Consideration of SPPS Edition 2

Publication of SPPS Edition 2 in relation to Ards and North Down Borough Council, Local Development Plan, draft Plan Strategy.

On the 11 December 2025, the Minister for Infrastructure, Liz Kimmins MLA, published a policy revision to the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS), in the publication of 'Edition 2' marking the conclusion of a focused review of the SPPS (2015) on the subject of renewable and low carbon energy.

The provisions of the SPPS Edition 2 take immediate effect and must be taken into account in the preparation of Local Development Plans and are also a material consideration to all decisions on individual planning applications and appeals.

A letter from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Director of Regional Planning Policy and Casework, dated 21 October 2025, sets out that it is good practice for those councils which have published a draft Plan document to:

'...undertake a written assessment of the implications of the new or updated regional policy for draft or adopted policies. The assessment should demonstrate the council has an awareness of the new or revised policy and understands its aims and objectives. It should identify significant differences or conflicts which the new or revised regional policy may introduce with draft plan policies It should also consider whether policy approaches may need to be revised in response to the new regional policy...'

The Council has undertaken a comparison of its policy on Renewable Energy with the revised regional policy in the SPPS Edition 2, as set out in Table 1.  The Council concludes that its draft Plan Strategy (dPS) continues to take account of the regional strategic approach to renewable and low-carbon energy, cognisant of the opportunity for the Council to consider minor changes through the plan-making process, further to the completion of the public consultation (including counter-representation stage) and the analysis of all representations received.

It will be the intention to consult upon all initial proposed minor changes at the same time. This will include a consideration of whether changes or addenda are necessary to any supporting reports. A further period of consultation will be held on any proposed changes and advertised in line with legislation.