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Northern Ireland Planning Service

Northern Area Plan 2016
Preamble (Page 2 of 2)

Plan Proposals– Allocations, Designations, Policies, Proposals and Zonings

The allocations, designations, policies, proposals and zonings contained in the Plan, hereafter collectively referred to as the Plan Proposals constitute considerations that the Department will take into account in the determination of planning applications. The contents of the Plan must be read as a whole, as often a combination of proposals may be relevant to a particular development proposal.
The Plan Proposals are not the only tests of acceptability for development proposals. In making its decisions the Department will also assess proposals against all planning policies and other material considerations that are relevant to it. The contents of the Plan must be read in conjunction with the relevant contents of regional policy documents and supplementary planning guidance documents.
To ensure there is no public misunderstanding of the allocations, designations, policies, proposals and zonings, it must be recognised there may be occasions when other material considerations outweigh one or more of these. Each case will be considered on its merits to assess whether or not an exception is justified, but the provisions of the Plan will prevail, unless there are over-riding policy or other material considerations which outweigh them and justify a contrary decision.
If there is any discrepancy between the Written Statement and a Map, it is the former which prevails. The Draft Plan can be assessed via the Internet at the Planning Service Website: www.planningni.gov.uk.

Representations

Representations in support of, or objections to any of the Plan’s proposals contained in the Draft Plan should be submitted in writing on the comments sheets available from the Coleraine Divisional Planning Office and must be received not later than 5 P.M. on Wednesday 6th July 2005. Representations and objections should where appropriate be accompanied by an up to date map clearly indicating any lands to which they relate. Late representations cannot be considered.
Representations and objections should be addressed to:
Mr A A Meenagh
The Manager
Northern Area Plan Team
Divisional Planning Office
County Hall
Castlerock Road Coleraine
BT 51 1 HS
Tel: 028 7034 1300
Fax: 028 7034 1434
E-Mail: coleraine.planning@doeni.gov.uk
The Department will consider any objections it may receive relating to the Draft Plan. The Department may request the Planning Appeals Commission to hold a public inquiry for the purpose of considering these objections. If a public inquiry is held, the Department will consider the recommendations of the Planning Appeals Commission and then decide whether to adopt the Plan in whole or in part, with or without modification. A final version of the Plan incorporating any amendments or revisions will then be published.

Supporting Documentation

The Department has also prepared and published a number of supporting documents to the Draft Plan. These provide the background and technical information that inform the Draft Plan’s proposals. These Technical Supplements are:
  1. Population and Housing
  2. Industry
  3. Transportation
  4. Retailing
  5. Urban Environment
  6. Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation
  7. Tourism
  8. Public Services and Utilities
  9. Education, Health, Community and Cultural facilities
  10. Countryside Assessment
  11. Strategic Environmental Assessment
  12. Draft Equality Impact Assessment
  13. Report of Public Consultation

Relationship with Existing Plans

It is intended the Northern Area Plan 2016, on adoption, will replace the following statutory plans:
  • North East Area Plan 2002
  • Limavady Area Plan 1984-1999
  • Limavady Area Plan 1984-1999 Alteration No. 1
  • South East Lands Limavady Local Plan 1989-1999
  • Limavady District Hamlet Subject Plan 1989-1999
  • Ballymoney Town Centre Local Plan 1991-2002
  • North East Area Plan 2002 Alteration No. 1 Portrush
This Draft Plan, consistent with Planning Policy Statement 1: General Principles (as amended by the Joint Ministerial Statement, January 2005), will be a material consideration in determining planning applications. Until the Northern Area Plan 2016 is adopted, the above plans will also remain a material consideration in the determination of planning applications, even though they have all passed their notional end date.
The Draft Plan is in general conformity with the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) for Northern Ireland 2025 published in September 2001. It also seeks to incorporate and apply locally the principles promoted by the Regional Transportation Strategy published in July 2002. The Draft Plan has been prepared consistent with the statutory requirement to ensure Equality of Opportunity, and the New Targeting Social Need policy.
Nothing in the Draft Plan (hereafter referred to as the Plan) should be read as a commitment that public resources will be provided for any specific project. All proposals for public expenditure are subject to economic appraisal and will also have to be considered having regard to the overall availability of resources.

Equality of Opportunity

The Northern Ireland Act 1998 has placed the following statutory requirement on each public authority:
  • To carry out their functions with due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:
    • Between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
    • Between men and women generally;
    • Between persons with a disability and persons without; and
    • Between persons with dependants and persons without
  • Without prejudice to its obligations under subsection (1) a public authority shall, in carrying out its functions relating to Northern Ireland, have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.
The Department has sought to ensure that the Plan does not have the effect of discriminating against individuals or groups of people who fall within these categories. The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) of the Plan Proposals has considered any potentially adverse effects on these groups. The EQIA is published as one of the supporting documents to the Written Statement.

New Targeting Social Need

The Department is committed to implementing the Northern Ireland Executive’s New Targeting Social Need (New TSN) policy, which involves tackling social need and social exclusion, by targeting efforts and available resources towards people, groups and areas objectively defined as being in social need. This requires the application of objective measures to identify where deprivation occurs and then target existing and new spending to address more effectively the needs of the most deprived peoples and areas.
Planning Service is not a major spending Agency. However, one of the main functions of a development plan is to facilitate development and create a land use framework that will allow investment to take place. The Plan seeks to apply the New TSN through specific Plan proposals.

Review of Public Administration

The Review of Public Administration is a far-reaching review of the arrangements for the delivery of public services in Northern Ireland. It encompasses the services delivered by local government, public bodies and the functions of Government Departments. The Minister has indicated, based on views expressed in response to a major consultation exercise, that fewer, but more powerful local government councils, are envisaged, with the number reduced to single figures. The Minister plans to issue, for consultation, a set of firm proposals that will set out a model for the future delivery of public services.
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