Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015
Plan Strategy: Protecting The Natural Environment

The Plan Proposals emphasise the need for a sustainable approach to development in order to protect the environment. In line with the RDS, priority is given to development within existing urban footprints to reduce the need for expansion onto greenfield sites.

The open countryside within the Plan Area is protected through the extension of the Green Belt. The Plan Proposals place a high priority on protection of the fine natural setting of the Metropolitan Urban Area. Major areas of planned urban expansion on greenfield land are restricted to sites which primarily provide for employment creation or community uses at Blaris/West Lisburn and at Mallusk/Newtownabbey. These locations lie on key transport corridors and thereby permit integration between these uses and the existing transport infrastructure.

Linear expansion along transport corridors will ensure that development avoids other more vulnerable areas which are important in terms of the setting of the Metropolitan Area.

Areas of High Scenic Value (AOHSV) are designated in order to protect areas of quality landscape including the Belfast Hills. The Lagan Valley Regional Park (LVRP) is strengthened through the inclusion of additional lands and the majority of the Park now lies within the Green Belt. The shores of Belfast Lough provide a unique natural resource for the Plan Area, and are protected from development. Local Landscape Policy Areas (LLPAs) will protect areas of distinctive landscape and the amenity and settings of settlements, from inappropriate development.

While areas of international and national nature conservation importance are already protected from development through other statutory designations, conservation of bio-diversity is enhanced in the Plan through the designation of Sites of Local Nature Conservation Importance (SLNCIs) and the protection of priority habitats identified by the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy.