Northern Ireland Planning Service

Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Settlements Improving the Quality of New Non-Residential Development

Policy SET 4 Improving the Quality of New Non- Residential Development
New non-residential development will only be permitted where the proposal represents a high quality urban design, and is compatible with its surroundings. Where this is not appropriate, the development should create a strong and distinctive urban design itself.
Proposals for new development will only be approved if the following criteria are met:
  1. the layout and form of existing and proposed development and, where appropriate, the historic pattern of the area, including patterns of movement;
  2. the relationship of the proposed development with its wider landscape setting;
  3. the scale and character of the existing and proposed townscape in terms of road and pavement width and alignment, building heights, building line, plot size, density, elevational design and materials;
  4. any features or open spaces, buildings and/or structures of character on or adjoining the site;
  5. the scale, use and landscaping of spaces between and around buildings;
  6. views/vistas afforded from within, over and out of the site, the roofscape/skyline, development form and boundaries of the existing and proposed development seen in long or medium distance views; and
  7. the development is designed to deter crime and promote personal safety.
The Department is keen to improve the quality of built development and refers to design considerations in PPS1: General Principles. It subsequently produced regional policy including PPS7: Quality Residential Developments and supplementary planning guidance ‘Creating Places – Achieving Quality in Residential Environments’. These documents focus on residential schemes only. However, the principles of design contained in these documents are also applicable to all development. The Department is conscious of the need to improve design generally, and Policy SET 4 seeks to achieve this aim.
Proposed development should not be considered in isolation from that surrounding it. Considerations should extend beyond the architectural quality of the site and its immediate area, and include its relationship with the spaces surrounding it, and the movement patterns of users in the area. The policy sets out the key elements that new development proposals should address, thereby promoting better quality in the design of buildings and the public realm.
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