For some three years FMB NI has been involved with a working group to analyse Belfast City Council’s development plan. We have continued to champion building quality, access for SMEs to procurement and members’ concerns over a challenging planning system.
The Department for Infrastructure has directed Belfast City Council to adopt the draft plan strategy with a few modifications.
Some of the modifications require focussed public consultation – specifically around the phasing of development in line with infrastructure provision. This focussed consultation is now live.
It is anticipated that the Belfast Local Development Plan (LDP) will be adopted in autumn 2022. They have produced a wide range of draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) documents and members may also be interested in some of the other topics under review.
What subjects are being reviewed?
- Affordable housing and housing mix
- Development viability
- Residential design (including adaptable and accessible accommodation)
- Residential extensions and alterations
- Placemaking and urban design
- Tall buildings
- Masterplanning approach for major development
- Advertising and signage
- Retail and main town centre uses
- Loss of zoned employment land
- Evening and night-time economy
- Sensitive uses
- Transportation
- Waste infrastructure
- Planning and flood risk
- Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
- Trees and development
How can members have their say?
As many of these issues affect your ability to develop we would encourage members to provide their views via the Belfast city government website.
Subsequently the FMB will be involved in analysing the responses and if you have specific points you would like to make please contact Gavin at [email protected].
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