Regional Policy Context The RDS contains a range of Strategic Planning Guidelines
and measures which seek to improve the quality of the urban environment within Northern Ireland including:-

• to create a thriving Metropolitan Area centred on a revitalised city of
  Belfast (SPG-BMA 1). This includes the following measures:

  • step up the improvement of the physical appearance of the
    city, the ‘display window’ of the Region, with particular
    emphasis on the city centre and arterial routes by
    promoting the planning and design of a high quality
    cityscape which relates sympathetically to the distinctive
    heritage and setting of Belfast and is characterised by
    quality urban spaces (existing and new), tree-lined
    boulevards, imaginative city scale architecture, arresting
    vistas, protection of outstanding views and landmarks and
    art in public places;
     

  • promote a progressive, comprehensive upgrade of the city
    arterial routes as vibrant “showcases” for Belfast, with an
    integrated approach which sustains and enhances the
    existing “urban villages” along these routes, promotes
    quality frontage redevelopment, extends avenue tree
    planting, introduces landmarks and attractive arrival points
    and establishes quality bus corridors; and
     

  • progressively enlarge and enhance the pedestrian priority
    zone within Belfast City Centre by re-routing traffic around
    the central area to allow the creation of a more people
    friendly environment with quality urban spaces and to help
    promote city centre residential development.
     

• to promote an urban renaissance throughout the Belfast Metropolitan
  Area (SPG-BMA 2) by:

  • enhancing the quality of the urban environment throughout
    the Belfast Metropolitan Area (BMA 2.3). This is to be
    achieved by, amongst other measures, guiding the process
    of physical change to create an urban environment
    characterised by respect for the established fabric of areas
    of townscape character, historic buildings, public spaces and
    streets and the design of a high quality contemporary
    architecture and also by protecting and enhancing landscape
    wedges;
     

• sustain and enhance biodiversity through the conservation and
  enhancement of the setting of cities, towns and villages including the
  landscape wedges linking towns and countryside (ENV 1.1);
   

• to conserve the built environment (SPG-ENV 3) by:

  • conserving the character of cities, towns and villages (ENV
    3.3); and
     

• to create healthier living environments and to support healthy lifestyles
  (SPG-ENV 6).

Regional Planning Policy in relation to built heritage is contained in PPS 6 Planning, Archaeology and the Built Environment. It makes provision for development plans
to designate Areas of Townscape and Village Character and to include local policies for such areas. It also contains policy in relation to the control of new development
in Conservation Areas.

Urban Design Study

Consultants, Urban Initiatives, were appointed to advise the Department on Urban Design within the Plan Area. The Study established the following principles of urban design, which are common to successful urban places:

• Character – development should respond to locally distinctive and
  positive characteristics;

• Continuity and Enclosure – continuous street frontages and enclosure
  of space provide a clear distinction between private and public space;

• Quality of the Public Domain – public spaces should be safe,
  attractive and functional for all users;

• Ease of Movement – development should be well-connected,
  accessible and put the needs of pedestrians over those of vehicular
  traffic;

• Legibility – development should have a clear image, with recognisable
  streets, spaces and landscape to help people find their way around;

• Adaptability – development should be adaptable enough to respond to
  changing social and economic conditions; and

• Integration and Efficiency – development should promote sustainability
  by integrating built form, land use, transport and the natural
  environment.

The Study focused on city and town centres and Arterial Routes and identified the following areas:

• Belfast City Centre character areas;

• high-density accessibility nodes at Great Victoria Street Station/
  Grosvenor Road, Central Station and Gamble Street;

• key streets in Belfast City Centre;

• key gateways to Belfast City Centre; and

• key nodes along Arterial Routes.

Within each of the key areas the consultants analysed local character, identified
both positive and detrimental characteristics of the local environment and
established strategic design guidance and strategic priorities for improving the
quality of the visual environment. Their recommendations have informed the Plan Proposals and their report is published as Volume I of the Urban Environment
Technical Supplement to the Plan.

Built Heritage Study

Consultants, A and E Wright along with John McIlhagga, were appointed to carry
out a Study of the built heritage of the Plan Area and to make recommendations.
The consultants recommended the designation of 69 new Conservation Areas, 7
Areas of Townscape Character (ATC) and 3 Areas of Village Character (AVC). They also recommended that 17 of the existing ATCs should be re-designated as Conservation Areas, 2 should remain as ATCs and 4 should be dropped. Character assessments were prepared for all of the new areas as well as the existing ATCs
and appropriate policies recommended. The recommendations of the consultants
have informed the development of Plan Proposals and the consultant’s Report is published as Volume II of the Urban Environment Technical Supplement to the Plan.

BMA Urban Environment Strategy

The BMA Urban Environment Strategy comprises the following elements: promoting new development of the highest quality; protecting areas of architectural and townscape importance; and promoting healthier living environments.

The Metropolitan Urban Area is the shop window of Northern Ireland and the quality
of its urban environment is important to the Region as a whole. The BMA Urban Environment Strategy promotes a well designed and vibrant Metropolitan Urban
Area which will play an important role in enhancing quality of life, increasing civic
pride and promoting a sense of place. It will also contribute to economic growth by attracting visitors and providing a suitable location for inward investment particularly knowledge based and creative industries.

In recent years the Metropolitan Urban Area has experienced a considerable amount
of new development, most significantly in Belfast City Centre and the Laganside
area. Much of this has made a positive contribution to the physical environment and to the vitality of city and town centres. The Plan Proposals establish coherent
design policies for city and town centres and the Arterial Routes including improvement to the quality of the gateways and routes into Belfast City Centre in
line with its status as a European regional capital.

While the built heritage study recommended 69 new conservation areas, the Plan
is not the statutory vehicle to designate these or to make changes to the
boundaries of existing Conservation Areas. The Plan Proposals, therefore, designate new ATCs and identify those which it is considered merit future Conservation Area designation through the appropriate statutory procedures.

The Department considers the design guidance contained in the Conservation Area designation documents for Hillsborough, Moira and Whitehead Conservation Areas provide an adequate design framework for development in those areas. The Plan Proposals contain design guidance for all other potential Conservation Areas.

The Plan Proposals seek to create environments which are supportive to good
health and have regard to air quality.

Urban Environment Policies

Policy UE 1 Urban Design

Within the designated Character Areas, outside designated Protected Housing Areas in Belfast City Centre and other designated City and Town Centres and Arterial Routes, planning permission will only be given to development proposals which comply with the urban design criteria in the District Proposals.

Specific design criteria for city and town centres and Arterial Routes are contained
in the District Proposals. These are based on the recommendations of the
consultant’s report.

Policy UE 2 Conservation Areas

In Conservation Areas planning permission will only be granted to development proposals which meet the additional design criteria as set out for individual Conservation Areas in the District Proposals.

The existing Conservation Areas are:

Belfast	Belfast City Centre The Cathedral Cyprus Avenue Kings Road Knockdene Linen Malone	Malone Park Adelaide Park McMaster Street Queen’s Somerton Road/Chichester Park Stranmillis
Lisburn	Hillsborough* Lisburn	Moira*
Carrickfergus	Carrickfergus	Whitehead*
Newtownabbey	Merville Garden Village
North Down	Holywood

* No additional design criteria are provided for these Conservation Areas.

To prevent erosion of character from inappropriate development, new development should respect heritage in terms of massing, scale, elevational appearance,
materials and quality. Whilst some sites may be capable of assimilating dramatic architectural contrasts, the general objective is to be sensitive to the built heritage context. Where the Department judges that new development should reinforce the special architectural or historic qualities of the area that provide its legible
character, new design should have particular regard to issues such as scale (of windows, doors, floor to ceiling heights etc.), vertical emphasis (bay, frame, fenestration etc.), rhythm and elevational form (solid to void composition).

In residential areas the Department will seek to retain trees and hedges which are important to the character of the area.

In commercial parts of Conservation Areas, the Department will seek to ensure that
a high quality of design of shop front is achieved. This should respect the architectural qualities of the host building in terms of scale, form and materials. It is important that the elevation reads as an entity and that new shopfronts do not visually divorce the ground and upper floors by giving an over visual dominance to
the glazing on the ground floor. This can be achieved through use of elements such
as pilasters, fascias, stallrisers and subdivision of glass. Materials should be based
on those traditionally used and respect the age and character of the area.

Policy UE 3 Areas of Townscape Character and Areas of Village Character

Within designated Areas of Townscape Character and Areas of Village Character planning permission will only be granted to development proposals which protect or enhance the key features of the designated area, including those set out in the District Proposals and which meet the relevant Key Design Criteria from the list below as set out for individual Areas in the District Proposals. Works to existing buildings, including alterations and extensions, shall be subordinate in form and scale, and complementary in terms of architectural style, detailing and materials to the host building(s). Special regard shall be given to the important compositional role of corner ites and key buildings. Where the application is for sinage, the size, shape and position of the proposed signage shall reflect the scale and facade of the host building.  Sign on timber fascia shall comprise traditional hand painted signs or hanging boards, and lighting sall be unobtrusive and remote.  Only exceptionally, when it is well designed and there is no potential for clutter shall signage be permitted above fascia level. Key Design Criteria 1.   Building Height A   New buildings shall be designed so that heights of eaves, cornices, ridge heights and storey heights conform to those in the adjoining buildings (where relevant) as set out under specified height restrictions. B New Buildings shall not exceed 3 storeys in height 2.   Density/Building          Footprint A New dwellings shall be detached or semi-detached.  Terraced, town house or apartment developments will not normally be permitted B The size, ploy ratio and ratio of footprint to open space in new developments shall be compatible with those of the historic character and appearance in the immediate neighbourhood. C All new or replacement structures on a site shall be located so that the relationship between the existing buildings and the site boundary is retailed. 3.   Landscape          Quality A Development shall not incluse the removal of trees and ares of soft landscaping between the building line and the boundary of the road or footway. B Development shall not include removal of front garden areas and/or traditional front boundary structures. C Hedging or other boundary treatment in new developments shall be in keeping with those traditionally used in the area. 4.   Uniformity of          Design/Layout A New or replacement buildings shall replicate existing forms, layout, materials and detailing of the buildings within the area. B Alterations and extensions sall use the same wall and roofing materials as those of the main building. C The same standards of detailing and design will be applied to all development whether on the street frontage or to the rear of the buildings and whether exposed to or hidden from public view. D Facing brick shall not be used in finishes except in chimney stacks and shop window openings shall be retained. E Development shall not include new side extensions to dwellings. 5.   Townscape          Quality/Detailing A Extensions and alteration works to the rear of terraces shall be subordinate in character to the main building on the street frontage and will be no more than 2 storeys high. B New works shall not disrupt the exiting silhouette of a roof. C External finishes shall reflect the style and materials in the area and shall not include the use of artificial stonework or pebbledash. D Replacement windows shall be the same size, shape and style as those traditionally used in the area. E Brick detailing around doors and windows shall be retained. F New dormer windows shall be located on the rear roof elevation.  In exceptional cases where a dormer is required on the front roof elevation it shall be of pitched design and in scale with the existing building and its fenestration. G Fire escapes shall be provided within the existing building envelope.  Otherwise, they shall be provided on rear elevations and every attempt shall be made to ensure that they are not visible from the public street. H Natural slate or dark grey smooth concrete titles shall be used as a roofing material. 6.   Historic Buildings          and Structures A Existing historic structures located behind the principal premises that form the street frontage shall be retained. B The retention of existing historic ancillary structures shall take precedence over the requirements for additional vehicle access. C The enlargement of existing ground floor windows and door openings in street facades shall be carried out in a traditional manner.

The Plan Proposals for protection of the built heritage are based on identification of Areas of Townscape or Village Character, identification of those ATCs which merit Conservation Area Designation and formulation of appropriate planning policies to manage change.