Every rule that governs your project, in one place.

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

The rivers that run through our Borough are important environmental assets and resources, but they are also a source of flood risk. This will be an important consideration in identifying future develo

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

In line with the provisions of regional policy, the Council will adopt a precautionary approach to the consideration of flood risk from all potential sources of flooding. This aims to prevent future d

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

To make space for water, minimise risk and help maintain their natural function, the Council will seek to avoid development in flood plains wherever possible, as well as encouraging sustainable design

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

In order to properly manage development, the Council will use the latest flood risk information and maps available from DfI Rivers and will require detailed information in the form of FRAs and DAs to

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

The use of land for sport and outdoor recreation, amenity open space or nature conservation purposes, including ancillary buildings (but excluding club houses/social facilities and children's playgrou

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

In exceptional circumstances, where development proposals are considered acceptable in principle within a flood plain, adequate measures to manage and mitigate flood risk will be required. These shoul

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

Land raising operations, which involve the permanent elevation of a site to a level above the flood plain in order to facilitate development, will not be acceptable in river flood plains. Land raising

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

Other flood protection/management measures involving new flood defences or flood compensation storage works affecting a flood plain, will not be acceptable unless these are proposed to be undertaken b

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

Flood plains are the generally flat areas adjacent to watercourses or the sea where water flows in time of flooding or would flow but for the presence of flood defences. The extent of a flood plain is

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

Current information on fluvial and coastal flood plains, including information on flood defences, is available on the DfI Flood Maps NI Interactive Map Viewer. This information is regularly updated, a

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

Planning applications in identified flood risk areas must be accompanied by an assessment of the flood risk in the form of a FRA, which should be carried out by a suitably qualified professional. A FR

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

New hard engineered or cored earthen bank flood defences, publicly funded and constructed, are seen as a necessary and acceptable flood mitigation method to protect existing property that is already i

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

defence works or flood storage compensation schemes proposed by a developer, will not be acceptable as justification to allow development in a flood plain to proceed. Exceptionally land raising may be

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

The Council will consult with DfI Rivers as the competent authority responsible for flood risk on all applications within or close to flood plains and take account of its advice and recommendations in

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

The aim of this policy is to reduce flood risk for new developments from surface water (pluvial) sources. This aim has taken account of and is consistent with the provisions of the SPPS. Surface wate

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

A DA proportionate to the development proposed must accompany planning applications in the following circumstances: (a) Development proposed in an area where there is evidence of a history of surface

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

The Council will only permit development in areas where there is evidence of surface water flooding, when the developer is able to demonstrate through a DA, that the flood risk can be effectively cont

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

The Council encourages all developers to consider drainage issues early in the site evaluation and planning process, not just at the detailed design stage of a development. Development proposals shoul

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

Hard, impermeable surfaces result in the rapid transfer of water during periods of rainfall which can result in drainage infrastructure being overwhelmed. SuDS schemes are designed to 'slow the flow'

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

Developers should consider the incorporation of SuDS as early as possible in the design process, whilst appropriate techniques may include such solutions as green roofs, permeable surfaces, oversized

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

Planning applications will be expected to be accompanied by an appropriate level of detail to ensure that proposals for SuDS are capable of practical implementation and where acceptable, the Council w

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

The aim of this policy is to minimise potential flood risk for developments in close proximity to controlled reservoirs. This aim has taken account of and is consistent with the provisions of the SPPS

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

The Council will permit development proposals within the potential flood inundation area of a controlled reservoir (as defined in the Reservoirs Act (NI) 2015) where it is satisfied, in consultation w

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

In cases where assurance on the condition, management and maintenance regime of the relevant reservoir cannot be demonstrated the development will only be permitted in the following circumstances: (a)

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

Where a reservoir FRA is deemed necessary this will need to set out suitable measures to manage and mitigate the identified flood risks, including details of emergency evacuation procedures.

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

Within the entire flood inundation area of a reservoir without condition assurance, there will also be a presumption against bespoke development for vulnerable groups (such as schools or sheltered acc

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

Details of Controlled Reservoirs in the Borough are available on Reservoir Flood Maps produced by DfI Rivers and are available to view on its website. These provide the location of each Controlled Res

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

Development within the inundation area of a controlled reservoir will be acceptable in cases where certification has been provided from a competent reservoirs engineer that the condition, management a

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

It should be noted that where FRA is undertaken to accompany proposals in the flood inundation area of a reservoir without condition assurance development will not be permitted in those areas where th

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

The aim of this policy is to minimise the potential flood risk impact and adverse consequences for the environment associated with the modification of watercourses. This aim has taken account of and i

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

The artificial modification of watercourses through culverting or canalising is widely accepted as an environmentally unsustainable practice, as such operations will often adversely impact upon the la

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

Such proposals run contrary to the Council's aim of making space for water and will therefore only be acceptable in exceptional circumstances.

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

Minimise flood risk in new development. Increased recycling of waste. Increased use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) as the preferred method of treating surface water for new development proposa