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

Bessbrook, located approximately 3 kilometres from Newry, is one of the earliest model villages associated with the industrial revolution. It is set in undulating countryside with parkland, woodland and mature tree-lined roads much in evidence. There are also a number of archaeological sites and monuments on land surrounding the village including raths and standing stones. Derrymore House and grounds, (owned by the National Trust), bound the village to the southeast.

This mill village was founded in 1845 by John Grubb Richardson (a Quaker linen manufacturer), to house workers at his mill. The model village comprised granite houses with slate roofs arranged in terraces round two squares linked by a broad road. Both squares had a green in the middle. This central part of the village is now a Conservation Area. The Richardson’s also built schools, a butcher's shop, dairy, dispensary, savings bank, village hall and several churches but no pub, pawnshop or police house, these last three being deemed undesirable and unnecessary. The village has expanded over the years with recent developments spreading west towards Convent Hill and south along Green Road and High Street down to the Camlough Road.

Presently there are a good range of public facilities available within the village that include a chemist shop, grocery store, butcher shop, post office, library, furniture store and credit union. Two primary schools and a secondary school also serve the village. There are a number churches within the village these including Bessbrook Presbyterian Church, Christ Church (C of I), St Peter and St Paul’s RC Church and Bessbrook Methodist Church.

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 are at a stage in the planning application process where there is a reasonable expectation that planning approval will be granted. The settlement development limit also takes account of the role of the settlement whilst protecting its natural setting.

The designation of the settlement development limit around Bessbrook has been drawn to maintain its identity and prevent coalescence with Newry while allowing for the protection of the historical aspects of the settlement, including the conservation area. Consideration has also been given to locally significant areas of landscape and through the designation of the limit the protection of these areas from development may be ensured. This limit will effectively allow for the rationalisation and consolidation of existing development. This measure will help avoid further urban expansion into the surrounding rural area and ribbon development along the main routes out of the village.

The Housing Needs Assessment has identified a social housing need of 30 dwellings for Bessbrook. The following sites have been identified in whole or in part to meet this social housing need in Bessbrook.

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

The following sites, including committed 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 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.

This is part of a larger approved housing development. A total of 14 dwellings remained to be built at August 2003.

This site is the second phase of the Derrymore Meadows private housing development. At August 2003, 23 dwellings remained to be built.

Full planning application has been granted for the erection of 14 social housing units on this site. Development has commenced.

The Housing Needs Assessment has identified a supported housing need of 13 units in Bessbrook. The following site is zoned in whole or in part to meet this supported housing need.

An application for planning permission has been submitted for a supported housing residential home on this site.

The Housing Needs Assessment has identified a need for 8 units of travellers (group housing) accommodation in the Newry and Mourne District. The following site has been identified in whole or in part to meet this travellers accommodation need for the District.

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

The following site BK 07 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.

This site would have potential for mixed uses, including residential, employment uses and leisure. The acceptability of such uses would depend on their proximity to existing uses adjacent to that portion of the site.