Magherafelt Area Plan 2015: Draft Plan - The Planning Service

PLAN STRATEGY
The Plan Strategy centres on the need to be in general
conformity with the RDS and in particular the Spatial
Development Strategy a major thrust of which is to promote
more sustainable patterns of development based on:-
• a polycentric network of growth poles integrated with
the transport corridors and incorporating enhanced public
transport;
• compact urban forms;
• more housing within existing urban areas; and
• the sensible and sensitive use of the built heritage and the
rural environment.
In summary the Plan Strategy is to:-
• sustain a living and working countryside whilst supporting
the growth and regeneration of towns and villages and
protecting from inappropriate development those areas
that are vulnerable to development pressure or that are
visually or environmentally sensitive, through Green Belt
and Countryside Policy Area designations;
• identify, define and designate as appropriate, areas of
conservation, archaeological, scientific, landscape or amenity
importance or interest, within both the natural and built
heritage of the District;
• provide a settlement hierarchy, designate settlement
development limits, zone land and designate policy areas
such as will:-
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facilitate allocation of housing growth potential in
accordance with the RDS, through a sequential approach,
in support of urban renaissance and conservation of town
settings and greenfield lands, by maximising as feasible
the identified proportion within existing urban areas;
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