3.2 Consistency Tests Test
Comments
C1: Did the Council take account of the Regional Development Strategy?
The RDS is the government’s overarching spatial strategy for Northern Ireland up to 2035. The RDS seeks to influence the future distribution of development throughout the Region with a view to achieving sustainable development and social cohesion.
C2: Did the Council take account of its Community Plan?
Preferred Options Paper The Preferred Options Paper highlights that the LDP vision and strategic objectives have been shaped by a number of factors, particularly the aspirations of Council’s Community Plan. In addition, the Spatial Growth Strategy in the Preferred Options Paper aligns with the thrust of the Council’s Community Plan.
The RDS Spatial Framework and Spatial Framework Guidance has been one of the main building blocks in developing the LDP Spatial Growth Strategy. The LDP Spatial Growth Strategy will help to achieve the RDS objectives of promoting growth and economic development opportunities in the ‘main hubs’ of Ballymena and Larne and support the role of Carrickfergus within the Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area, whilst sustaining rural communities living in smaller settlements and the open countryside. The RDS has also informed the strategic spatial proposals and the strategic subject policies. The Technical Supplements highlight how the RDS has been taken account of in the formulation of the proposals and policies.
draft Plan Strategy The strategic priorities of the Council’s Community Plan were taken into consideration in the preparation of the draft Plan Strategy. The Technical Supplements which accompanied the publication of the draft Plan Strategy highlight how the proposals and policies align with the Council’s Community Plan. C3: Did the Council take account of policy and guidance issued by the Department?
The draft Plan Strategy proposals and policies are in accordance with the SPPS. In addition, the draft Plan Strategy has taken full account of extant planning policies contained in the suite of PPSs and the policy approach is consistent with these. The LDP has also been prepared in accordance with the guidance issued and published by the DfI (and DoE), including the Development Plan Practice Notes.
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Evidence
See ‘Regional Policy Context’ section of DPS-117 – DPS-141
See ‘Local Policy Context’ section within DPS-117 – DPS-141
See ‘Policy Context’ and ‘Evolution of draft Plan Strategy Policy’ sections within DPS117 – DPS-141
