Strategic Planning Policy Statement Town Centre First Approach

The Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS), published in September 2015, sets out regional planning policies for securing the orderly and consistent development of land in Northern Ireland under the reformed two-tier planning system. The aim of the SPPS is to support and sustain vibrant town centres across Northern Ireland through the promotion of established town centres as the appropriate first choice location of retailing and other complementary functions, consistent with the RDS. Specifically in relation to retailing and town centres the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) requires that; Planning authorities must adopt a town centre first approach for retail and main town centre uses; undertake an assessment of the need or capacity for retail and other main town centre uses across the plan area; and LDPs should include a strategy for town centres and retailing, and contain appropriate policies and proposals that must promote town centres first for retail and other main town centre uses.