Belfast·SPG003 Residential Design·Page 79·4.4.2
Rear and side access to residential units above commercial premises
Rear or side access can only be the primary access if they are well lit and already extensively used for this purpose, and must lead directly onto the street frontage.
Rear or side accesses should only be used as the primary access if they are well lit and already extensively used for this purpose. In these instances all rear or side alleyways must lead directly onto the street frontage.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/belfast/SPG003 Residential Design.pdf