Greenisland Development Framework Greenisland Development Framework March 2015 Table of Contents 1. Purpose 2. Context 3. Analysis 4. Consultation 5. Visioning and Objectives 6. Proposals 7. Action Plan 8. Delivery and Next Steps Greenisland Development Framework Compendium of Appendices (see www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk) Appendix A Stage 1 Baseline Report Appendix B Land Use Survey Appendix C Planning History Analysis Appendix D Built and Natural Heritage Analysis Appendix E Stakeholder Engagement Strategy Appendix F Consultation Record Appendix G Indicative Costings generations to come. 1. Purpose & Normally, urban regeneration, community development and tourism initiatives are developed Organisational through a Town Centre Masterplan however considering Greenisland’s Structure unique status as a small settlement without an identifiable Town Centre 1.1 Introduction or core, a Development Framework approach was selected as the Carrickfergus Borough Council appropriate means of exploring the (CBC) and their funding partner, the regeneration potential of the area Department of Social Development and identifying a core. (DSD) appointed URS (now trading as AECOM) in June 2014 to prepare 1.2 Project Structure and Team a Development Framework for the settlement of Greenisland. The project commenced in June The Development Framework is a 2014 and the final report was non-statutory masterplan and will presented on 2nd February 2015. The provide an outline for the promotion, project has been overseen by the implementation and timing of Greenisland Regeneration Steering urban regeneration, physical, Group (GRSG). It consisted of the social, economic and community following representatives: development initiatives in the settlement over the next 10-15 years. • The Mayor • Elected members The settlement of Greenisland has • Council officers many physical and natural assets yet • Statutory bodies including DOE there are issues requiring attention. Planning, DSD, Transport NI, NI Its situation strikes the balance Housing Executive, NI Library between being within a 20 minute Service etc train journey to Belfast City Centre • Local community representatives yet is on the periphery of the Belfast • Consultants from URS. urban area and nestled between the stunning Knockagh Escarpment The GRSG has met on the following and Belfast Lough. Despite the occasions throughout the course of advantages that Greenisland has the project: there are considerable challenges that need to be addressed: areas • 24th June 2014 of deprivation, physical and socio- • 21st August 2014 economic severance between • 29th September 2014 the railway and the lack of an • 17th November 2014 identifiable heart. The aim of this • 20th January 2015 study is to identify projects which There were also various operational meetings with will ensure the economic and Carrickfergus Borough Council and DSD throughout social viability of the settlement for the course of the project. 4 The consultancy team comprised the following organisations: Organisation Role URS Lead consultants, town planning and design Roderick MacLean Survey analysis Associates NEMS Telephone surveying Lisbane Consultants Transport consultants McConnell Chartered Property consultants Surveyors Members of the Greenisland Regeneration Steering Group engaged in discussions during a workshop 5 2. Context constraining feature of Greenisland. The Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 defines the settlement as: 2.1 The Study Area - Geographical “Greenisland is a popular residential Context location due to its attractive setting on the Lough Shore and its proximity Greenisland is fortunate to be to Belfast. It is a dormitory commuter blessed with a superb geographical settlement for Belfast, with a focus setting. The Knockagh Escarpment of local retail activity in the small runs adjacent to the Upper Road shopping parade at Glassillan and provides a dramatic backdrop Court complemented by a number to the settlement. The south of of local shops dispersed throughout Greenisland borders Belfast Lough the settlement.” along the A2 which is part of the Causeway Coastal Route, renowned Strategically, the town is accessed as one of the most scenic driving mainly by the A2 which is currently routes in Europe. Belfast Lough also being upgraded. The enhanced provides access to a public beach A2 will provide excellent vehicular via “The Gut” at low tide. Landscape and cycling links to Belfast City wedges separate Greenisland Centre and Carrickfergus/Larne. from its neighbouring urban areas Greenisland Railway Station (Jordanstown and Carrickfergus) in situated in the centre of the creating enough separation for settlement and is an invaluable Greenisland to have a distinctive public transport asset which provides character and classification in its regular links to Belfast City Centre own right. However the lack of with journey times of 20 minutes and an identifiable centre or heart is a to Carrickfergus in 9 minutes. BMAP Settlement Limit - Study Boundary Wider Context 6 Aerial image of the study area 2.2 Historical Context up around the station. The increase in local population required Although today Greenisland is an improved access to facilities and extended suburb of Belfast, its origins so churches and schools began to lie with its ties to Carrickfergus. In open in the area. The 9-hole golf the 1600s, the West Division of course was originally opened in 1894 Carrickfergus was established and the Knockagh monument was to allocate lands for agricultural erected in memorial of the people of purposes west of the town extending County Antrim lost during the 1st and to Greenisland. In the 1800s the 2nd World Wars. area along the Shore Road became a popular destination for wealthy After the wars, Greenisland’s merchants to construct summer population was on the increase due lodges and bathing houses. It was to local employment opportunities around this period when the name at the Courtaulds factory and the Greenisland was introduced, due to ease of travel in general to Belfast a mossy islet being exposed at low and Carrickfergus. The “upper tide along this stretch of coastline. estate” was proposed in response to these needs by the Northern In 1845 the railway line was Ireland Housing Trust. Initially, 900 developed in the area. The Belfast new homes were planned to be to Ballymena line was diverted via a built by government funds between turntable at Greenisland because of 1957 and 1958. In 1963 the large ICI the steep gradient at Whiteabbey. factory in the vicinity was opened The intersection was initially known and in response to demand the lower as Carrickfergus junction however estate was then developed. this was changed to Greenisland in 1893 with the construction of a new The area is therefore an unusual mix station. of historic and 20th century (1921 - see below) built development and The improved transport connections with that combination there are also led to the development of modest socio-economic differences. semi-detached dwellings springing 1921 7 2.3 Socio-Economic Context Greenisland is made up of three wards, Gortalee, Knockagh and Greenisland. Knockagh and Greenisland wards extend further than the extent of the study area for this project (which is the settlement development limits designated by draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan), Knockagh Ward Boundary however the 2011 Census data provides a wide range of information and illustrates the contrasting socio economic profile of various areas of Greenisland. Multiple Deprivation Measures The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure (NIMDM) 2010 provides information on seven Greenisland Ward Boundary types of deprivation and an overall measure of multiple deprivation for small areas. Wards are ordered from most deprived to least deprived on each type of deprivation measure and then assigned a rank. The most deprived ward is ranked 1, and as there are 582 wards, the least deprived ward has a rank of 582. Gortalee Ward Boundary The deprivation rankings for the Greenisland wards are given in the table below. Multiple Deprivation Measure Gortalee Knockagh Greenisland Multiple Deprivation Measure 152 566 508 Income Deprivation 152 543 486 Employment Deprivation 144 553 491 Health Deprivation and Disability Deprivation 196 543 475 Education Skills and Training Disability 82 569 405 Proximity to Services Deprivation 464 320 370 Crime and Disorder 283 390 326 Living Environment 140 518 464 8 The following key points can be 2.5 Policy Context and Reform of highlighted: Local Government • Significant contrasts between the 3 2.5.1 Planning Policy Context wards • Knockagh ward is ranked very A comprehensive review of planning highly and as such is almost one policy at a local and strategic of the least deprived areas in level was undertaken as part of Northern Ireland the baseline study for Greenisland. • In comparison, Gortalee is very The findings of this can be found in low on the multiple deprivation the Stage 1 Baseline Report, which measures indicating that it is one is attached as Appendix A in a of the most deprived areas in separate compendium. The following Northern Ireland planning documents were analysed: • This can be highlighted by • Carrickfergus Area Plan the difference in educational The former area plan for Greenisland. performance between the It is now superseded by BMAP 2015 wards, with Gortalee having only • Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 13.29% of people with a degree BMAP 2015 is the current statutory or higher education qualifications