Every rule that governs your project, in one place.

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The Plan Strategy document is structured into a number of sections. Section 1 sets out the introduction and purpose of the Local Development Plan (LDP). Section 2 sets the scene and examines the regio

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Strategic Policies are broken down by a series of headings phrased as statements: 'Introduction', 'Where we want to be', 'How we are going to get there' (this is where the Strategic Policies are set o

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The Strategic Policies are supplemented by a range of Detailed Management Policies which start with the prefix 'DM' and are broken down by the following headings: (a) Why we have this policy – here we

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Developers should note that under the 'plan-led' system introduced by the Planning Act (NI) 2011, the Local Development Plan is the primary consideration for decision making on all new development sch

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The Antrim and Newtownabbey Local Development Plan (LDP) is the first to be brought forward by the Council since the transfer of planning powers to local government in 2015. It has been prepared under

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

This Plan Strategy is one of two development plan documents which, when read together, will comprise the LDP for the Borough. The second document is the Local Policies Plan and this will be brought fo

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The LDP is a spatial land use Plan which primarily is about place. It will guide future development and use of land in our towns, villages, hamlets and rural areas by addressing the spatial implicatio

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The purpose of the LDP is to inform the public, statutory authorities, developers and other interested parties of how our Borough should develop in the years ahead. It will balance competing demands a

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The new planning system outlined in the Planning Act (NI) 2011 has introduced what is commonly referred to as the 'plan-led' system. As a consequence the LDP will be the primary consideration for deci

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

In summary, the LDP is intended to: • Provide a plan framework that will support the economic and social needs of our Borough up to 2030, taking into account regional strategies and policies, whilst p

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

As indicated above the LDP comprises two documents; a Plan Strategy and a Local Polices Plan that are prepared in sequence. This document is the Plan Strategy and it sets out how the Council consider

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Once the Plan Strategy is adopted the Council will prepare the second LDP document, the Local Policies Plan. This will set out development zonings, associated key site requirements and other site spec

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

In addition to these key documents, the Council will bring forward, as appropriate, a range of supplementary planning guidance documents to support the implementation of the LDP together with advice n

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Once both documents comprising the LDP are adopted, it will be monitored annually to determine if it is meeting its objectives. The provisions of the LDP will also be reviewed every five years to dete

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Under the Planning (Local Development Plan) Regulations (NI) 2015, a transitional period applies where provisions contained in the legacy development plans prepared by the former Department of the Env

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The following is a list of the legacy development plans that apply to the Borough: • Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 and its alterations (AAP); • Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001 (BUAP); • Carrickfergus Area P

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

It should be noted that the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan adopted in September 2014 was subsequently quashed as a result of a judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered in May 2017. As a consequence,

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Once the Plan Strategy is adopted it will replace the regional operational policies that are currently retained by the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (comprised of the existing suite of Planning

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Until such times as the Council's Local Policies Plan identifies the boundaries of settlement limits, local designations and zonings, the provisions of the current legacy plans will continue to apply

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Once the Council's Local Policies Plan is adopted the legacy plans as they relate to our Borough, shall cease to have effect.

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The LDP is supported by a comprehensive evidence base which has been prepared and reviewed throughout the preparation of the Plan Strategy (the full list of evidence papers is set out in Appendix A).

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Sustainability Appraisal (SA) – A Sustainability Appraisal is a tool for appraising the provisions of the LDP to ensure that they are in line with the objectives of sustainable development. It is a re

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) – This assessment is being prepared under the provisions of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (as amended) which trans

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) – In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Council's Equality Scheme, an equality screening is being undertaken at each key stage of the

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Rural Needs Assessment (RNA) – In accordance with the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016 and in line with Council policy, an RNA is being undertaken at each key stage of the LDP to ensure that the social and e

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

SETTING THE CONTEXT Plan Strategy 2

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Under the planning system introduced by the Planning Act (NI) 2011, the Council, when preparing the Local Development Plan (LDP) must take account of the provisions of the Regional Development Strateg

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Section 25 of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 requires that all Councils, in exercising their functions, act in a manner that will contribute to the achievement of sustainable

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

There is also a need to take account of the relationship between the LDP and the Council's corporate objectives for the Borough expressed in its Corporate Plan as well as its relationship to the Counc

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

In addition, there are a large number of other Government Strategies and Plans, such as the Biodiversity Strategy for Northern Ireland and 'Lifetime Opportunities', the Government's Anti-Poverty and S

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

In relation to our Borough the RDS identifies Metropolitan Newtownabbey as part of the Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area, where significant investment should be centred, including employment opportuniti

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The RDS states that economic and social development depends on modern and efficient infrastructure. The Borough is well positioned on three Key Transport Corridors and is home to the Gateway at Belfas

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Ensuring a Sustainable Transport Future – 'A New Approach to Regional Transportation' complements the RDS and contains high level aims and strategic objectives to support the growth of the economy, en

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan, the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan and the Sub Regional Transport Plan currently apply to our Borough.

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The Department for Infrastructure is currently preparing new Transport Plans which will cover our Borough including a new Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan and an Eastern Transport P

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Sustainable Water – A Long-Term Water Strategy for Northern Ireland sets out a range of initiatives to deliver the Executive's long-term goal of a sustainable water sector in Northern Ireland. The Str

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The Strategy sets out a number of matters that the LDP will need to take into account which are summarised as follows: Consideration of flood risk using up to date information on the risk from all sig

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Exceptional development within high flood risk areas must make provision for adequate mitigation measures; Ensure surface water drainage is adequately addressed; and Planning policy should promote sus

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The UK Marine Policy Statement (MPS) was published in September 2011 and was prepared and adopted under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The statement provides the policy framework for the Mari

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The draft Marine Plan for Northern Ireland was published in April 2018 by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The draft Marine Plan has been developed within the fram

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Under Section 8 of the Marine Act (NI) 2013 the Council must take any authorisation or enforcement decision in accordance with any appropriate marine plan unless relevant considerations indicate other

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland (SPPS) - 'Planning for Sustainable Development' is one of the most significant documents in terms of policy context for our new LDP. The SP

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The SPPS sets out five key core planning principles that underpin the planning system with the aim of furthering sustainable development which are: Improving Health and Wellbeing; Creating and Enhanci

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The SPPS also sets out a range of supplementary planning guidance which supports the regional policies and which has been retained as material planning considerations.

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Importantly, as outlined in Section 1, the SPPS indicates that once the Council's Plan Strategy is adopted, its policies will replace regional operational planning policies comprised of the existing s

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Our Priorities (a) Antrim and Newtownabbey is a place where people of all ages value their health and wellbeing and look after it in a variety of ways and encourage others to do so too; (b) Exercise a

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

Our Priorities (a) Getting around our Borough is easier for those who don't have access to a car and for those who would prefer a more active mode of transport; (b) Our town and village centres are vi

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The diversity of the landscape across our Borough provides a unique resource of significant environmental quality stretching from the shores of Lough Neagh in the west to Belfast Lough in the east. Me

Antrim and Newtownabbey·LDP 2030 Plan Strategy (adopted 2025)

The historic environment forms an important part of the character and appearance of our Borough including archaeological sites and monuments; historic and vernacular buildings; industrial and military