Local Development Plan

Key Issue 1: The Settlement Hierarchy
POLICY CONTEXT AND EVIDENCE BASE
Regional Development Strategy 2035 (RDS)
The RDS (page 23) sets out the ‘Hierarchy of Settlements and Related
Infrastructure Wheel’ which shows the range of public and private
services needed to ensure citizens have access to the necessary
economic, social and cultural opportunities as well as the infrastructure
required by businesses to build a competitive, dynamic and innovative
economy. These services include transport and communication networks,
education, health, social, environment, commercial and justice. The
wheel outlines the patterns of service provision that are appropriate at
different spatial levels (see Figure 5 for details) and recognises the strong
relationship between settlement size and the levels of service that can be
supported.
Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland (SPPS)
The SPPS recognises housing as a key driver of physical, economic and
social change in both urban and rural areas and it is important to manage
growth around the location of jobs, facilities, services and infrastructure.
The three regional strategic objectives for housing in settlements are to:
• Manage housing growth to achieve sustainable patterns of residential
development
• Support urban and rural renaissance
• Strengthen community cohesion.
Planning Policy Statement 12 Housing in Settlements (PPS 12)
PPS 12 states that the development plan will identify the settlement
hierarchy in the plan area. The position of each settlement in the
hierarchy will be clearly set out during the development plan process.
Existing Development Plan
The existing Development Plan (BMAP) provides a Settlement Strategy
which aims to:
• focus development opportunities in existing urban areas with the
consolidation of cities and towns avoiding significant outward
expansion
• support and reinforce the role of city and town centres
• sustain vibrant rural communities in small towns, villages and small
settlements
• consolidate small clusters of development in the open countryside and
prevent further encroachment of development in the open
countryside.
The settlement hierarchy takes account of a wide range of factors,
including the RDS spatial framework, an assessment of their role, services
and facilities available, and their potential for accommodating
development. The BMAP Settlement hierarchy is defined as small
settlements, villages, towns, the Metropolitan Area or City.
It states that in preparing the LDP, councils should deliver increased
housing density without town cramming; sustainable forms of
development; good design; and balanced communities.
Key Issues and Options 29