Banbridge Newry & Mourne Plan 2015

Strategic Plan Framework: Design

Our quality of life can be enhanced through good design. The Department wishes to secure a high quality of design, layout and landscaping in all new development to ensure more attractive and sustainable environments for present and future generations. This emphasis on quality and sustainability means that, these matters are considered as important as the suitability of the site in deciding whether to grant planning permission.

Quality design comes from achieving a balanced response to all the factors influencing a scheme. It will require schemes with individuality and which respond to a local context by making the most of a site's characteristics and its landscape or townscape setting. Quality design also entails variety and contrast within developments in terms of layout, boundaries and planting, and in adapting the buildings and spaces around them, to enhance local distinctiveness. It requires a greater attention to detail and consideration of other matters which contribute to a sense of place, such as the creation of landmarks and the use of public art. Quality design addresses the needs of children and the elderly and encourages pedestrian and cycle movements, makes provision for increased use of public transport, promotes biodiversity, encourages wildlife and integrates open space.

Good design can contribute to the creation of a safer and more secure environment through careful consideration of how buildings and the spaces around them will be used and perceived. Areas which are well used or benefit from passive surveillance, feel safe and are less likely to suffer from problems with anti-social behaviour and crime. Useful advice and guidance is available through the Secured by Design Initiative (UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of 'designing out crime'.)

Regional Policy Context

A guiding principle of the RDS is the protection and enhancement of the environment through an approach to development and policy formation which, has the condition of the environment as a central deciding factor. The RDS states that character, or a sense of place, is an important element in the process which allows us to identify with the communities in which we live. The RDS includes the following SPG;

• To foster a stronger community spirit and sense of place in relation to local development proposals in urban and rural areas by the use of Local Development Guidelines (SPG-ENV 4).

The RDS defines local development guidelines which should be used to analyse proposals for development in order to maximise their contribution towards conservation of diversity within our settlements.

Local development guidelines for urban and rural areas

• Identity - Encouraging community participation in the planning process. Reinforcing a sense of belonging and sense of place by maintaining distinctive places throughout local communities and in local landscape character areas, including places of public assembly and community interaction, focal points, landmarks and a continuity of urban and rural traditions.
• Vitality - Continuously caring for, restoring and renewing the physical fabric of
  towns and villages by a strong emphasis on the imaginative re-use of older
  buildings and the use of previously developed land as a fundamental component
  of the regeneration process for towns, villages and rural areas.
• Proximity - Providing compatible mixed use developments extending local community choice and opportunity in relation to jobs, commercial facilities and services.
• Accessibility - Developing multi-modal systems of urban and rural transport which would enhance accessibility for local communities to the full range of urban activities and meet the needs of people with disabilities. This would be achieved by integrating public transport, cycling and walking with a more responsible use of the private car, whilst facilitating the movement of goods.
• Amenity - Providing Community Greenways to establish connections with nature and the countryside, and local historic features, for residents in urban and rural areas by maintaining and building up an interlinked pattern of public open spaces, play facilities and landscaped areas, woodlands and wildlife habitats, pedestrian and cycle routes, linking to rivers, canals, coastal and inland waters, as well as respecting the rural setting of towns and villages.
• Quality - Fostering an imaginative and resource efficient quality of design which respects existing rural or urban character, local tradition and human scale.

PPS 1 - General Principles sets out the key themes that underlie the Department's overall approach to planning across the whole range of land use topics. It highlights the importance of good design in promoting sustainable development; improving the quality of the existing environment; attracting business and investment; reinforcing civic pride and creating a distinct sense of place.

PPS 7 - Quality Residential Environments sets out the Department's regional planning policies for achieving quality in the design and layout of new residential developments.

PPS 6 - Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage and Addendum to PPS 6 - Areas of Townscape Character, set out the Department's regional planning policies for the protection and conservation of the built heritage.

Draft PPS14 - Sustainable Development in the Countryside contains regional planning policies for the location, siting and design of development in the countryside.

Further regional planning policies relating to both urban and rural design are currently set out in PSRNI.

Supplementary planning guidance is contained in the following documents: -

• 'Creating Places, Achieving Quality in Residential Developments'(May 2000);
• 'A Design Guide for Rural Northern Ireland'(May 1994); and
• Various Conservation Area designation documents and Design Guides.

Urban Design

Interaction with the urban environment is an unavoidable part of everyday life. It is therefore desirable to create attractive, high quality, sustainable places in which to live, work and relax. Development often presents opportunities to improve the urban environment and how it is occupied and used. Careful consideration should be given to how any development will interact with the existing surrounding built form and how any new buildings and spaces will be used.

Careful design is particularly important in areas of built heritage importance such as Conservation Areas and Areas of Townscape Character (ATCs). The ATC designations contained in Volume 2 and Volume 3 of the Plan detail those features that contribute to the distinct character of the urban form.

Many of the sites zoned in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan have key site requirements which contain design guidance relating to the layout of the site, building height etc.

Urban Design Policies

Regional policy for the design of development in settlements is contained in policies SP 18, DES 2 and DES 4 of PSRNI, PPS7 - Quality Residential Environments, PPS 6 Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage and Addendum to PPS 6 - Areas of Townscape Character .

The purpose of this policy is to extend the approach to quality development contained in PPS7 - Quality Residential Environments to developments for non-residential land uses.

The vitality and viability of town and city centres can be enhanced by the application of quality design standards to new development. The creation and retention of active ground floor facades can help to achieve a quality urban environment and can have a positive impact on the perceived safeness of the public realm.

Increasing levels of crime and vandalism, and the fear of them, have led to many businesses taking measures to improve security. A number of options are used, including video surveillance, alarm systems, provision of removable external grilles, and other external roller shutters of various designs.

Whilst some of these measures may have little impact on the appearance of a building, others can have a significant impact both individually and collectively on the street scene. Externally mounted security shutters can be highly intrusive and damaging to the appearance of an area, particularly when located on Listed Buildings or on buildings within Conservation Areas or ATCs. Their impact can be reduced by installing latticed or perforated shutters colour coated to match the shop front. This also permits some penetration of light from within the premises creating a more pleasant night-time environment.

Internal lattice grilles are the least damaging, allowing window displays and lighting to remain visible. Use of toughened glass is another alternative.

In determination of applications for planning permission for external grilles and shutters, account will be taken of their impact individually and cumulatively on the street scene and the need for security.

In the past, car parking requirements associated with developments in city and town centres have often been located on the ground floor. Given the small plots often found in these locations, car parking has prevented active uses at ground floor level. This has resulted in features detrimental to quality urban environments, visual amenity and vitality and vibrancy of city and town centres at ground floor level. These include long blank facades, security grilles or roller shutters and service entrances.

Car parking will no longer be permitted at ground floor level where it would result in dead frontage. In order to promote vitality at street level, new development will be expected to incorporate active uses and positive features at ground floor level such as shop fronts and windows. These features assist in the animation of the street and improve legibility.

Rural Design

Good design can mitigate the visual impact of development in the open countryside. It is therefore important that, development reflects any distinctive local style and is properly integrated into the rural landscape.

Parts of the Plan Area are characterised by highly distinctive stone wall boundaries. In places these walls may dominate the countryside creating a unique and unified landscape with distinct field patterns. In many cases, stone walls may also be beneficial to wildlife. The conservation and retention of traditional stone walls is desirable to maintain their intrinsic value within the landscape.

Prevailing regional policy for the design of development in the countryside is contained in Draft PPS 14 - Sustainable Development in the Countryside.

Supplementary planning guidance can be found in 'A Design Guide for Rural Northern Ireland' (DOE (NI), May 1994). While the design guidance contained in the guide concentrates on houses in the countryside, the design process can be applied to any building in the rural landscape. Guidelines for the design and siting of agricultural buildings are given in the booklet 'The Siting and Design of Farm Buildings in the Countryside'(DARD, April 2005).

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Regional policy for the design of development in AONBs is contained in Policy DES 4 of PSRNI.

The Mourne Mountains and surrounding countryside and coast are renowned for their natural beauty and are designated as an AONB. It is imperative that development does not despoil this important environmental asset. Quality design is therefore particularly important in this sensitive landscape. Design guidance for new dwellings is contained in the Department's publication 'Dwellings in the Mournes: A Design Guide' (April, 1990).

The 'Ring of Gullion AONB: Guide to Designation' (DOE (NI), December 1991), highlights the importance of good design in protecting and enhancing the outstanding landscape quality of the area and seeks to restrict inappropriate development in areas of high scenic quality. The guide requires new buildings in the countryside to respect and reflect the traditional styles and settlement pattern of their locality. It also encourages the retention or reconstruction of traditional boundary details such as hedges, walls, trees and gates around all new development.

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