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Planning Policy Statements
(PPS) contain policies on land-use and other planning
matters, for example telecommunications or the built
heritage, and apply to the whole of Northern Ireland. They
set out the main planning considerations that the Department
takes into account in assessing proposals for the various
forms of development and are also often relevant to the
preparation of development plans.
The guiding principle that
the Department observes in making decisions on planning
applications is set out in PPS 1 ‘General Principles’. This
states that development should be permitted, having regard
to the development plan and all other material
considerations, unless it would cause demonstrable harm to
interests of acknowledged importance.
PPSs are gradually replacing
the policy provisions of the Planning Strategy for Rural
Northern Ireland published in September 1993 and each PPS
indicates those policies of the Strategy that it is
superseding. In the meantime, the Planning Strategy remains
in force for those topics not covered by a PPS. For example,
it provides the Department’s current policies for tourism
development in the rural area. In addition a PPS will
indicate if it is taking precedence over the provisions of
development plans.
Transfer of Responsibilities
The Department of Environment assumed responsibility for the following Planning Policy Statements (PPS) from the Department for Regional Development on 15 January 2008: PPS 5 (Revised): Draft Retailing, Town Centres and Commercial Leisure Developments; PPS 12: Housing in Settlements; PPS 13: Transportation and Land Use; and PPS 20: The Coast.
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