Banbridge / Newry and Mourne Area Plan 2015
Strategic Plan Framework: Land for Housing

Sites in the city, towns and villages with a capacity of less than 10 dwelling units, and land within the small settlements, are not normally specifically zoned for housing. However, an exception is made where a social housing need has been identified. An unallocated residual allowance is also made for dwellings in the open countryside.

Full details of the housing allocation process are set out in the Population and Housing Technical Supplement.

In view of the amount of committed land, the level of allocation to the towns and the need to ensure choice and an equitable distribution of housing land, it is considered inappropriate to phase zoned housing land.

Housing units constructed throughout the Plan Area between 31 December 1998 and the Plan base date of 1 August 2003, are included in the overall figures for housing yield since this period falls within the full operational period of the provisions of the RDS. The Population and Housing Technical Supplement provides details of the units constructed within the designated settlements during this period.

There is a significant amount of undeveloped land with extant planning approval for housing in the designated settlements which is considered as committed land. Land with extant planning approval contributes to the potential supply of housing land. Formal zonings in the city, towns and villages include sites where there is:

The Population and Housing Technical Supplement provides details of all land with extant planning approval within the designated settlements.

Windfall development is potential future housing development on land not designated for housing. It can arise, for example, as a result of plot subdivision or property conversion and can contribute to the housing land supply over the Plan period. Accordingly, past trends and broad-based survey techniques have been used to estimate the potential level of windfall development that might occur during the Plan period; this has been taken into account in the housing allocation process. The implications of densities and yields achieved in practice will be considered at the time of the mid term Plan review 2. The Population and Housing Technical Supplement provides an estimate of windfall for each of the designated settlements.

The Regional Development Strategy (RDS) aims to provide an increased share of future residential development within the existing urban footprint, to reduce greenfield housing extensions and to encourage compact urban forms, in order to promote sustainable forms of development. The RDS states that targets for individual cities and towns will be set through the development plan process.

These targets were set for the city and each town in the Plan Area using a sequential approach informed by urban capacity studies and taking account of local circumstances. The estimated proportions of housing development likely to occur within the urban footprints of the city and towns in the Plan Area are detailed in the tables below.

The Population and Housing Technical Supplement provides details of estimated yields for sites within the city, towns and villages. The higher anticipated yields in terms of units constructed on some sites within the urban footprint reflects the higher densities expected on these compared to greenfield sites.

Site densities are specified in the key site requirements in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan in line with prevailing regional policy and in response to specific site circumstances. A minimum site density is specified in the key site requirements for urban capacity sites and greenfield sites within the city, towns and villages. This is to ensure the optimum use of land and to accommodate the housing allocation identified for each settlement in the Plan.

A maximum site density is also stipulated for greenfield sites within the city and towns and on greenfield sites beyond village cores. This is to ensure that greenfield sites are not developed to excess at the expense of urban capacity lands or lands within the core areas of villages. It will also minimise the potential for significant divergence between the Plan housing allocation framework and the RDS strategic objectives. Development will be acceptable within the specified density range. A maximum density is not set for urban capacity sites or sites within the core areas of villages. The implications of densities and yields will be considered at the time of the mid term Plan review.