Northern Ireland Planning Service

Ards and Down Area Plan 2015
District Proposals: Downpatrick Industry

In keeping with the status of Downpatrick as a main hub and consequently its strategic role as a centre of employment, it is proposed to zone some 19.7 hectares of industrial land within the settlement limit.
The Down Area Plan 1982-1997 zoned areas of land for industry within Downpatrick and some capacity remains within these areas. Lands zoned in the Plan for industry include the residue of lands previously zoned and remaining undeveloped at the commencement of preparation of the Plan.
An additional area has been identified for industrial development in accordance with Policy SETT 1 and Proposal IND 3 in Volume 1 of the Plan as indicated on Map No. 3/002a, Downpatrick Settlement Map. These lands are located adjoining the existing industrial area at the Flying Horse.
Applications for planning permission within these sites will be determined in accordance with prevailing regional planning policy
Proposal DK 14 7.9 Hectares at Killough Road
Key Design Considerations:
  • satisfactory vehicular access arrangements shall be provided to include upgrading and widening of the Killough Road where it borders the site and provision of a right turn facility at the access to the site;
  • all new development shall provide a high quality of layout and design;
  • buildings should exhibit variety in their elevational treatment and heights;
  • direct and convenient pedestrian access arrangements shall be provided;
  • provision of a 8-10m indigenous planting buffer along the western and southern boundaries to reduce the visual impact of industrial development on the edge of the open countryside as well as appropriate landscaping within the site; and
  • interim sewage disposal measures may be necessary until such time as the required upgrade to the Waste Water Treatment Works for Downpatrick is complete and fully operational.
Proposal DK 15 11.8 Hectares at Cloonagh Road and Brannish Road
Key Design Considerations:
  • provision of satisfactory accesses onto the existing industrial estate roads;
  • retention of sufficient existing trees and vegetation within the site to screen the development from the Killough and Flying Horse Roads and reduce the visual impact of industrial development on the edge of the open countryside; and
  • interim sewage disposal measures may be necessary until such time as the required upgrade to the Waste Water Treatment Works for Downpatrick is complete and fully operational.
The lands owned by Invest Northern Ireland at Brannish Road and Killough Road are suitable for service industry and general industrial projects and currently contain 7.52 hectares of developable industrial land. Logue Casings Ltd has built a new industrial unit within this area since the beginning of the Plan period. An additional 0.62 hectares of land is available at Cloonagh Road
Proposal DK 16 Existing Industrial Lands
The following areas of existing industrial lands are designated in accordance with Policy IND 1 in Volume 1 of the Plan and as indicated on Map No. 3/002a Downpatrick Settlement Map:
  • Flying Horse Road
  • Brannish Road
  • Cloonagh Road
  • Killough Road
  • Ballydugan Road
Downpatrick also has a large, 34 hectare, serviced industrial estate on the Belfast Road with 19.83 hectares of remaining developable land, (see Proposal COU 12 and the relevant Down Countryside Map). 35 industrial units and a new office block have been built near the entrance to the estate, with a number of office blocks with storage and factories built further within the site. The remaining lands have been laid out, serviced and landscaped in accordance with the planning approval.
There is therefore a total of 44.71 hectares of existing industrial land within or close to Downpatrick, the majority of which is located on the A7 Belfast to Downpatrick Link Corridor as identified within the RDS.
Previous Next