Northern Ireland Planning Service

Banbridge / Newry and Mourne Area Plan 2015
Strategic Plan Framework: Environment and Conservation Landscape

The Plan Area has a rich and varied landscape which includes much of the Mournes AONB (including Slieve Croob), the Ring of Gullion AONB and the shores of Carlingford Lough. The landscape character areas within the Plan Area are described in the published Northern Ireland Landscape Character Assessment (N I LCA) 2000.

Local Landscape Policy Areas

In accordance with PPS 6 - Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage, LLPAs are designated in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan.
Policy CVN 4 Local Landscape Policy Areas
Within designated LLPAs, planning permission will not be granted to development proposals that would adversely affect their intrinsic environmental value and character, which includes those features and areas set out in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan.
Where riverbanks are included within LLPAs, planning permission will only be granted where access is provided to the river corridor as part of the development proposals.
Where proposals are within and/or adjoining a designated LLPA, a landscape buffer may be required to protect the environmental quality of the LLPA.
Planning permission will also only be granted to development proposals which meet any additional key development requirements set out as appropriate in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan.
LLPAs are designated to help protect the environmental assets within or adjoining settlements. They include:
  • archaeological sites and monuments and their surroundings;
  • listed and other locally important buildings and their surroundings;
  • river banks and shore lines and associated public access;
  • attractive vistas, localised hills and other areas of local amenity importance; and
  • areas of local nature conservation importance, including areas of woodland and important tree groups.
In total, 183 LLPAs are designated in the Plan Area - 71 in Banbridge District and 112 in Newry and Mourne District. Further information on each LLPA is contained in the Countryside Assessment Supplement
The use of Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) will be considered by the Department for those LLPAs where a tree or trees contribute significantly to visual amenity, or are considered under threat from development. In cases where a TPO is already in existence, the LLPA policy will act in addition to and without prejudice to any other statutory provision associated with this Order.
Where LLPAs contain significant parts of historic parks, gardens or demesnes, conservation areas, listed buildings, and archaeological monuments, this policy will apply in addition to and without prejudice to any other statutory provision or policy relating to these features.
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