Saintfield Conservation Area

Location: Co. Down
Designation date: February 1997

Saintfield today is an attractive, bustling country town with a robust and distinctive presence.

Once a small market and barracks settlement, latterly it has had thrust upon it the role of a commuter town due to its proximity to and accessibility from Belfast.

It nevertheless has retained much of its original architectural character and has survived as a lively varied shopping and service centre of Belfast and the County Town, Downpatrick, and situated at a confluence of routes from neighbouring towns including Ballynahinch, Comber and Lisburn, the establishment of a significant settlement here was perhaps inevitable.

The design guide generally provides information on the planning context, historical development, description or character appraisal of the area, the designation and guidelines for development proposals.