The District Proposals have been developed in the context of the Plan Strategy and Plan Proposals contained in Volume 1 of the Plan. They therefore reflect the planning policy content of the RDS, Planning Policy Statements and the Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland.  

In addition to the strategic planning guidelines (SPGs) relevant to the development of the Plan Proposals applying to the BMA as a whole which are set out in Part 3, Volume 1 of the Plan, there are also a number of SPGs and measures specifically relevant to Castlereagh Borough as follows:  

Strategic Planning Guidelines and Measures for Castlereagh:

• To create a thriving Metropolitan Area which aims to build on the distinctive and complementary roles of each of the component urban centres within the BMA to create a strong city complex capable of competing in the league of European cities.  (SPG-BMA 1). 
   

• To develop the complementary role of the suburban district of Castlereagh (BMA 1.2) by:
   

  • enhancing the role of Castlereagh as an attractive residential location, whilst protecting its environmental setting;
     

  • continuing to support Castlereagh as an important centre of employment and services for the wider Metropolitan area; and
     

  • recognising the recreational potential of Castlereagh with its wide range of outdoor leisure assets, including Belvoir Forest Park and the Lagan Valley Regional Park, together with indoor facilities at the Dundonald International Ice Bowl and leisure complex. 
     

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

  • promoting urban economic development at key locations, on suitable sites, throughout the Metropolitan Area (BMA 2.1); and
     

  • maintaining and enhancing identifiable local centres of commerce and community services throughout the Metropolitan Area.
     

• Enhance the quality of the urban environment throughout the Metropolitan Area (BMA 2.3) by: 
   

  • protecting areas of high scenic value around the Metropolitan Area, seeking to keep hill slopes and skylines free from urban development; and
     

  • keeping buffer wedges at the edge of the main urban component areas to distinguish and maintain the identities of Bangor, Carrickfergus, Dundonald, Holywood and Lisburn.
     

• To develop and enhance the Metropolitan Transport Corridor Network (SPG-BMA 3) by:
  
  The Metropolitan Transport Corridors that radiate from Belfast City Centre and link together the constituent parts of the BMA are important for integrating land use and planning. To develop these corridors it will be necessary to:
   

  • create an integrated Metropolitan Transport Corridor Network, and developing a system of strategic transport corridors based on the Metropolitan Transport Corridors and their connections to the Key and Link Transport Corridors. These will form the main development spines around which the future land use pattern will be planned;
     

  • prepare transport corridor plans, to achieve general consistency in programming the implementation of integrated transportation measures with the housing and employment opportunities, providing for the more efficient linking of Belfast with the other parts of the BMA, including Castlereagh; and
     

  • balancing inner and outer accessibility by recognising the different role and potential of orbital, as well as radial, corridors and assess the need for additional transport corridor plans for orbital routes to improve accessibility links around the BMA.
     

• To extend travel choice for all sections of the community by enhancing public transport (SPG-TRAN 2) by:
   

  • strengthening the regional bus network in ways which will reinforce the locational policies in the Spatial Development Strategy; and
     

• To integrate land use and transportation (SPG-TRAN 3) by:
   

  • developing land use patterns which contribute to a much better range of travel choices for all, and reduce the demand for travel.
     

• Protect, enhance and encourage appreciation of the Region’s landscapes (ENV 1.4) by: 
   

  • conserve and enhance the strategic value of the Lagan Valley Regional Park;
     

  • promote the conservation and wise management of the Belfast Hills and consider ways of conserving the regional resource value of the other Antrim, Holywood and Castlereagh Hills which provide the setting for the metropolitan area.
     

• To set housing growth indicators to guide the distribution of housing in the Region over the period to 2015, through the development plan process, in accordance with the Spatial Development Strategy (SPG-HOU3).
   

• To continue to create and sustain an attractive and unique rural environment in the interests of the rural community and the Region as a whole (SPG-RNI 5).
   

This will involve the need to control development in the commuter zone around the BMA, where there is pressure for development by means of Green Belt.  Plan for more measured growth in those small towns and villages in the BMA hinterland which have been growing too fast due to mobile housing demand, in order to protect their identity, character and setting.