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Using the Lough

Planning and Development

The Department of the Environment is responsible for planning control in Northern Ireland.

The Planning Service
An Agency within the Department of Environment, administers its planning functions. The Department has a statutory duty, laid down in Article 3 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, to formulate and co-ordinate policy for securing the orderly and consistent development of land and the planning of that development.

The Department is required to ensure such policy is in general conformity with the Regional Development Strategy. Planning Policy for the Strangford Lough area is set out in the new Area Plan for Ards and Down Districts, for further information on these plans click here.