Every rule that governs your project, in one place.

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)

It is important that the Council seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of those who live within the Borough. Open spaces should be protected and accessible for all to enjoy and the creation of acc

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

Promote sustainable growth by managing development and securing new infrastructure provision in our settlements, countryside and coast to meet the needs of all our citizens.

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

Core growth is focused on the largest settlements of Metropolitan Newtownabbey and Antrim where the infrastructure, population, services and facilities mean these places can accommodate further growth

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

Promote sustainable growth by managing development and securing new infrastructure provision in our settlements, countryside and coast to meet the needs of all our citizens.

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

Regional planning policy recognises tourism as a key element, underpinning sustainable economic growth and highlights that tourism investment can bring new facilities to our towns and surrounding area

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

The Council's Economic Strategy recognises that whilst our tourism offer remains relatively underdeveloped, recent and planned investment in infrastructure, hotel rooms and tourism products is seeing

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

Opportunities exist for the sustainable reuse of some of our disused railway lines and the Local Policies Plan will identify any such routes to ensure these are not prejudiced by alternative developme

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

(b) The frontage appears as a visual entity in the landscape and all the existing buildings front directly onto a public road or private shared laneway; (c) As a general rule, the gap site for up to t

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

DM 18.17 The Council will permit a new dwelling within an existing cluster of development where all of the following criteria are met: (a) The cluster lies outside a farm holding and comprises a group

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

COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE A Vibrant & Liveable Place 8

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

Good community infrastructure is essential for maintaining a high quality of life for the people of our Borough. Such infrastructure comprises a wide range of community facilities including hospitals,

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

The Council, working with its statutory health and education partners and other stakeholders, including the community and voluntary sector, will seek to ensure that all communities in our Borough have

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

The Council will operate a presumption against the loss of existing community infrastructure, including open space of public value, to competing uses. Proposals for new community facilities and servic

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

The Council will continue to support the enhanced recreational opportunities afforded by the further development of Multi-Use Games Areas and the dual use of educational sporting facilities to benefit

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

The Council will also bring forward land allocations in the Local Policies Plan to address any deficiencies identified in open space provision, as well as to meet any needs identified by statutory hea

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

The Council will also expect new development proposals to facilitate and improve linkages and accessibility to local community infrastructure and help maximise opportunities to promote healthy and act

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

The Council's approach accords with regional policy as set out in the RDS and SPPS that promotes measures in support of the health and wellbeing of our Borough's communities and acknowledges the impor

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

The Council for its part is responsible for a wide range of community and recreational facilities including community centres, leisure centres, public parks, sports pitches and play areas, with existi

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

The Council recognises the importance of our Borough's open space and green infrastructure not only in meeting the recreational needs of our communities, but also for its contribution to health and we

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

In order to support the continued provision of good quality community infrastructure the Council will also afford protection to existing community facilities that still serve, or have the ability to s

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

Key Community Facilities - A Vibrant and Liveable Place Community Infrastructure. What it will look like

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

The aim of this policy is to protect against the loss of existing open space to other competing uses. This aim has taken account of and is consistent with the provisions of the SPPS which acknowledges

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

The Council will operate a presumption against development that would result in the loss of, or have a significant adverse impact on, an area of open space irrespective of ownership, physical conditio

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

An exception will be permitted in the following circumstances where it is demonstrated the loss of the open space will have no significant detrimental impact on the amenity, character or biodiversity

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

(a) The proposed development would bring significant community benefits that clearly outweigh the loss of the open space; or (b) The proposed development is ancillary to the principle use and will enh

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

Consideration may also be given to the development of an area of open space (2 hectares or less) where an acceptable replacement space can be provided and/or paid for by the applicant in an equally co

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

For the purposes of this policy, open space is defined as all open space of public value.

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

Whilst there is a general presumption against the loss of open space, it is acknowledged that exceptionally there may be circumstances where the development of an area of open space may be acceptable,

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

All proposals for the alternative use of open space will need to be assessed with regard to their effect on the amenity, character and biodiversity of the area and the wider locality taking into accou

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

Examples of significant community benefit acceptable under the policy may include the provision of affordable housing where a demonstrable local need is identified or the development of a local facili

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

Open space, for the purposes of this policy, is defined as all open space of public value. The definition includes not just outdoor sports facilities, parks and gardens, amenity green space and childr

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

With the exception of Intensive Sports Facilities, the Council will sympathetically view proposals for new community buildings and facilities, including appropriate outdoor recreational, sporting and

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

All development proposals will be expected to respond to and enhance local character, help create a sense of place and reflect the distinctiveness of the unique Places of the Borough and assist in the

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

Ensure that any open space required is high quality, appropriate and well integrated into the overall layout, with linkages made to existing green and blue infrastructure networks;

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

9.21 The countryside of the Borough, represents one of our greatest assets. It is home to our rural residents and supports a range of agricultural, tourism and recreational activities. It also support

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

These comprise those features and areas within and adjoining the settlements of our Borough considered to be of greatest amenity value, landscape quality or local significance and therefore worthy of

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

The Council will identify the location and precise boundaries of Local Landscape Policy Areas within and adjoining settlements in the Local Policies Plan.

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

Figure 11: Natural Heritage Assets within our Borough Ramsar Site

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

Internationally designated sites (Ramsar sites, SPAs and SACs) are the most highly regarded and important of our Borough's nature conservation sites and as such they are afforded the highest form of s

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

Under the terms of Habitats Regulations Assessment, development proposals will be assessed to determine whether they are likely to have a significant effect on an international site in view of its con

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

In those cases where it is determined that there is a probability of significant effects or doubt remains, the Council will then proceed to undertake an Appropriate Assessment. Once again, developers

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

Developers should note that proposals do not have to be located within or adjacent to a designated site to lead to a loss of or damage to features of interest or otherwise to adversely affect the inte

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

Only after having ascertained that a scheme will not adversely affect the integrity of an international site, will the Council consider approval for the development proposal. Such an approval may incl

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

Any development proposal which could adversely affect the integrity of a site of international importance will only be permitted in the most exceptional of circumstances.

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

ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE & PROTECTION A Place with a Sustainable Future

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

All proposals for waste disposal or agricultural land improvement must incorporate satisfactory measures for the restoration and aftercare of sites that will help enhance biodiversity once operations

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

Protect and enhance the diversity of our Borough's natural heritage comprised of its habitats, species, landscapes and earth science features.