Places for People
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Places for People A sustainable planning guide for councillors Mid and East Antrim Contents Introduction Your Local Council .........................................................................................................................................................................................................04 Northern Ireland is in Effectively, your council is now Background ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................06 transition to new forms of responsible for making decisions Sustainable Development ................................................................................................................................................................................... 08 that will shape the future of your Community Planning ...................................................................................................................................................................................................10 governance, service delivery area. Working in partnership with Themes and community development. other agencies, organisations and .......................................................................................................................................................................... • Coping with climate change 12 A new era has begun for local the people in your community, your ........................................................................................................................................................................... • Creating a vibrant economy 16 government; eleven newly created council is required to deliver balanced ......................................................................................................................................................... • Supporting health and well-being 20 councils with a suite of additional social, economic and environmental ..................................................................................................... • Conserving and enhancing the natural environment 24 responsibilities will aim to strengthen wellbeing. It is fundamental that all ................................................................................................................................................................................ • Sustainable communities 28 local governance processes and future development incorporates the ............................................................................................................................................................................................ • Our protected places 32 deliver more effective and responsive concept of sustainability; achieving .................................................................................................................................................. • Preserving our historic environment 36 public services. economic prosperity whilst sensibly • Promoting responsible tourism ..............................................................................................................................................................40 managing your natural and built assets • Encouraging active travel ................................................................................................................................................................................44 This system should be able to take and responding to the local needs of • Energy efficiency and renewable energy ......................................................................................................................................48 action to meet the needs of local all citizens. • Enhancing leisure and recreation ...........................................................................................................................................................52 citizens in a more modern, accountable and efficient governance structure that This handbook aims to help inform Acknowledgements will entail local planning, regeneration you of the key principles of sustainable development, exploring the themes This handbook has been complied by Dr Aisling Murphy and Dr Karen Jenkinson. and economic development amongst the functions being transferred from that require careful consideration central government. when making planning decisions. Image Credits P.28 Belfast City (Tourism NI) After outlining the diverse range of This publication has been illustrated by the kind P.30 Dalriada Festival, Glenarm (Tourism NI) natural and built heritage assets that permission of: P.31 Skainos (Skainos) Cover: Slemish (Tourism NI) P.32 Portmore Lough Nature Reserve (Andy Hay, are unique to your council area, eleven P.3 Guillemot (Andy Hay, RSPB Images) RSPB Images) themes are explored to demonstrate P.4 Glenarm (Tourism NI), Carrickfergus (Tourism NI) P.33 Strangford Lough (Tourism NI), Binevenagh P.5 Carnlough (Tourism NI) Mountain (Tourism NI) how sustainability can be achieved, P.6 North Antrim Coast (Tourism NI) P.34 Glenariff (Tourism NI) using case studies from each council P.9 The Mall, Armagh (Tourism NI) P.35 Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre (Hufton and Crow) area to illustrate good practice. P.10 Upper Lough Erne (Tourism NI) P.37 Antrim Round Tower (NIEA) P.11 Moy Village (Tourism NI) P.38 Dunluce Castle (NIEA) P.12 Mourne Gorse Fires (Garry Harper) P.39 Lisburn Castle Gardens (Lisburn City Council) P.13 Flooding at Moira (Alan Lewis, Photopress Belfast) P.40 North Antrim Coast (Tourism NI) P.14 Extreme Weather Events (Tourism NI) P.42 Belcoo Fermanagh Lakelands (Tourism NI), P.15 Omagh Enhanced Local Hospital (Todd Architects/ Bushmills Distillery (Tourism NI), Derry-Londonderry Hall Black and Douglas Architects) Walls (NIEA) P.17 Titanic Belfast (Tourism NI) P.43 Mourne Mountains (Tourism NI) P.18 The Mac, Belfast (Tourism NI) P.44-45 Derry-Londonderry Peace Bridge (Sustrans) P.19 Clady to the Sperrins (Tourism NI) P.46 Lagan Meadows (Tourism NI) P.21 Bouldering at Bloody Bridge, Newcastle (Tourism NI) P.47 Hazelbank Park (Sustrans) P.22 Alive Surf School, Portrush (Tourism NI) P.48-49 Sustainable Housing in Newtownabbey (NIHE) P.23 Tulacorr Allotments, Strabane (North West Healthy P.50 Slieve Kirk Wind Farm (Action Renewables) Living, Community Gardens and Allotments Project) P.51 Bangor Castle (NIEA) P.24 Rathlin Island Seals (Tourism NI) P.52-53 Mountain Biking at Rostrevor (Tourism NI) P.26 Curlew (Andy Hay, RSPB Images), P.54 Loughshore Park, Jordanstown (Tourism NI), Yellowhammer (Tom Marshall, RSPB Images) Walking in Fermanagh (Tourism NI) P.27 Oxford Island (Tourism NI), Puffin (Andy Hay, P.55 Lower Bann Canoe Trail (Canoe NI) RSPB Images) 3 Glenarm Natural Environment Mid and East Antrim contains several important environmental assets. These sites are protected using various landscape designations to ensure that our natural environment retains its special characteristics, delicate ecosystems and unique biodiversity. Among these designations are parts of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, renowned for its magnificent scenery, and the Garron Plateau Special Area of Conservation and Ramsar site. With nature reserves at Straidkilly, Cranny Falls and Carrickfergus as well as the prolific birdlife to be found on the Gobbins sea cliffs, the borough is richly endowed with areas of real environmental significance. There are many more valuable assets located throughout Mid and East Antrim, including Mid and East Antrim those that are not given special protection. Its civic parks, including Carnfunnock Country Park, several areas of woodland such as Oakfield Glen and other open spaces, like the stunning Blackhead Coastal Path, all require similar attention so that we sensitively manage and utilise Northern Ireland is blessed Throughout the region many of these sites these assets to their full potential. Our unique heritage can be used for cultural, educational with an abundance of are easily recognisable, but there are also and leisure purposes, supporting our tourism industry and economy and enhancing the quality many lesser known sites of real importance of life and well-being of our citizens. precious and unique natural that contribute greatly to the unique and built heritage assets. beauty and qualities of our natural and Landscape designations include: built environment. It is critical that we fully • 1 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 2 Special Areas of Conservation Our natural environment is made up of many appreciate these assets by ensuring that they scenic landscapes, stunning coastlines and • 6 Nature Reserves • 3 Ramsar sites are properly managed and maintained for • 1 Special Protection Area • 40 Areas of Special Scientific Interest impressive mountain ranges, all of which are both conservation and public amenity. home to a diverse range of habitats, wildlife and species. Our built heritage is represented Most significantly, we must recognise that in many historic places that include buildings these are irreplaceable assets that represent of architectural significance, treasured the very best of Northern Ireland’s distinct monuments, heritage gardens and fascinating heritage, culture and identity. archaeological sites. It is vital that our environment, economy These heritage assets have so much to offer; and society work effectively together, to they are the foundation on which