy approach of the SPPS, tailored to the specific circumstances of the plan area. In partic
site-planningconservationopen-spaceImplementation - Key Site Requirements and Green/Blue Infrastructure
6.196NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
LDPs should seek to protect and integrate certain features of the natural heritage when zoning sites for development through 'key site requirements'. In addition LDPs should seek to identify and promo
site-planningconservationexternal-spaceopen-spaceImplementation - Landscape Enhancement and Biodiversity Integration
6.197NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
LDPs should also consider the natural and cultural components of the landscape and promote opportunities for the enhancement or restoration of degraded landscapes47, particularly those affecting commu
site-planningconservationexternal-spaceopen-spaceImportance of Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation
6.199NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Government recognises that open space, sport and outdoor recreation is important to society now and in the future. It supports many cultural, social, economic, health and environmental benefits. Every
external-spaceopen-spaceaccessibilityOpen Space Contribution to Urban and Rural Quality
6.200NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Open space, whether or not there is public access to it, is important for its contribution to the quality of urban life by providing important green lungs, visual breaks and wildlife habitats in built
external-spaceopen-spaceconservationRegional Strategic Objectives for Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation
6.201NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The regional strategic objectives for open space, sport and outdoor recreation are to: • safeguard existing open space and sites identified for future such provision; • ensure that areas of open space
external-spaceopen-spaceaccessibilityruralRegional Strategic Policy on Open Space
6.202-6.203NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The following strategic policy must be taken into account in the preparation of local development plans (LDPs) and in the determination of planning applications. In plan-making councils should bring f
external-spaceopen-spacesite-planningOpen Space Assessment and Local Development Plan Policy
6.204NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The LDP should be informed by a survey/assessment of existing open space provision and future needs. This should include both public and private open space, and identify the different needs they serve
site-planningexternal-spaceopen-spacePolicy Presumption Against Loss of Open Space
6.205NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
There will be a policy presumption against the loss of open space to competing land uses in local development plans (LDPs) irrespective of its physical condition and appearance. Any exception to this
external-spaceopen-spacesite-planningOpen Space Provision in New Residential Development
6.206NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Councils must bring forward policy to require new residential development of an appropriate scale (generally 25 or more units, or on sites of one hectare and above) to provide adequate and well-design
dwellingexternal-spaceopen-spacesite-planningAssessment of outdoor playing space provision
6.209NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
In preparing LDPs councils should assess existing provision of open space in the plan area against the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) recommended minimum standard of 2.4 hectares of 'outdo
open-spacesite-planningsportConsiderations 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-spacePublic open space provision in residential zonings
6.211NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Where appropriate, key site requirements for zoned residential land should include guidance on the provision of areas of public open space (including formal and informal recreation areas) as an integr
dwellingopen-spacesite-planningaccessOutdoor recreation development in the countryside
6.212NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
The Northern Ireland countryside lends itself to accommodating a wide range of recreational activities. LDPs should contain policy for the consideration of development proposals for outdoor recreation
open-spaceruralsite-planningsportPlanning considerations for sport and outdoor recreational facilities
6.213NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Planning authorities should carefully consider development proposals for all sport and outdoor recreational activities, including facilities ancillary to watersports. Relevant planning considerations
open-spacesite-planningsportnon-domesticTourism - Overview and Economic Importance
6.258-6.259NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Tourism makes a vital contribution to the Northern Ireland economy in terms of the revenues it generates, the employment opportunities it provides, and the potential it creates for economic growth. As
public-buildingcommercialopen-spaceconservationDisused Transport Routes
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
LDPs should identify and safeguard disused transport routes such as former railway lines and canals where there is a reasonable prospect of re-use for future transport purposes. Where this is not the
site-planningopen-spaceBlue Infrastructure
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Blue Infrastructure Blue infrastructure includes ponds, streams and lakes (RDS 2035, Strategic Guidance RG11 'Natural Environment').
external-spaceopen-spaceEcological Networks
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Ecological networks are intended to maintain environmental processes and to help conserve and enhance biodiversity. They comprise core areas, movement routes (linear corridors, stepping stones or perm
open-spaceconservationGreen Infrastructure
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
Green infrastructure includes parks, green spaces and street trees (RDS 2035, Strategic Guidance RG11 'Natural Environment').
open-spacesite-planningOpen Space
NI-wide·SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)
For the purposes of the SPPS, open space is taken to mean all open space of public value, including not just land, but also inland bodies of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs which of
open-spaceexternal-spacesite-planning