Preamble - Purpose and Status of PPS 12

On 20 September 2001, the Department for Regional Development (DRD) published Shaping Our Future: the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025 (RDS). The RDS will guide the future development of the Region until 2025. Planning policies and development plans prepared by the Department of the Environment (DOE) Planning Service and development schemes prepared by the Department for Social Development (DSD) must be in general conformity with the RDS as required by the Planning (Amendment) (NI) Order 2003. This Planning Policy Statement (PPS) has been prepared in accordance with the DRD's statutory function of providing policy guidance and advice under the Strategic Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. Its purpose is to provide strategic direction and guidance in the form of regional planning policy to assist the implementation of the RDS. This PPS flows directly from the vision, spatial strategy and strategic planning guidelines contained in the RDS. It is one of the key mechanisms for the implementation of the RDS. This PPS is a material planning consideration for DOE Planning Service in preparing development plans and dealing with individual planning applications. Also, it is of relevance to the public and those whose