Places for People A sustainable planning guide for councillors Ards and North Down 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: Nendrum Monastery (Tourism NI) P.32 Portmore Lough Nature Reserve are unique to your council area, eleven P.3 Guillemot (Andy Hay, RSPB Images) (Andy Hay, RSPB Images) themes are explored to demonstrate P.4 Donaghadee (Tourism NI), Grey Abbey (Tourism NI) P.33 Strangford Lough (Tourism NI), Binevenagh P.5 Strangford Lough (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), Yellowhammer P.54 Loughshore Park, Jordanstown (Tourism NI), (Tom Marshall, RSPB Images) Walking in Fermanagh (Tourism NI) P.27 Oxford Island (Tourism NI), Puffin P.55 Lower Bann Canoe Trail (Canoe NI) (Andy Hay, RSPB Images) 3 Donaghadee Natural Heritage The Ards and North Down 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. The borough contains Strangford Lough, one of Europe’s most important natural heritage features and accordingly awarded high levels of designated protection. The district also contains the Copeland Islands and Outer Ards Special Protection Areas, the excellent North Down Coastal Path, Crawfordsburn Country Park and a host of other wild places, all of which provide many opportunities to explore and enjoy the beauty and richness of our natural environment. Ards and North Down There are many more valuable assets located throughout Ards and North Down, including those that are not given special protection. Civic parks, such as Redburn, woodlands and wetlands, like those at Balloo, and other valuable open spaces all require similar attention so Northern Ireland is blessed Throughout the region many of these sites that we sensitively manage and utilise these assets to their full potential. Our unique heritage with an abundance of are easily recognisable, but there are also can be used for cultural, educational and leisure purposes, supporting our tourism industry and many lesser known sites of real importance economy and enhancing the quality 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 Our natural environment is made up of many appreciate these assets by ensuring that they • 1 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 1 Special Area of Conservation scenic landscapes, stunning coastlines and are properly managed and maintained for • 6 Nature Reserves • 3 Ramsar sites impressive mountain ranges, all of which are both conservation and public amenity. • 4 Special Protection Areas • 15 Areas of Special Scientific Interest 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. Strangford Lough archaeological sites. It is vital that our environment, economy Built Heritage These heritage assets have so much to offer; and society work effectively