Context Analysis for Infill and Redevelopment in Established Areas

The Department considers that analysis of context is particularly important for infill housing, backland development or redevelopment schemes in established residential areas. While such development can usefully contribute to housing supply, great care will be needed to ensure that the individual or cumulative effects of such development proposals do not significantly erode the character and amenity of existing areas, for example through inappropriate design or over development. Although the majority of residential areas do not have the distinctive character of Conservation Areas or Areas of Townscape Character, this does not mean that their quality of residential environment is unimportant. It will often be of great and legitimate concern to local residents. In assessing housing proposals in established residential areas the Department will therefore need to be satisfied that unacceptable harm will not be caused to the local character, environmental quality or residential amenity of the area. Particular account will be taken of the spacing between buildings, the safeguarding of privacy, the scale and massing of buildings, the use of materials, impact on existing vegetation and landscape design.