Local Development Plan - Document Library

AD004 Submission Documents List (DPS)

Additional representations on supporting assessments

The following are representations that primarily or wholly relate to the draft Plan Strategy’s supporting assessments – the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA), Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) and the Sustainability Appraisal incorporating the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA).

These have been provided for information purposes and it should be noted that a number of the representations on the draft Plan Strategy listed in the main table may also have referred to these supporting assessments.

Counter representations

Under Regulation 17 of the LDP Regulations, all submissions received during the public consultation on the draft Plan Strategy for the Belfast Local Development Plan were available to view in our Planning Office from 12 noon on Friday 1 March to 12 noon on Friday 26 April 2019. 

Counter representations received during the above consultation period have now been published for inspection under Regulation 19 of the Local Planning Regulations. 

These submissions can be inspected during normal office hours at our Belfast Planning Offices (Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast), or in the following table:

• AD005 Draft Plan Strategy Documents List

The second phase EQIA is on the draft Plan Strategy. The EQIA considers how equality of opportunity can be promoted through the implementation of the draft LDP policies. The draft EQIA report considers how each policy in the draft Plan Strategy might have an effect on the statutory groups set out in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and, in addition, any potential impacts on good relations, having regard to the scope of the LDP and the key inequalities that the draft Plan Strategy can influence.

The draft EQIA will be finalised following public consultation and the adoption of the Plan Strategy. It will also help to shape equality assessment going forward in the third phase of the LDP process – the Local Policies Plan.

A sustainability appraisal is a systematic process that must be carried out during the preparation of a Local Plan. Its role is to promote sustainable development by assessing the extent to which the emerging plan, when judged against reasonable alternatives, will help to achieve relevant environmental, economic and social objectives. It can help make sure that the proposals in the plan are the most appropriate given the reasonable alternatives. It can be used to test the evidence underpinning the plan and help to demonstrate how the tests of soundness have been met.

The Habitats Regulations Assessment is required by The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (as amended). It has been undertaken by the Shared Environmental Service on behalf of Belfast City Council in respect of the Belfast Local Development Plan 2035 in accordance with the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC).

Technical supplements

The technical supplements therefore update this baseline position from the Topic papers developed for the Preferred Options Paper and sets out the evidence base that has informed each of the policies within the draft Plan Strategy. Whilst each of the technical supplements can be read separately, there are inevitably some important interrelated matters and background evidence.

• Belfast Local Development Plan (LDP) 2035 Plan Strategy map viewer

Studies

More information

If you have any queries on accessing the documentation, contact the Planning Office at localdevelopmentplan@belfastcity.gov.uk

Sustainability Appraisal

Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) report sets out how we intend to promote equality of opportunity through the implementation of Phase 1 – Preferred Options Paper, in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. 

Supporting documents

The report provides a summary of the representations received relating to the vision and strategic aims, as well as highlighting the responses to the preferred options. The Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment) Interim Report (SA) and Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) also went out for consultation during the same time and responses are all available to view in this report.

• POP026 POP Public Consultation Report

Statement of Community Involvement

The Statement of Community Involvement sets out our policy for involving the community in the production of the Belfast Local Development Plan and the consideration of planning applications. 

It describes who, how and when the community will be invited to participate in the different stages of putting together the local development plan and the determination of planning applications.

The statement will support and supplement the commitments in our Equality Scheme and our responsibilities to consult under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. It also represents a further step towards embedding meaningful consultation into our planning and decision-making processes.

The revised SCI was agreed by council on 4 December 2017 and approved by the Department for Infrastructure on 29 March 2018, in accordance with Regulation 7 of the Planning (Statement of Community Involvement) Regulations (NI) 2015, Belfast City Council. 

• AD001 Statement of Community Involvement (Revised March 2018)

Belfast Local Development Plan Timetable

The Local Development Plan (LDP) timetable sets out the key stages and indicative timescales in the process to produce the Belfast Local Development Plan. 

It will help to make sure that the plan process is efficiently managed, and that the key stakeholders, including the consultation bodies and the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC), are kept informed and can manage their own resources.

The timetable has been the subject of ongoing revision and the most recent version was approved by DfI in November 2018.

• AD002 Belfast Local Development Plan timetable