Places for People A sustainable planning guide for councillors Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon 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: Oxford Island (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 Armagh County Museum (Tourism NI), Armagh P.33 Strangford Lough (Tourism NI), Binevenagh Skyline (Tourism NI) Mountain (Tourism NI) how sustainability can be achieved, P.5 Lough Neagh (Tourism NI) P.34 Glenariff (Tourism NI) using case studies from each council P.6 North Antrim Coast (Tourism NI) P.35 Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre (Hufton and Crow) area to illustrate good practice. P.9 The Mall, Armagh (Tourism NI) P.37 Antrim Round Tower (NIEA) P.10 Upper Lough Erne (Tourism NI) P.38 Dunluce Castle (NIEA) P.11 Moy Village (Tourism NI) P.39 Lisburn Castle Gardens (Lisburn City Council) P.12 Mourne Gorse Fires (Garry Harper) P.40 North Antrim Coast (Tourism NI) P.13 Flooding at Moira (Alan Lewis, Photopress Belfast) P.42 Belcoo Fermanagh Lakelands (Tourism NI), P.14 Extreme Weather Events (Tourism NI) Bushmills Distillery (Tourism NI), Derry-Londonderry P.15 Omagh Enhanced Local Hospital (Todd Architects/ Walls (NIEA) Hall Black and Douglas Architects) P.43 Mourne Mountains (Tourism NI) P.17 Titanic Belfast (Tourism NI) P.44-45 Derry-Londonderry Peace Bridge (Sustrans) P.18 The Mac, Belfast (Tourism NI) P.46 Lagan Meadows (Tourism NI) P.19 Clady to the Sperrins (Tourism NI) P.47 Hazelbank Park (Sustrans) P.21 Bouldering at Bloody Bridge, Newcastle (Tourism NI) P.48-49 Sustainable Housing in Newtownabbey (NIHE) P.22 Alive Surf School, Portrush (Tourism NI) P.50 Slieve Kirk Wind Farm (Action Renewables) P.23 Tulacorr Allotments, Strabane (North West Healthy P.51 Bangor Castle (NIEA) Living, Community Gardens and Allotments Project) P.52-53 Mountain Biking at Rostrevor (Tourism NI) P.24 Rathlin Island Seals (Tourism NI) P.54 Loughshore Park, Jordanstown (Tourism NI), P.26 Curlew (Andy Hay, RSPB Images), Walking in Fermanagh (Tourism NI) Yellowhammer (Tom Marshall, RSPB Images) P.55 Lower Bann Canoe Trail (Canoe NI) P.27 Oxford Island (Tourism NI), Puffin (Andy Hay, RSPB Images) 3 Armagh County Museum Natural Heritage The Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area contains an abundance of 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 assets are the Nature Reserves at Oxford Island, Craigavon Lakes, Brackagh Bay and Portmore Lough, the Montiaghs Moss Special Area of Conservation and the Lough Neagh and Lough Beg Ramsar site. The borough is wonderfully endowed with areas of real environmental importance. There are many more valuable assets located throughout Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, including those that are not given special protection. Smaller open spaces, like Loughgall Country Park or Huntly Wood, all require similar attention so that we sensitively manage and utilise these assets to their full potential. Our unique heritage can be used for cultural, educational and leisure purposes, supporting our tourism industry and economy and enhancing the quality of life and well-being of our citizens. Landscape designations include: • 7 Nature Reserves • 1 Ramsar site Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon • 1 Special Protection Area • 18 Areas of Special • 1 Special Area of Conservation Scientific Interest Northern Ireland is blessed Throughout the region many of these sites with an abundance of are easily recognisable, but there are also many lesser known sites of real importance precious and unique natural that contribute greatly to the unique and built heritage assets. beauty and qualities of our natural and built environment. It is critical that we fully Our natural environment is made up of many appreciate these assets by ensuring that they Lough Neagh scenic landscapes, stunning coastlines and are properly managed and maintained for impressive mountain ranges, all of which are both conservation and public amenity. Built Heritage home to a diverse range of habitats, wildlife and species. Our built heritage is represented Most significantly, we must recognise that Our built environment has evolved over many hundreds of years to produce a rich and diverse in many historic places that include buildings these are irreplaceable assets that represent cultural heritage. There are many elements of our historic environment – from the remains of architectural significance, treasured the very best of Northern Ireland’s distinct of remote ancient settlements and castles, ritual sites and tombs, and the many buildings monuments, heritage gardens and fascinating heritage, culture and identity. of architectural importance in our cities, towns and