The Planning System provides society with a way of controlling how we use land, what we build and where we build it. The Planning Service, an Agency within the Department of The Environment prepares and adopts documents called development plans, consisting of maps and written policies, which show where and in what quantity various types of development will be permitted. The planning Service also administer a development control system to make sure that proposed development conforms to the development plan, current planning policies and other "material" considerations.

The development control system helps to balance our need for uses of land and buildings such as homes, offices, factories and schools with our wish to protect and improve the environment.

Decisions on whether to allow proposals to build on land or change the use of buildings or land its use are made by the Planning Service. In determining whether, or not, to grant planning permission, the Planning Service will refer to a number of planning policy documents which include the:

	Regional Development Strategy
	Planning Policy Statements
	A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland
	Development Plans

and Supplementary Planning Guidance such as 

	Development Control Advice Notes
	Design Guides