SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)·Page 12·3.8
Guiding Principle for Determining Planning Applications
Sustainable development should be permitted unless it causes demonstrable harm to interests of acknowledged importance. Development according with an up-to-date development plan should be approved, and development conflicting with the plan should be refused unless other material considerations indicate otherwise.
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 other material considerations, unless the proposed development will cause demonstrable harm to interests of acknowledged importance. In practice this means that development that accords with an up-to-date development plan should be approved and proposed development that conflicts with an up-to-date development plan should be refused, unless other material considerations indicate otherwise.
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