Banbridge / Newry and Mourne Area Plan 2015
District Proposals: Lawrencetown (Page 1 of 2)

Lawrencetown is a village situated approximately 5 kilometres west of Banbridge on the A50 Banbridge to Gilford road.

The River Bann, which runs from east to west through the settlement, dominates the setting of the village. The river sits in a well-treed valley landscape, at the foot of a ridge that stretches from Lenaderg to Gilford.

The main part of the settlement which originally grew up around a riverside linen mill, is focused around the crossroads of Banbridge Road / Drumnascamp Road / Point Road. The growth of the village has mainly occurred on the northern side of Banbridge Road with the exception of a small cluster of dwellings on Holymount Road and Point Road. There is a mix of both public sector and private dwellings in the settlement.

Facilities in the village include a primary school, St. Patrick's RC Church, two shops, tyre depot and car wash, gaelic playing fields and clubhouse, community centre, boxing club and pub / restaurant.

The settlement development limit has been designated to take account of land with extant planning permission for housing and sites that have not yet been approved but are at a stage in the planning process where there is reasonable expectation that approval will be granted.

The settlement development limit has been drawn to take account of the role of the settlement, accommodating sites for new development opportunities while protecting the character of the village. It seeks to prevent ribboning along Banbridge Road and to protect higher land along Knocknagore Road, Drumnascamp Road and Point Road from development. The maintenance and protection of the attractive landscape setting of the village is an important Plan objective.

The Housing Needs Assessment has identified a social housing need of 4 dwellings for Lawrencetown. It is envisaged that this will be met through the development control process.

Details of the social housing allocation and associated methodology are contained in the Population and Housing Technical Supplement.

The following site, LN 02 (committed) is zoned for housing. Policy for the control of development on zoned sites is contained in Policy SMT 2 in Volume 1 of the Plan. Zoned land will be developed in accordance with all prevailing regional planning policy and with any relevant Plan Policies and Proposals, including where specified, key site requirements.

The Plan does not stipulate key site requirements for committed sites because future development will be subject to the conditions attached to the planning permission. However, in the event that such permission may lapse, Planning Service may alter existing conditions or attach new conditions to any subsequent approval to take account of prevailing regional planning policy and the Plan proposals.

The site has full planning permission for 115 dwellings.

The A50 is a Protected Route as indicated on Map No. 2/07 - Lawrencetown. Policy for the control of access to this route is contained in Policy AMP 3 of PPS 3 - Access, Movement and Parking.

The disused rail track bed, as indicated on Map No. 2/07 - Lawrencetown, could be used for transport or recreational purposes and is protected under Policy AMP 5 of PPS 3 - Access, Movement and Parking.