The new Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for Northern Ireland has been launched, and it includes policy measures to guide the operation of the planning system, covering town centres and retail development, building in the countryside, the creation and enhancement of shared space, tourism, telecommunications and housing, as well as a ban on unconventional hydrocarbon extraction (fracking).
DoENI writes:
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan today published the Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland (SPPS).
In essence, this is ‘the go to guide’ for everyone involved in the local planning system. The SPPS reduces 20 separate planning policy statements to one. This provides the policy on key issues such as town centres and retail development, building in the countryside, creating and enhancing shared space, tourism, telecommunications and housing.
Significantly, it also sets in black and white, for the first time, as policy, no to unconventional hydrocarbon extraction, often referred to as fracking. This could only change in the future if the Department is satisfied that there is sufficient and robust evidence on all environmental impacts of fracking.
Welcoming the publication of the SPPS Roisin Willmott, the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Director for Northern Ireland commented: ‘This is good news for our members and for Northern Ireland. The much anticipated SPPS will be a catalyst for positive change on the ground. It will greatly aid the preparation of Councils’ new local development plans, providing a clear, practical and integrated policy framework for good decisions in the long term public interest.’
