Planning and Environmental Policy Group About Us

Planning and Environmental Policy Group (PEPG) is part of the core within the Department of the Environment and is responsible for taking forward policy and legislation on environmental issues in Northern Ireland.

The main environmental areas are: water quality, waste management, air quality, biodiversity, nature conservation, the protection of the built heritage and climate change.

PEPG works closely with colleagues in various bodies including the Northern ireland Environment Agency within the DOE, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales.

During the past few years Planning and Environmental Policy Group has made considerable contribution and efforts to progress and modernise Northern Ireland’s environmental framework particularly in relation to European Union legislation. There is now a commitment to ensuring not only the timely and effective transposition of EU obligations but also to engaging and influencing policy at UK and European level which meet Northern Ireland’s need.

In May 2006 PEPG published the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy- 'First Steps towards Sustainability'. The Strategy which was developed in partnership with all the Northern Ireland Departments and a wide range of key stakeholders, sets out the guiding principles, priority areas for action, strategic objectives and associated targets. Responsibility for developing the implementation plan then transferred to the Office of First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM). To view the Sustainable Development Strategy document together with the most recently published document 'A Positive Step'- Northern Ireland - A Sustainable Development Implementation Plan go to the OFMDFM website

PEPG’s Aim:-

To develop policy and legislation which will protect and enhance the natural and built environment and promote sustainable development.

PEPG has set out a number of key objectives, which will contribute to the achievement of its aims. These are to:-

• Develop integrated and effective environmental policies and legislation;
• Ensure the timely and effective transposition of EU environmental legislation;
• Provide high levels of environmental protection while taking account of social, economic and other factors;
• Promote sustainable development in Northern Ireland;
• Ensure effective engagement with stake holders; and
• Develop organisational management policies and practices that will encourage and support staff to achieve business objectives.

The Division is headed by two Directors at Grade 5 level and is made up of a number of teams working on specific environmental topics. To view the Policy and Legislation associated with these topics go to the page on 'Protecting the Environment'.

PEPG also provided the secretariat to the independent Review Panel on the review of environmental governance. The final report of the Review Panel is available to download here (2,235Kb) .