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Design Principles for Residential Development
1.1.4Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
It is important that new residential development and/or conversions or subdivisions of existing buildings for residential use are balanced against consideration of the impact of such works on neighbou
dwellingaccessibilityadaptable-housingexternal-spaceSPPS - Amenity Space and Well-Being
2.1.2Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) identifies core principles to assist with plan-making and decision taking. Under the 'Improving Health and Well-Being' core principle the SPPS recognises
dwellingexternal-spaceSPPS - Sustainable Design and Landscape Considerations
2.1.5Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In addition, the SPPS recognises that design should encompass how buildings and places function in use and over the lifetime of a development, including how the design of a development can minimise en
dwellingenergyexternal-spaceSite characteristics for new residential development
3.1.5Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Proposals for new residential development must respect the individual characteristics and features of the site itself. These include topography, existing buildings, features of the archaeological or b
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceconservationLayout considerations and public open space integration
3.1.7Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The design of house types and other buildings, the relationship between them, their relationship to streets and the spaces created around them will all strongly influence the character of the overall
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceopen-spaceLayout and design quality - avoiding road-dominated schemes
3.1.8, 3.1.9Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Poor quality residential developments have often been designed with little appreciation for local character or a sense of place and have tended to be dominated by road considerations. They also fail t
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceTreatment of corner sites and landmark opportunities
3.1.10Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In the interests of residential amenity, particular care will be required in the treatment of corner sites within layouts. Corner sites should contain specifically designed buildings and high-quality
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceSpace around buildings in residential development
3.1.11Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The space around buildings often has multiple functions and it is imperative that the layout and function of space is addressed, at the outset, as part of the design and layout of new residential deve
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceLink passages in terraced housing
3.1.12Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
consideration should be given to the provision of link passages mid-way in the terrace to prevent long rear alleyways and assist in rear servicing for bins and cycle parking, etc.
dwellingexternal-spaceResidential amenity and separation
3.1.12Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Space will also be required for residential amenity, including play spaces, and to provide for separation between properties to ensure residents benefit from adequate daylight and sunlight, and to ach
dwellingexternal-spaceBoundary treatment
3.1.15Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
It will be necessary to provide details of the boundary treatment of buildings as this can significantly affect the overall quality and character of new housing areas. The Council will expect use of a
dwellingexternal-spaceDensity - Site Characteristics and Development Requirements
3.1.18Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Site characteristics, the need to preserve existing site features and vegetation, space requirements for the provision of open spaces and specific needs within social housing will all influence develo
dwellingexternal-spacesite-planningProtection of local character and amenity in residential development
3.1.19Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Great care must be taken to ensure that development or redevelopment proposals do not unacceptably harm the local character, environmental quality or amenity of established residential areas. In all c
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceInfill housing in established residential areas
3.1.20Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Infill housing in established residential areas will not always be appropriate, particularly in many older residential areas with distinctive townscapes often dating from the Victorian or Edwardian pe
dwellingsite-planningconservationexternal-spaceBackland development requirements
3.1.21Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In appropriate circumstances backland areas offer the potential to integrate new residential development that is capable of producing a high-quality environment. To be successful, proposals for backla
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceIntegration of existing landscape features in backland development
3Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
integrate existing landscape features – where trees or landscape features form part of a backland plot, the design should seek to retain these and integrate them into the new development. Replacement
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceResidential aspect and street frontage
3.vBelfast·SPG003 Residential Design
provide a residential aspect onto the new road – new residential development should seek to reinforce the existing organisation of the fronts and backs of the dwellings. It should also seek to organis
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceIntegration of existing and new landscapes and streets
3.viBelfast·SPG003 Residential Design
take care over the integration of the existing and new landscapes and streets – the threshold between the new development and surrounding streets requires careful attention. The aim must be to achieve
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceServicing arrangements for residential development
3.viiBelfast·SPG003 Residential Design
facilitate adequate servicing arrangements – access roads should allow for the collection of waste and access for emergency vehicles. Access roads exclusively servicing 5 dwellings or more must be to
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceBoundary treatments for protecting garden privacy
3.1.38Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
This is often the main outdoor seating area adjacent to the property of your neighbours' house and, as a general rule of thumb, is the first 3-4 metres of a rear garden, closest to the residential pro
dwellingresidentialexternal-spaceprivacyOvershadowing and loss of light - planning consideration
3.1.39Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The protection of neighbouring properties from unreasonable loss of light is a well-established planning consideration. It is important that layouts and dwellings are planned to avoid overshadowing of
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceAvoiding overshadowing in new residential development
3.1.40Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Where aspects of new residential development are poorly sited or badly designed, shadows may reduce daylight to neighbouring residential property(s) and adversely affect residential amenity to an unac
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceDaylighting assessment for neighbouring properties
3.1.41Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In terms of daylighting, the effect on all rooms, apart from halls, landings, bathrooms and utility rooms will be considered. New residential development should be kept as far as possible from neighbo
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceDaylight provision using angle rules
3.1.42Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
To ensure that adequate daylight is provided to all dwellings, dwellings that are adjacent to one another should be sited using the 45 degree rule and dwellings that are opposite each other should be
dwellingresidentialdaylightsite-planningexternal-space25 degree rule for dwelling siting
3.1.42Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In terms of the 25 degree rule, new dwellings should be sited so as not to result in a 'subtended angle' of more than 25 degrees of a line projected from the centre point of the lowest main habitable
dwellingexternal-spacesite-planningBRE guidelines for daylight and sunlight assessment
3.1.43Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In further assessing overshadowing/loss of light, the Council will generally apply guidance targets within the latest edition of the Building Research Establishment (BRE) guidelines "Site Layout Plann
dwellingexternal-spacesite-planningKey aspects of acoustic design
3.1.45Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Aspects of good acoustic design which should be considered relate, but are not limited, to: i. site planning and layout – the layout of buildings within the site and their orientation including the us
dwellingsoundsite-planningexternal-spaceDefinition between public and private space in housing layouts
3.1.52Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Housing layouts should seek to maintain a clear definition between the public or civic realm of the street and private space associated with the individual residential units. Front gardens, or other f
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceContinuity of fronts and backs in housing arrangements
3.1.53Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Housing layouts should seek to achieve a continuity of fronts and backs. At the neighbourhood level this arrangement provides a coherent, permeable block structure, and provides for direct movement th
dwellingsite-planningexternal-spaceIntegration of public open space in residential development
3.1.54Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Regard should be given to ways of integrating pleasant, attractive and landscaped areas of public open space, including children's play areas, as an intrinsic element of new residential development, t
dwellingexternal-spacesite-planningDesign and accessibility of public open space
3.1.55Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
All public open space should be accessible, suitably located, proportioned and planted, providing a focal point to the development, and offering varied, useable and attractive areas. Consideration sho
dwellingexternal-spaceaccessibilitysite-planningMaintenance and management of public open space
3.1.56Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Areas of public open space should also be easy to maintain and manage. The use of verges and narrow or peripheral tracts which are difficult to manage will not be acceptable. Similarly, engineered are
dwellingexternal-spacesite-planningIntegration of Sustainable Drainage Systems with Open Space
3.1.57Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Areas that incorporate soft forms of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) as part of wider landscaping measures (such as basins, wetlands and swales) can provide useable open space, offer visual amenit
dwellingexternal-spacedrainageSunlight and Shadowing in Public Open Space
3.1.57Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Thought should be given to existing sun paths and shadowing to maximise the benefits of sunny weather and encourage socialising. It is important that the height and orientation of buildings (both exis
dwellingexternal-spaceLighting, Landscaping and Furniture in Public Open Space
3.1.58Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Public open space should be sufficiently illuminated with areas of hard landscaping to encourage permeability and help create a safe, pleasant, comfortable and stimulating environment. Outdoor furnitu
dwellingexternal-spaceaccessibilityChildren's Play Areas in Residential Development
3.1.59Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Where provided, children's play areas must offer a safe and convenient space for children of all ages and abilities to play. They should be positioned so that they are overlooked, but not too close to
dwellingexternal-spaceEquipped Children's Play Area Requirements
Policy OS3Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Criterion e. of Policy OS3 – Ancillary Open Space of the Plan Strategy requires an equipped children's play area as an integral part of residential developments of 100 units or more, or development si
dwellingexternal-spaceLandscape design and greening in residential development
3.1.60Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The Council attaches particular importance to using 'greening' to raise the quality of residential development and assist in the promotion of biodiversity. Existing landscape features such as streams,
dwellingexternal-spacebiodiversityTree and hedgerow protection and compensatory planting
3.1.60Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Where existing trees and/or hedgerows are removed the Council will expect the layout to include proposals for compensatory planting. Specific policy criteria relating to trees is provided by Policy TR
dwellingresidentialexternal-spacesite-planningVegetation integration and landscape design
3.1.61Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The Council also will expect to see a greater use of vegetation within developments including a hierarchy of different types of planting such as street trees, garden trees and hedge planting, specimen
dwellingresidentialexternal-spacesite-planningLandscape works and maintenance responsibilities
3.1.62Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Developers will be required to carry out all landscape works associated with their schemes and must establish appropriate maintenance arrangements for their ongoing, long-term management, unless this
dwellingresidentialexternal-spacesite-planningPrivate open space provision
3.1.63Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Outdoor space which can be enjoyed by residents in private is a major contributor to the wellbeing of its users. A variety of garden sizes and usable open spaces will promote diversity and give greate
dwellingexternal-spacesite-planningIn-curtilage open space for houses
3.1.64Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
All houses will need to provide some in-curtilage open space. The provision of adequate private garden space is particularly important for new family dwellings – generally dwellings with three or more
dwellingexternal-spacePrivate open space for apartments
3.1.64Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
For apartment developments, private open space may be provided in the form of individual spaces (e.g. balconies, terraces, private patio or garden areas) or communal gardens (e.g. roof terraces/garden
flatsexternal-spaceIndividual balconies and private patios
3.1.65Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Individual balconies, private patios or garden areas serve the residents of singular units within apartment development. Balconies should be provided wherever possible for upper floor units, along wit
flatsexternal-spaceDesign of balconies and terraces
3.1.66Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
As a general principle, balconies and/or terraces provided (whether open, wholly or partly covered, or enclosed) should be accessible from living/dining rooms and be designed to provide equal amenity
flatsaccessibilityexternal-spaceBalcony design and screening requirements
3.1.67Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
These minimum areas and dimensions should provide sufficient space for a small table and chairs, screened clothes drying or for residents and visitors to relax. Balconies with a larger floor area of g
flatsresidential-designexternal-spaceprivacyCommunal gardens and roof gardens
3.1.68Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Communal gardens provide shared amenity space for use by all residents of apartment developments and should be secured against unauthorised access. Communal roof gardens can be used if climatic and sa
flatsresidential-designexternal-spaceamenityAdaptable and accessible private amenity space for wheelchair users
3.1.69Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In addition to the provisions of RD1, Policy HOU7 sets out additional requirements in relation to the provision of adaptable and accessible private amenity space for wheelchair accessible dwellings. P
flatsdwellingaccessibilityexternal-spacewheelchair-accessiblePermeable surface treatments in residential developments
3.1.74Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
There is an increasing choice of materials available which are designed specifically to allow water to infiltrate to the ground or to be collected for re-use. Accordingly, when assessing proposals for
dwellingaccessibilitydrainageexternal-space