SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)·Page 13·3.9
Precautionary Approach to Environmental Protection
Planning authorities should adopt a precautionary approach where significant environmental risks exist, prioritising environmental protection unless overriding public interest reasons justify otherwise.
In formulating policies and plans and in determining planning applications planning authorities will also be guided by the precautionary approach that, where there are significant risks of damage to the environment, its protection will generally be paramount, unless there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest.
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