Development Plans

Home

About Us

Corporate Services

Development Control and Enforcement

Development Plans and Policy

Home > Development Plans and Planning Policy > Development Plans > Draft Magherafelt Area Plan 2015

Magherafelt Area Plan 2015
	Table of Contents

	Preamble

Part 1 Introduction

	Introduction

Part 2 Policy Framework

	Environment and Conservation

	Area of Archaeological Potential

	Settlement

	Housing

	Industry

	Retailing, Services & Offices

	Transportation

	Open Space, Sport & Recreation

	Tourism

	Education & Community Facilities

	Public Utilities

	Minerals

	Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Part 3 Countryside

Countryside

Part 4 Settlement Proposals

Towns

	Magherafelt

		Housing

		Transportation

		Town Centre

		Industry

		Environment & Conservation

		Open Space, Sport & Recreation

	Maghera

		Housing

		Transportation

		Town Centre

		Industry

		Environment & Conservation

		Open Space, Sport & Recreation

Villages

	Bellaghy

	Castledawson

	Draperstown

	Tobermore

Small Settlements

	Ballymaguigan

	Ballynease

	Clady

	Creagh

	Culnady

	Curran

	Desertmartin

	Glen

	Glenone

	Gracefield

	Gulladuff

	Inishrush

	Kilross

	Knockcloughrim

	Longfield

	Moneyneany

	Straw

	Swatragh

	Tamlaght

	Upperlands

	The Woods

	Appendix 1 Policy Context

	Appendix 2 Planning Policy Statements

	Appendix 3 Development Control Advice Notes

	Appendix 4 Sites of International Conservation Importance and Sites of National Conservation Importance

	Appendix 5 The Planning Team

Printer Friendly Version

Settlement Proposals
Towns

MAGHERAFELT
ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

The following sites MT 27 – MT 31 are designated as Local Landscape Policy Areas as identified on Map No. 81a – Magherafelt.

Designation MT 27
Local Landscape Policy Area Mullaghboy Hill Slopes

A Local Landscape Policy Area is designated as identified on Map No. 81a - Magherafelt, Map No. 1 - Countryside and Map No. 81b – Local Landscape Policy Areas showing the full extent of LLPAs affecting the settlement of Magherafelt.

Those features or combination of features that contribute to the environmental quality, integrity or character of these areas are listed below:

Localised hill and associated vegetation contributes to the setting of the town, especially when viewed from the west;
Attractive green slopes with visually significant mature trees in field boundaries contributes to the setting of the town;
The hill and vegetation form a good entrance feature into the town from the west and a significant visual stop to the edge of the settlement development limit.

Designation MT 28
Local Landscape Policy Area Glebe Lands

A Local Landscape Policy Area is designated as identified on Map No. 81a – Magherafelt and Map No. 81b – Local Landscape Policy Areas showing
the full extent of LLPAs affecting the settlement of Magherafelt.

Those features or combination of features that contribute to the environmental quality, integrity or character of these areas are listed below:

Localised hill occupied by an historical grouping of the old Planters’ church and graveyard (an historic monument) on the site of a medieval Parish church, 2 rectories (listed buildings) and Glebe lands, including their mature settings and views from various parts of the town;
Mature trees within boundary hedges are visually significant environmental assets, and a valuable townscape feature, a focus at the bottom of Broad Street and a distinctive form seen from Union Street.

Click here to view Map 81b - Magherafelt Local Landscape Policy Areas

Designation MT 29
Local Landscape Policy Area King Street

A Local Landscape Policy Area is designated as identified on Map No. 81a - Magherafelt and Map No. 81b – Local Landscape Policy Areas showing
the full extent of LLPAs affecting the settlement of Magherafelt.

Those features or combination of features that contribute to the environmental quality, integrity or character of these areas are listed below:

Historically and visually significant grouping of locally important buildings - the Presbyterian Manse, 2 Parochial Houses, listed St. Swithin’s (C of I) Church, and associated vegetation including mature trees, the majority of which are within boundary hedges;
Small hill with mature woodland is of wildlife value and is visually significant in the local landscape and townscape;
Listed Church of Ireland Church, a blackstone building in Gothic style, is prominent in the townscape of Church Street and in views, especially from Church Street/Castledawson Road;
Presbyterian Manse and Parochial House are large substantial properties on large sites with mature vegetation. They are individually distinctive and contribute to the character of the historic core of the town.

Designation MT 30
Local Landscape Policy Area Brennan Court

Mature vegetation including trees along the Roadside boundary, visually significant in the local landscape, and a distinctive feature on a main
approach to the town centre;
Listed building in mature grounds with listed boundary wall contribute to the built character of the local area;
Sensitively designed sheltered housing scheme contributes to the built character of the local area.

Designation MT 31
Local Landscape Policy Area North and East Magherafelt

Significant groups of mature trees along the Tobermore Road and adjacent field boundaries, north of the Hospital Road junction, form a good entrance feature to the town;
Ballyheifer House is a late Georgian farmhouse, a listed and locally important building. It is set within mature treed grounds and on a low hill, and is visually significant in the local landscape;
Irish Hill and Donnelly’s Hill are raised localised landforms along the town’s northern boundary and are visible in the wider landscape. They incorporate good hedgerows and are part of the traditional rural setting of the town;
Important green slopes with hedgerows to the north of Station Road industrial estate, which defines the edge of the town at this place, and are part of the traditional rural the setting of the town;
Mature trees and other significant vegetation within Polepatrick Cemetery and parklands contribute to the quality of the approaches and entrance into the town from the north-east, and are a significant visual stop to the edge of the settlement development limit;
Mature trees along both sides of the Castledawson Road, adjacent to Polepatrick Cemetery and north-eastwards to St. John’s RC Church, form a good entrance feature into the town from the northeast;
St. John’s RC Church (and graveyard) is a locally important building situated on a visually prominent site off the Castledawson Road, with a backdrop of mature trees along two of its boundaries, contributing to the setting of the town and the quality of the approaches from the north east;

Glenbrook House is a listed and locally important building in a mature estate landscape. Mature trees along field and lane boundaries contribute to the quality of the wider area, and to the character of the approach to the town from the north-east;
Millbrook House is a locally important building in a mature estate landscape. Mature trees along field and lane boundaries contribute to the quality of the wider area, and to the character of the approach to the town from the north-east;
Windmill Hill is a raised localised landform on the town’s eastern boundary, is visible in the wider landscape, especially from Pound Road and contributes to the setting of the town. It incorporates good hedgerows and mature trees and helps form a backdrop to the town to the east;
Several stream corridors traverse the area, acting as wildlife corridors, often with visually significant treed banks and steep slopes, contributing to the quality landscape;
The range of land cover including wetland, grassland, hedges and trees are of value for biodiversity.

This large LLPA is an area of distinctive landscape that historically has been used and transformed in various ways, ranging from agricultural uses represented by traditional field patterns to the intensively shaped and planted parkland of the country houses. It is the most distinctive part of the town and makes a major contribution to its sense of place, and provides an outstanding approach to the town from the main A6 Road.

Policy for the control of development in Local Landscape Policy Areas is contained in Policy CON 2 in Part 2 of the Plan.

Designation MT 32
Area of Townscape Character

An Area of Townscape Character is designated as identified on Map No. 81a - Magherafelt and Map No.81c - Magherafelt ATC.

The key features of the area which will be taken into account when assessing development proposals against Policy CON 4 are as follows:

Mostly large, 2 storey and detached, residential properties;
Properties in large mature gardens, set back from the road with long front garden areas;
Variety of house types from traditional to modern design;
Mullaghboy House, a large 2-storey Victorian property set within a substantial site, which is bounded by mature trees. These trees make a
significant contribution to the character of the area;
Built form is subservient to the mature trees and other vegetation;
Residential properties in single occupancy use.

The ATC has a strong sense of place based on regularity of form, built and enclosed, and variety of mature planting, which have been deliberately combined to create a tranquil suburb which is a pleasing contrast with the vitality of the town centre.

Click here to view Map 81c - Magherafelt Area of Townscape Character

The retention of existing vegetation will be a prime constraint to new development.

The form and scale of existing dwellings, and their proportion, in relation to their setting, contribute to the high amenity value of the Area. Low density development with a sensitive approach will therefore be required to any new development. Maintaining the character and relationship of buildings and spaces will be fundamental in considering the setting and orientation of any new proposals in order to safeguard the amenity of neighbouring properties.

Part of the character of this ATC is the juxtaposition of a wide range of building style and materials. The earlier properties often have a smooth render or wet dash finish with a natural slate roof. Later properties introduce pebbledash and large areas of brick. Some dwellings use concrete interlocking roof tiles. There are examples of semi-detached and single storey dwellings, and hip roofs. This variety allows more flexibility in the design of any new building that might be acceptable, but design principles must reflect those that are established, and new build must harmonise with the group. Vertical proportions and a high solid to void ratio are common themes in the building design.

It should be noted that part of the ATC is zoned for housing under zoning MT 11.

Policy for control of development in Areas of Townscape Character is contained in Policy CON 4 in Part 2 of the Plan.

OPEN SPACE, SPORT AND OUTDOOR RECREATION

Magherafelt District Council owns and manages outdoor playing spaces and other areas of open space throughout Magherafelt town. The single largest area for outdoor playing space is at Meadowbank on the Ballyronan Road. This is further supplemented by playing fields and a playground at Stoney Park, adjacent to the Greenvale Leisure Centre, close to the town centre.

The following major areas of existing open space are identified for information only on Map No. 81a - Magherafelt:

Playing fields adjacent to Leckagh Drive;
Rainey Endowed School playing fields;
St Mary’s Grammar School playing fields;
St Pius X High School playing fields.

Additionally, there are private bowling, golf and rugby facilities in the town.

Magherafelt District Council has not identified a need for additional land for open space over the Plan period.