Belfast·SPG005 Placemaking and Urban Design·Page 28·4.3.8

Private amenity spaces in residential developments

Private amenity space should provide privacy and separation from public areas, typically located at the rear of residential developments and potentially including balconies, shared spaces, or restorative urbanism elements for mental health and wellbeing.

In general terms, private amenity space should provide a degree of privacy and separation from adjoining public spaces. For the majority of residential developments amenity space will be located to the rear of the development and where possible adjoin onto other private space. However private amenity space can also include balconies within higher density proposals or a combination of private and shared spaces that are accessible to those who can access the property. Consideration can also be given to the incorporation of 'restorative urbanism' that puts mental health and social wellbeing at the heart of the design process. These can include amenity spaces where a small proportion of enclosed space (either communal or singular use) is set aside for rehabilitative functions which can be sensory or educational in nature.

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