Belfast·LDP Plan Strategy 2035 (adopted 2023)·Page 285·10.5.11
Countryside Housing Development Control
New houses in the countryside are generally unsustainable unless there are exceptional circumstances with clear and demonstrable essential locational need. Strict control is applied with limited exceptions for existing development or rural community needs.
The new development of additional houses in the countryside, other than in exceptional circumstances of clear and demonstrable essential locational need, represents a threat to the environment and therefore is considered to be unsustainable. For this reason, strict control over new housing development in the countryside is considered necessary, with limited exceptions to take account of existing development or to meet the needs of the rural community.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/belfast/LDP Plan Strategy 2035 (adopted 2023).pdf