Role of tall buildings as visual markers in the urban environment

Well-designed tall buildings on prominent sites can play a role in acting as visual markers that help to open up, enclose, frame or terminate key views and visual axis. However, achieving a view terminus will not in itself provide planning justification for the siting of a tall building. While Belfast does not as yet benefit from having a formalised range of protected views, key views and vistas in this context will include (but not be limited to) views to and from key listed buildings as well as views from strategic public vantage points across the city, including from public realm, civic spaces, parks, pedestrian bridges and the city's waterfront area.