Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015
Plan Strategy: Enhancing Quality Of Life

The Plan Proposals seek to support an improved quality of life through an appropriate allocation of land within the settlements for housing and job creation, leisure, community, cultural, education and health facilities, and open space. A mixed-use approach is encouraged to the development of new residential areas. Emphasis is also placed on the development of balanced local communities and meeting social housing need. In these ways the Plan Proposals seek to facilitate the development of ‘liveable communities’ providing choice and opportunity in relation to jobs, commercial facilities and services. Improvements in public transport will provide safe and equitable access to employment and major services.

The Plan Proposals seek to further community interaction and cohesion through the development of ‘shared places’ accessible to all the community. The role of city and town centres, and other main foci of community life throughout the BMA is supported and strengthened by policies to develop their use as centres of retail and office development.

The development of healthier lifestyles in support of Belfast City Council’s Healthy Cities Project is encouraged through increased provision for walking and cycling facilities together with policies which seek to provide an alternative to travel by car. Reduction in car travel offers the potential for improvement in air quality on major routes. Community greenways are identified including parks, playing fields and natural areas to create a network of open spaces and opportunities for leisure and recreation. In addition the Plan Proposals identify new lands for open space.

A key element in enhancing the quality of life is to achieve a significant improvement in the quality of the urban environment. Protection and enhancement of the environment helps in improving quality of life in the Metropolitan Area, and assists in attracting employment and promoting economic growth. The Plan Strategy seeks to achieve this by protecting natural and built heritage and by requiring a high standard of development in key locations which serve as ‘shop windows’ for the Metropolitan Area, including, for example city and town centres. Quality in new development is promoted through the provision of Key Site Requirements for the development of zoned and designated lands.