METROPOLITAN CASTLEREAGH

Urban Design

Arterial Routes

Arterial Routes that run through Castlereagh have historically functioned not only as principal transportation corridors but also as retail and service centres providing important social, commercial, shopping and leisure functions for the communities which live along them.

In addition, Arterial Routes also play a role in establishing local identity and contribute to the overall physical appearance of the Borough.

The structure and character of the urban fabric of these routes varies considerably. Whilst in some areas they are relatively physically intact and commercially vibrant, in other cases the physical environment has suffered as a result of lack of investment, social and demographic change and the impact of the roads infrastructure. As Arterial Routes provide local and neighbourhood reference points, an important aim of this Plan is to promote and develop these routes.

These Arterial Routes are a continuation of Arterial Route designations in Belfast (see Volume 2 Belfast District Proposals).

In general terms new development along these roads should conform to principles of good urban design.

There should be continuous frontages which maximise the opportunities to animate the street. Development should form an edge to the street and follow a common building line without major setbacks.

Land uses that would conflict with this objective such as car sales with hard surfaced forecourt display areas along the road frontage will not be permitted. There should be a robust and adaptable urban form.

To help achieve this there should be a fine grain of development whereby the massing of large development parcels are broken down visually and functionally into smaller units.

Building height and massing should be appropriate to the scale of the street Development should assist in promoting legibility along the Routes; i.e. promote a clearly identifiable and distinctive image, which draws on the character of the local context.

Areas of Townscape Character

The following Areas of Townscape Character (ATCs) MCH 23 - MCH 28 are designated in Castlereagh as identified on Map No. 2a – Metropolitan Castlereagh and on clarification Map Nos. 2r – 2w.

Policy for the control of development within the ATCs is contained in Policy UE 3 in Part 3, Volume 1 of the Plan.

The Cregagh Estate was built by the Northern Ireland Housing Trust between 1945 and 1950. The design and layout of the buildings were influenced by European pre-war ideas on housing and town planning. The “Right to Buy” policy, from the 1980s, has led to a degree of personalisation of the dwellings.

Cregagh is a large and coherent area and was designed as a brand new suburban community. The area is serviced by a variety of community facilities, including a school and shops, grouped around a large area of public open space.

This small enclave is typical of the late Victorian and Edwardian residential suburbs, which developed around the tram routes. Their termini are located where the gradient starts to increase at the foot of the Castlereagh hills. The quality and variety of handsome dwelling houses, set in generous gardens, make this a valuable and area largely unchanged. The sense of place and identity is denoted by the location, with its panoramic views north across the city, and south into the tree covered Castlereagh hills.

A coherent, civic space, locally known as Church Green, is situated at the heart of Dundonald around which are grouped a variety of institutional buildings including the eighteenth century church and 1960s library. This area has been left largely undisturbed by late twentieth century development. Further street tree planting and the use of high quality but simple surfacing materials should be included in any enhancement schemes. It is important that the Green is retained.

Though now detached from its eighteenth century church and cemetery, which lie
to the north of Belvoir Road, the area retains some of its former identity centred around the school, library, shops and housing which include good examples of
modern buildings.

The elevated location of the area provides panoramic views across the Lagan
Valley and the City of Belfast representing an important gateway into the centre of
Belfast.

This is a coherent area of good quality, post Festival of Britain housing. The area is in good condition and has been relatively unaltered, comprising two storey semi-detached houses. These properties are set within reasonably sized and mature front and rear gardens, allowing ample space for car parking and garages. This keeps the roadways clear and adds to the quality of the townscape.

Thiepval is a small estate which was developed by the Millburn Trust in the 1920s for the returning soldiers of World War 1 under the “Homes for Heroes” initiative. It is set against the striking backdrop of the Castlereagh hills, with extensive views out over the city. The uniformity of detailing, design and layout is fundamental to the quality, which makes this area worthy of protection.

Historic Parks, Gardens and Demesnes

This Forest Park originated as a planned landscape in the early 18th century, when the demesne was established for the house built in 1740 and demolished in 1961. There are fine mature trees and the remains of an arboretum begun in the 1840s, which has been added to under the aegis of DANI. The ornamental gardens and the walled garden are now gone. Early maps show fish ponds and a bowling green. The great oak tree is a feature. Other remains from former times are an ice house, stable block and grave yard. Belvoir Park Forest was designated in 1961 and is the only urban forest in Northern Ireland with this nomenclature. It occupies c.74ha and is run as a commercial forest as well as a public amenity with woodland and riverside walks.

Prevailing regional policy for the protection of historic parks, gardens and demesnes of special historic interest is set out in PPS6 Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage. Additional information about the site is contained in the Countryside Assessment Technical Supplement.

Urban Landscape Wedge

A portion of the Dundonald Urban Landscape Wedge (MCH 30) is designated in Metropolitan Castlereagh as identified on Map No. 2a – Metropolitan Castlereagh.

Policy for control of development within the Urban Landscape Wedge is contained in Policy UE 7 in Part 3, Volume 1 of the Plan.

The designated Urban Landscape Wedge will:

• Break up the visual impact of the housing mass in the vicinity;

• Help to retain and define the identities of the component areas of East Belfast and Dundonald;

• Prevent the merger of the different urban communities; and

• Provide additional protection for the component areas of existing open space surrounding the ice bowl complex for the people who live in the surrounding built up urban area space.

The disused Comber Railway Line is of nature conservation value and is protected as a Site of Local Nature Conservation Importance (SLNCI). The E Way rapid transit route is proposed along this transportation route, forming the most northerly section of the wedge within Castlereagh Borough. The Dundonald Wedge LLPA also runs through the site.

A portion of this Urban Landscape Wedge at Knock Golf Course and Dundonald Cemetery lies within Belfast City Council area and is designated in the Belfast District Proposals, Volume 2 of the Plan. For details see clarification Map No. 2ab – Dundonald Urban Landscape Wedge.

Castlereagh Borough Council has advanced plans for leisure provision in the area south of the Old Comber railway line which will fulfil the recreational potential of the Borough. A proposal for a leisure park comprising a multi screen cinema, retail units, restaurant buildings, fast food outlets, ancillary space and car parking has recently been granted planning permission. The Plan stipulates criteria which will apply if the current approval lapses or a further application for planning permission is submitted.

The integrity of the landscape will only be maintained if future development south of the Old Comber railway line is of a sensitive nature, design, scale and massing. Visual separation should be maintained between Belfast to the west and Dundonald to the east, with any acceptable development being integrated with the existing cluster of buildings. Extensions to existing buildings will be strictly controlled to ensure the integrity of the wedge is not prejudiced.

Development proposals should include extensive landscaping and a strongly defined boundary treatment to maintain the visual break in built form. Any new development will also be subject to providing suitable infrastructure, appropriate access arrangements, improved public transport provision and matters relating to visual impact, form, design and layout of development sympathetic to the surrounding landscape.