Northern Area Plan 2016
Coleraine Borough: Portstewart Open Space

Portstewart, related to its tourism function, is well provided with children’s play areas and informal recreational and amenity spaces. In addition the beaches and coastal walks flanking the town provide extensive areas for informal recreation. Although the town has technically a shortfall of formal playing fields relative to the National Playing Fields Association standards, the Borough Council considers that in the wider area there is adequate provision and has no plans for additional pitches at present.

The extensive private housing developments of the 1980s and 1990s tend to have very limited or no incidental open spaces. The Department consistent with Planning Policy 7 ‘Quality Residential Environments’ in recent years has been requiring appropriate open space to be provided in new housing and this will continue.

Portstewart with its network of extensive footpaths including coastal paths has relatively good facilities for pedestrians. The Department will seek to enhance the existing network of footpaths and cycle paths within the town through the normal development control process.

The Plan identifies major areas of existing open space for information purposes. Policies relating to open space are contained within PPS 8: Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation. All existing open space, whether identified in development plans or not, is protected under Policy OS1 of PPS8.