Strategic Approach to Development in Existing Urban Areas

The Government's strategic approach to development in existing urban areas is set out in the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) which provides the overarching strategy for the development of Northern Ireland until 2025. The RDS promotes a drive to provide more housing within existing urban areas and advocates an increase in the density of urban housing. However, it stresses that achieving an overall increase in town densities must not be interpreted as a mandate to force over-developed and unsympathetic housing schemes into established residential areas. It also emphasises that the redevelopment of existing houses and the development of infill sites need to be handled with particular sensitivity.