Northern Ireland Planning Service

Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Tourism Tourist Facilities and Attractions

Policy TOU 1 Tourist Facilities and Attractions
Proposals for tourist related non-residential facilities and attractions will only be permitted on sites within the settlement development limits of towns and villages where they are of a scale, nature and design that will not create unacceptable visitor management problems and are compatible with the local environment.
Proposals will only be acceptable on rural sites where an exceptional need is demonstrated. Sites that are poorly serviced by public transport, or would have a significant adverse impact on a designated area, or a visual or amenity impact will not be acceptable.
Within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty only proposals of national or international significance will be acceptable and must not detract visually or otherwise environmentally from the area within which they would be located.
The Plan provides for a range of supporting tourism infrastructure including visitor centres, leisure, recreational and entertainment facilities. These will normally be directed to urban areas where they will complement existing infrastructure, be most accessible to a range of modes of travel, have the potential to maximise the benefits for existing local economies, and have no adverse visual impact. In rural areas only proposals that have a particular locational need, can be successfully integrated into the landscape, and are designed to be in character with the rural setting, will be acceptable.
Within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty such proposals will be acceptable only in exceptional circumstances, where unique facilities significantly add to the tourism product. The setting of the World Heritage Site, which is dependent on the quality and significance of its natural environment, will be protected and any further tourism infrastructure will be directed to the nearby towns and villages. Exceptions will only be considered where it can be demonstrated that there is a need for a facility not already existing, that can only be sited at the proposed location, and is of international importance.
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