To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether local councils are permitted to adopt Local Development Plans and Policies contrary to the Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland.

The provisions of the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) apply to the whole of Northern Ireland and as stipulated in the Planning (NI) Act 2011 these must be taken into account in the preparation of Local Development Plans. However, councils may tailor their operational policies to suit their own local circumstances.

My Department is one of a number of statutory consultees within the Local Development Plan process that engages with councils throughout plan preparation and has responded to each of the 7 published draft Plan Strategies, highlighting where regional policy has not been followed.

Where a Council deviates from the SPPS they must ensure that they have robust evidence to show reasoned justification for such a departure. This will be considered at Independent Examination where the Development Plan Document (draft Plan Strategy and draft Local Policies Plan) will be tested for soundness.