Planning Policy Statement 21 (PPS 21) is the new policy on ‘Sustainable Development in the Countryside’ led by the Department of the Environment and has replaced Planning Policy Statement 14. While it has introduced some subtle amendments to the policies in PPS14, the most important aspects of the new guidance remain unchanged.

PPS 21 aims to address the sustainability of Northern Ireland’s countryside by seeking to guide, not reduce, rural development and thereby avoid irreparable damage to the environmental and socio-economic fabric of our rural areas.  It is about managing growth and ensuring that those that need to live in the open countryside get priority and the essential needs of others are met in a way that provides vibrant rural communities.

The public consultation on Draft PPS 21 closed on 31 March. In order to view our response, click here.