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Subsidised Intermediate Rent Design Standards
1.1.6Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Subsidised Intermediate Rent homes developed with Government funding to meet the design standards set out in the "Homes for Intermediate Rent Design Standards". Whilst many of these requirements will
dwellingresidentialMerit-Based Assessment of Residential Development Applications
1.1.7Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Every application for new residential development and/or conversions or subdivisions of existing buildings for residential use within the Belfast City Council area will be treated on merit, taking int
dwellingresidentialTandem Development - Policy and Acceptability
3.1.22Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Tandem development is a form of backland development where one new house is placed directly behind another either sharing the same, or an additional driveway/access. This form of development is genera
dwellingsite-planningresidentialPrivacy considerations in residential development
3.1.30Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
While in most urban areas, few households can claim not to be overlooked to some degree, the protection of privacy for the occupants of residential properties is an important element of the quality of
dwellingresidentialprivacyOverlooking potential and mitigation measures
3.1.31Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Balconies, roof terraces, decking, dormer windows, windows in side elevations and conservatories all have the potential to cause overlooking problems, due to their position and orientation, particular
dwellingresidentialprivacydesignPolicy RD1 - Privacy and amenity requirements for new residential developments
RD1(B)Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Does not unduly affect the privacy or amenity of neighbouring residents, including overlooking, loss of light, overshadowing, dominance, noise or other disturbance
dwellingresidentialprivacyamenitypolicyWindow orientation for privacy and surveillance
3.1.32Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In some instances an acceptable solution may be achieved through the orientation of windows that are capable of both maintaining privacy and provide natural surveillance on to the street. In the case
dwellingresidentialprivacydesignSpacing between buildings to minimise overlooking
3.1.33Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Notwithstanding this, all proposals should seek to provide reasonable space between buildings in order to minimise overlooking. This will also assist in providing acceptable levels of daylight to prop
dwellingresidentialprivacydaylightdesignSeparation distances between facing windows in residential development
3.1.34Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In general, a separation of no less than 20 metres should be maintained between facing windows of the main habitable rooms (i.e. bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms or kitchens). Where windows face a
dwellingresidentialprivacyaccessHigh-density residential development in urban locations
3.1.35Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
However, development or redevelopment in inner urban locations and other high-density areas, such as within the City Centre or fronting onto a City Corridor, should also be designed to create or reinf
dwellingresidentialurbanhigh-densityReduced separation distances below 20m
3.1.36Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
In such instances, separation distances of less than 20m may be deemed appropriate. However this would be determined on a case-by-case basis and would need to be justified by a way of a thorough analy
dwellingresidentialaccessprivacyOverlooking of existing gardens
3.1.37Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The overlooking of existing gardens is particularly important in this context and may be unacceptable where new development proposed would result in an intrusive, direct and uninterrupted view from a
dwellingresidentialprivacyBoundary 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-spaceprivacyDaylight 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-spaceRoad design quality and sustainable movement in residential development
3.1.49Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Roads are public space and are therefore an important element in the design of a development. Road layouts which meet all technical requirements but which do not pay due regard to the quality of the r
dwellingsite-planningresidentialPrivate streets adoption standards and Private Streets Determination
3.1.49 (footnote 10)Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Where the Department for Infrastructure (DfI Roads) are required to adopt new footways, cycle tracks, footpaths, visibility splays and verges, a Private Streets Determination is required. To be suitab
dwellingsite-planningresidentialPermeable Layout and Traffic Calming Measures
3.1.49Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
a permeable layout – achieved via a network of interconnected carriageways and, where appropriate, a number of access points to the development; and ii. the incorporation of traffic calming measures –
dwellingresidentialsite-planningAccess Road Speed Design
3.1.50Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The Council will generally wish to see all access roads within a development designed to a 20mph maximum speed. On minor access roads favourable consideration will be given to the use of sub 10mph 'Ho
dwellingresidentialsite-planningSafeguarding Access to Adjoining Lands
3.1.51Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The Council will also assess the need for the design of layouts to safeguard access to adjoining lands to ensure that the comprehensive development of a site or future development potential is not pre
dwellingresidentialsite-planningTree 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-planningSunlight orientation for main rooms
3.1.88Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The aim should be to maximise the number of dwellings that have a window to a main living room facing south, east, or west and minimise the number of dwellings whose living rooms face solely north-wes
dwellingresidentialexternal-spaceSunlight assessment using BR 209 guidance
3.1.89Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
The Council will generally apply guidance targets within the latest edition of the BR 209 to assess new development and where new development may affect natural light to existing properties.
dwellingresidentialBuilding positioning to avoid overshadowing
Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Loss of sunlight and overshadowing can occur where a building is sited to southeast, south and south-west of another building.
dwellingresidentialsite-planningCommunal facilities in residential developments
3.2.20Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Many residents that choose apartment living also desire a range of communal facilities to be provided as part of the development. Such facilities should be accessible to all residents within a buildin
flatsresidentialcommunal-spaceConversion or sub-division of existing buildings for residential use
4Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design
Conversion or sub-division of existing buildings for residential use
dwellingflatsresidential