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New Planning Policy will prevent town cramming - Poots

Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Environment Minister Edwin Poots, today published new planning policies to help safeguard areas of established residential character from town cramming.

Welcoming the Executive’s agreement to publishing the Addendum to Planning Policy 7 (PPS7), the Minister said: “These additional planning policies are designed to ensure greater control over the density and pattern of development in established residential areas, and to ensure greater control over conversions to flats and apartments.

“This is not however a blanket ban on redevelopment, flat conversion, infilling or development of gardens. It is about getting the right developments in the right places. It is aimed at providing good quality homes in keeping with the overall character of the existing area.

“It will also help reduce flash flooding in urban areas by encouraging greater use of permeable paving within new residential developments.”

The Department’s new policy is contained within a second Addendum to Planning Policy Statement 7 (PPS 7) titled ‘Safeguarding the Character of Established Residential Areas’ and follows four months public consultation.

Notes to editors:

  1. PPS 7 ‘Quality Residential Environments’ was published in June 2001 and aims to promote quality in the design of new residential development. The first Addendum to PPS 7 on residential extensions and alterations issued March 2008.
  2. Planning Policy Statements set out DOE policies on particular aspects of land use planning and other planning matters and apply to the whole of Northern Ireland. Their contents are taken into account as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and appeals.
  3. The Addendum and the Summary of Consultation Responses can be viewed  on  the Planning Service website or obtained from the Department’s Planning and Natural Resources Division, Calvert House, 23 Castle Place, Belfast, BT1 1FY, Tel: 028 90 254715.
  4. For media queries please contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.