Belfast's Local Development Plan
As we continue to work together to shape a thriving, inclusive city, the Local Development Plan (LDP) provides a vital framework to help realise the ambitions in the Belfast Agenda.
The first part of the LDP, the Plan Strategy, was adopted in May 2023 and sets out the growth strategy of the city and the spatial framework for that growth, including the operational policies against which planning applications are assessed. The second part of the Plan is the Local Policies Plan which focuses more on the allocation of lands necessary to enable the city to grow and develop in a sustainable way. It contains local policies and site-specific proposals in relation to the development and use of land and opportunities consistent with the Plan Strategy.
Overall, the LDP will seek to support the development of sustainable neighbourhoods, places which are well designed and provide a sufficient supply and choice of homes that will meet the city’s growing and more diverse population. The plan also supports an integrated transport network offering travel choice that minimises congestion and pollution; it encourages the expansion of green infrastructure networks for walking and cycling to encourage active travel and improve air quality and promote increased use of public transport while retaining appropriate provision for cars.
The LDP will also seek to develop an integrated and multi-functional green infrastructure network of high-quality open spaces, parks, and corridors to support biodiversity, encourage physical activity and improve links between the neighbourhoods, facilities, services, employment and the city centre.
Once published, the Local Policies Plan should be read in combination with the Plan Strategy and considered as a whole. These together form the basis for decision-making on planning applications and unless otherwise stated all the criteria used in each policy will apply to relevant proposals and should be considered holistically.
