POP005 Draft Plan Strategy - Countryside Assessment Countryside Assessment August 2018 Draft Plan Strategy - Countryside Assessment LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2020-2035 Countryside Assessment January 2017 POP005 Draft Plan Strategy - Countryside Assessment CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Policy Context for the Countryside Assessment ................................................................... 5 1.1.1 Regional Development Strategy (RDS) 2035 ........................................................... 5 1.1.2 Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) ‘Planning Sustainable ........................ Development’ 2015 ................................................................................................... 7 2. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS APPRAISAL .................................................................................... 9 2.1 Natural Heritage .................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................ 9 2.2.1 Biodiversity Duty .................................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 UK National Ecosystem Assessment Northern Ireland ......................................... 11 2.3 Northern Ireland Priority Species (NIPS) ............................................................................ 11 2.4 Main Habitat Types ............................................................................................................. 12 2.4.1 Wetlands ............................................................................................................... 12 2.4.2 Rivers and Lakes................................................................................................... 12 2.4.3 Coastal and Marine ............................................................................................... 12 2.4.4 Peatlands .............................................................................................................. 13 2.4.5 Woodlands ............................................................................................................ 13 2.4.6 Community Woodlands ......................................................................................... 14 2.4.7 Hedgerows ............................................................................................................ 14 2.4.8 Grasslands ............................................................................................................ 14 2.4.9 Open Mosaic Habitats in Previously Developed Lands ........................................ 15 2.5 Statutory Designations ........................................................................................................ 15 2.5.1 International........................................................................................................... 15 2.5.2 National and Local................................................................................................. 19 3. BUILT HERITAGE ......................................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 23 3.2 Listed Buildings ................................................................................................................... 24 3.3 The Built Heritage at Risk Register ..................................................................................... 24 3.4 Conservation Areas ............................................................................................................. 25 3.5 Areas of Townscape Character ........................................................................................... 25 3.6 Areas of Significant Archaeological Interest ........................................................................ 26 3.7 Areas of Archaeological Potential ....................................................................................... 26 3.8 Historic Parks, Gardens and Demesnes ............................................................................. 26 3.9 Industrial Heritage ............................................................................................................... 26 3.10 Defence Heritage .............................................................................................................. 27 3.11 Shipwrecks………………………………………………………………………………………..27 3.12 Landscape and Public Access to the Countryside ............................................................ 27 3.12.1 Background ......................................................................................................... 27 3.12.2 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.................................................................... 27 3.13 Earth Science Interests and Assets .................................................................................. 29 3.14 Public Access to the Countryside ...................................................................................... 29 3.15 Access to the Open Countryside....................................................................................... 30 3.15.1 Public Rights of Way ........................................................................................... 30 3.15.2 The Ulster Way.................................................................................................... 31 3.15.3 National Cycle Network ....................................................................................... 31 4. LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................. 32 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 32 4.2 Landscape Character Areas ............................................................................................... 32 4.2.1 Belfast Lisburn LCA ............................................................................................... 33 4.2.2 Craigantlet Escarpment LCA ................................................................................. 33 4.2.3 Castlereagh Slopes ............................................................................................... 33 4.2.4 Lagan Parkland ..................................................................................................... 33 4.2.5 Derrykillultagh ........................................................................................................ 33 4.2.6 Divis Summits........................................................................................................ 34 Draft Plan Strategy - Countryside Assessment 4.2.7 Belfast Basalt Escarpment .................................................................................... 34 4.3 NIEA Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG): Wind Energy Development in ................... Northern Irelands Landscapes (2010) .................................................................................. 34 4.4 Northern Ireland Regional Landscape Character Assessment (NIRLCA) 2015 ................. 35 4.5 (draft) Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP) 2015 ........................................................... 37 4.5.1 Rural Landscape Wedges ..................................................................................... 37 4.5.2 BMA Coastal Area ................................................................................................. 38 4.5.3 Areas of High Scenic Value ................................................................................... 38 4.5.4 Belfast Hills............................................................................................................ 39 4.5.5 Belfast Hills Access Points .................................................................................... 40 4.5.6 Lagan Valley Regional Park .................................................................................. 42 4.5.7 Urban Landscape Wedges .................................................................................... 43 4.5.8 Local Landscape Policy Areas .............................................................................. 43 4.6 The Lagan Valley Regional Park ......................................................................................... 44 4.7 Landscape Character Assessment Review…..............................................................................48 5. DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE ANALYSIS............................................................................... 50 5.1 Context ................................................................................................................................ 50 5.2 Single Housing .................................................................................................................... 50 5.2.1 Background ........................................................................................................... 50 5.2.2 Trends ................................................................................................................... 51 5.2.3 Spatial Trends ......................................................................................................