Banbridge / Newry and Mourne Area Plan 2015
District Proposals: Scarva

Scarva is a linear settlement located at the western boundary of the district approximately 8 kilometres from Banbridge.

The village sits at a bridging point over the main Belfast to Dublin railway line, the disused Newry Canal and the Newry River, which all run from north to south along the eastern edge of the settlement. The village is framed to the south by the woodland setting of Scarva Demesne and to the east by Scarva Park and a local drumlin. There are a number of archaeological sites in the area, which mainly lie to the east and southeast of the settlement.

Historically the village had strategic importance given its location as a bridging point on the Down/Armagh county boundary and was a gathering point for the Williamite armies in 1690. With the opening of the Canal the local landowner was granted a charter in 1746 to enable him to hold 4 fairs a year and to construct a small dock and quay on the canal. He also provided ground on the edge of his estate for the building of the Presbyterian Church. By the 1830s the village comprised a 350 yard long Main Street comprised of terraced dwellings and a small wharf on the canal. The opening of the railway ensured continued prosperity and further church and civic buildings were added to the village. It retained this original form until the mid 20th century when two post war public sector developments were built to the rear of St. Mathew's Church and to the north of the village. More recently private sector housing has spread along the east bank of the canal to the north and south of the village. All development has been on the eastern side of the Canal.

Scarva is an attractive rural village that can be accessed by road or the rail. Facilities include a visitor centre, two churches, a primary school, a public house, a shop and post office, an antiques shop, an attractive park and playing fields.

The settlement development limit is designated to take account of land with extant planning permission for housing and sites that have not yet been approved but which are at a stage in the planning application process where there is a 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 rural character of the village and the facilities it has to offer. The Newry Canal and River provide a strong boundary to the west, the other boundaries have been drawn to protect the compact form of the village and stop further intrusion of development into the countryside along Gilford Road, Glenloughan Road and Old Mill Road.

The Housing Needs Assessment has identified a social housing need of 2 dwellings for Scarva. 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 sites are 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 98 dwellings.

This site is part of a larger partially completed development. It comprises that part of the development that remained undeveloped at the plan base date. The site has full planning permission for 12 dwellings.

The importance of mixed use development is highlighted in PPS 1 - General Principles.

The following site is zoned for mixed use development. 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 site has outline planning permission for housing development, however other uses may also be acceptable.

The disused canal and disused rail track bed, as indicated on Map No. 2/09 - Scarva, could be used for transport or recreational purposes and are protected under Policy AMP 5 of PPS 3 - Access, Movement and Parking.