Home

About Us

Corporate Services

Development Control and Enforcement

Development Plans and Policy

Home > Development Plans and Planning Policy > Development Plans > Cookstown Area Plan 2010

In Development Plans and Policy
	Development Plans and Planning Policy

	Planning Strategies

	Planning Policy Statements

	Development Plans

	Supplementary Planning Guidance

	Minerals Planning

	Airport Public Safety Zones

TRANSPORTATION

INTRODUCTION

The movement of people is essential to the functioning of any area, as is the
efficient distribution of goods and services. The Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service is the sole authority responsible for the public road system in Northern Ireland. Within Cookstown District the Protected Route network consists of:

• the A29 (Moneymore – Dungannon);

• the A31 (Moneymore – Magherafelt); and

• the A505 (Cookstown – Omagh).

Public transport provision in the District is principally the responsibility of Translink, which operates both local and express bus services.

REGIONAL POLICY CONTEXT

The Regional Development Strategy (RDS) and Regional Transportation Strategy
(RTS) set out guidance, policies and proposals in seeking to meet the region’s transportation challenges. Both of these strategies share the same vision of a ‘modern, sustainable, safe transportation system which benefits society, the
economy and the environment and which actively contributes to social inclusion
and everyone’s quality of life’.

The major themes in the RDS relating to transportation are:

• developing a regional strategic transport network;

• extending travel choice;

• integrating land use and transportation;

• changing travel culture and contributing to healthier lifestyles; and

• a modern integrated transport system for the Belfast Metropolitan Area (BMA).

The RDS and the RTS also reflect the transportation principles set out in the
Northern Ireland Transport Policy Statement, Moving Forward, published in November 1998, which provides strategic guidelines for the long-term development of the transportation network and promotes a more integrated approach to transportation and land use planning at a regional level.

The RDS identifies a core transport network of important regional and metropolitan routes known as the Regional Strategic Transportation Network (RSTN). The RSTN comprises the 5 Key Transport Corridors, the Link Corridors and the BMA Corridors, along with the remainder of the trunk road network and the Regional Gateways. The RTS provides the framework to facilitate the future development of the RSTN.

The Department’s current regional planning policies on the roads aspect of transportation policy are set out in Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS 3):
Development Control: Roads Considerations. PPS 3 sets out those matters which will be taken into account in determining planning applications involving development which affects the public road network and road safety. The Department published in December 2003 a public consultation draft revision of PPS 3, entitled Access, Movement and Parking.

The Department for Regional Development is currently preparing PPS 13: Transportation and Land Use, which flows directly from the strategic policy guidelines within the RDS and forms part of the implementation process of the Strategy. The primary objective of PPS 13 is to promote an integrated approach to the planning of transportation and development at all levels in the formulation of policy.

Supplementary Planning Guidance is contained in Development Control Advice
Note 15 (2nd edition): Vehicular Access Standards, August 1999.

Plan Policy TRAN 1 New Roads and Road
Improvement Schemes

Protected road-lines are identified for the following road schemes:

• the proposed Eastern Distributor Road in Cookstown;

• the proposed A29 Moneymore By-pass; and

• proposed improvements between the Sandholes Road and Omagh Road in Cookstown.

Development proposals that would prejudice the implementation of these road schemes will not be permitted. These road schemes and other minor road improvements will be undertaken as resources permit.

Three major road schemes are currently contained in the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service Works Programme for Cookstown District and it is intended that these will be undertaken over the plan period as resources permit (see Plan Policy TRAN 2).

The Cookstown Eastern Distributor Road

The need for this road, incorporating an improved design, has been determined following the Cookstown Transportation Study undertaken by JMP Consultants Ltd on behalf of DRD. The Eastern Distributor Road will service new development zonings in the eastern part of Cookstown and when completed will provide relief to the town centre from through traffic.

The A29 Moneymore By-pass

The existing route of the A29 through the historic village of Moneymore is considered unsatisfactory in terms of the effect on local amenity, the character of the village
and traffic flows. Accordingly, the Department for Regional Development considers it necessary to provide a by-pass.

Road Improvements between the Sandholes Road and Omagh Road

The Department for Regional Development proposes to carry out improvements to the existing road network between the Sandholes Road and the Omagh Road in Cookstown. It is considered that these improvements, together with the Eastern Distributor Road will facilitate the free movement of traffic along the Omagh, Dungannon and
Moneymore Roads and will also reduce the need for traffic to travel through the town centre.

The protected road lines for these schemes are identified on the relevant Settlement Map Nos. 36a and 53a.

Minor road improvement schemes and traffic management works within the District
will be undertaken by DRD over the plan period subject to available funding to
address local problems. Roads Service will continue to consult Cookstown District Council annually on the schemes required and their prioritisation.

Plan Policy TRAN 2 Development reliant upon the Cookstown Eastern Distributor Road
	Development proposals that rely upon the Eastern Distributor Road to provide satisfactory access will not normally be permitted in advance of the road being provided by the Department for Regional Development. However, the incremental implementation of this road by developers in association with development proposals may be given favourable consideration.

The Department for Regional Development intends to develop the Cookstown Eastern Distributor Road in stages over the plan period subject to the availability of finance. However, it is acknowledged that satisfactory access to certain zoned sites will be dependent upon the provision of the road (these are identified in Part 3 of the Plan) and as a consequence these lands may not be available for development until the appropriate stage of the road is completed. In advance of DRD providing the road
and subject to phasing and other Plan policies, favourable consideration may be
given to proposals where developers are willing to provide an appropriate section
of the road to the Department for Regional Development’s required standards and in accordance with prevailing regional planning policy.

Plan Policy TRAN 3 Retention of Car Parks in
Cookstown Town Centre

Car parks to be retained in Cookstown town centre are identified at the following locations:

Loy Street, Union Street, and Burn Road/Orritor Street.

Development proposals that would result in the loss of parking spaces at these car parks will normally be refused. An exception may be made where:

• a limited number of car parking spaces are to be lost due to an environmental improvement or other town centre enhancement scheme; or

• the car parking spaces are to be replaced either by a more efficient car parking arrangement or in another location that is conveniently located to the Primary Retail Core of the town centre.

Where replacement parking is permitted at another location Planning Service will require that this be provided prior to the alternative use or development of any part of the existing site.

Within Cookstown town centre there is a number of public car parks that help to relieve on-street car parking problems and contribute to the overall accessibility and attractiveness of the town centre to car-borne shoppers. Accordingly, in the
interests of the vitality and viability of the town centre, the Department considers
it important to protect the identified car parks by retaining them in their current use. This policy will apply equally to existing providers and any subsequent owners or operators in the event of disposal.

Plan Policy TRAN 4 Walkways/Cycleways and Routes to Schools
	A network of Walkways/Cycleways and Routes to Schools is identified in Cookstown. Development proposals that would prejudice the existing use or future provision of these routes will not be permitted. Where walkways/cycleways cross development zonings developers will be required to make appropriate provision for the route as an integral part of the development.

The Department identifies a number of walkways/cycleways throughout the District
to promote these sustainable forms of travel and in recognition of their wider recreational/health and environmental benefits. Some of these routes, such as that proposed along the Ballinderry River, benefit from particularly attractive surroundings whilst others are purely practical in function.

The RDS proposes the creation of walking and cycling routes to schools for children. Roads Service is currently promoting the Travelwise Safer Routes to Schools initiative to encourage more children to walk or cycle to school, thus reducing the demand on the road network at peak times.

A number of possible routes to schools is identified in Cookstown following
consultation with the District Council. Roads Service will consider these routes when developing the Safer Routes to Schools initiative with schools in Cookstown.