Communities to be at the heart of council’s vision

Communities to be at the heart of council’s vision

30 May 2018

THE proposed future development of the district over the next 12 years has been formally unveiled.

A draft development plan published yesterday morning by Newry, Mourne and Down Council highlights future locations for residential, commercial and industrial development, with the public being asked for their views before the plan is formally adopted.

The vision for the future is outlined in a detailed 196-page document to make provision for over 15,000 new homes between now and 2030 when the district’s population is expected to increase by 20% to almost 195,000 people.

It is also hoped to help create over 9,000 new jobs across the district over the same period, with the new plan viewed as a key weapon in the drive to attract new investment.

The plan also suggests that Saintfield, Killyleagh and Castlewellan, which are currently classed as villages, should be designated small towns given their populations are 3,406, 2,928 and 2,792 respectively.

It is also proposed to reclassify Shrigley and Spa from villages to small settlements.

The so-called options paper — which focuses on the key areas of housing, the economy, environment and infrastructure —was unveiled during a ceremony in the grounds of Ballynahinch’s Montalto estate.

The document represents the local authority’s formal commencement of work on preparing what is essentially a new area plan, with the publication designed to stimulate debate and encourage feedback on key issues of strategic significance which are likely to influence the direction of the plan.

The paper outlines the vision and strategic objectives of the development plan along with a set of key issues and associated options for addressing them. 

Downpatrick and Newry are identified as main hubs, with the council keen to protect the role of towns and villages and support the regeneration of disadvantaged and deprived areas, alongside facilitating the development of new community facilities.

Tourism is a key feature of the plan with the council keen to identify areas for new development, including Delamont Country Park on the shores of Strangford Lough to help attract more visitors in line with the local authority’s corporate plan and tourism strategy. Park and ride schemes for Castlewellan and Saintfield are also proposed.

The provision of social housing is given prominence, with the plan revealing the current number of people waiting for homes in Newcastle and Downpatrick is 218 and 148 respectively. Significantly, the document suggests a proportion of all new private development should include social housing provision.

A new policy to provide specially adapted homes for people in wheelchairs and those with other physical disabilities is proposed, alongside dedicated accommodation for children and older people.

A more flexible approach to allow economic development in the countryside is suggested, with areas earmarked outside existing village and small settlement boundaries to provide help for start-up businesses.

A review of existing conservation areas is also suggested and areas of so-called townscape character to see if it is necessary to remove or amend existing designations.

Council chief executive Liam Hannaway said while the district had many assets — such as a rich and diverse landscape, beautiful natural environment, impressive built heritage and strategic location on the island of Ireland — it was the people and communities who made the area truly unique.

“We are committed to putting our communities at the heart of everything we do,” he declared. “Our new powers in relation to planning and in particular the preparation of the first local development plan for the district, give us the tools for achieving this and in delivering what is best for our district.”

Mr Hannaway said the launch of the development plan “marks an important step” as the local authority moved 

forward to develop the district, allocating new land to meet development need and to protect the natural and built heritage.

Council chairwoman Roisin Mulgrew said the planning system played an important role in shaping the environment.

She said the development plan was the local authority’s opportunity to set out its planning policies and priorities to meet the needs of the district.

Councillor Garth Craig, chairman of the local authority’s Planning Committee, said that, for many people, planning was something they only got involved in when a development directly affected them and that this could sometimes be too late to really influence the process. 

He added: “I would encourage the public, communities and all stakeholders who have an interest in the future development of our district to get involved in the development plan process from the outset. Together, we can make a real difference in shaping the future of our district.”

The preferred options paper, together with the associated documents, can be viewed and downloaded from the council’s website www.newrymournedown.org and can also be viewed at its Downshire Civic Centre offices in Downpatrick.

The consultation period runs from this Friday, June 1, until 5pm on August 24. All responses must be in writing and submitted by email to ldp@nmandd.org or by post to LDP, Preferred Options Paper, Development Plan Team, Council Offices, Downshire Civic Centre, Downshire Estate, Ardglass Rd, Downpatrick BT30 6GQ.