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Appendix A: Summary methodology
The Housing Land Availability Monitor measures net gains in housing within the Belfast City Council area. It provides a snapshot of the amount of land available for new homes as of 1 April each year. The Monitor demonstrates the presence of an adequate and continuous supply of housing land in the city and provides evidence to inform the preparation of the Local Development Plan and to make planning decisions.
The Monitor presents a register of potential housing land, based on current planning policy designations and planning permissions, rather than an accurate picture of viable housing land. An Urban Capacity Study will be undertaken from time to time to assess the suitability, availability and achievability of monitored sites to contribute to a viable five-year supply of land. An Urban Capacity Study for Belfast was published in March 2018.
Work has commenced on preparation of an updated UCS which will form part of the evidence base for the LPP. Preliminary findings derived from this work which have implications for existing housing monitor sites are reflected in the figures presented in this report. However, no new sites have been added to this report as a result of the UCS work.
Annual inputs
- Residential planning approvals
- Previous housing monitor sites
- Records of building completions
Periodic inputs
- Zoned housing land and urban capacity study
Annual survey
- Mark sites where permission expired
- Remove sites with non-residential development
- Update units completed on sites
- Add new sites
- Desk-based research and site visits
- Mark sites as 'not started', 'ongoing' or 'completed'
Annual report
Summary report published with:
- units completed each year and remaining potential capacity of land
- area of land developed and remaining land for new homes
The report presents findings split into:
- location of site
- Belfast city centre
- harbour area
- outer city
- small settlements (Hannahstown, Edenderry, Loughview)
- types of site
- previously developed or brownfield land
- greenfield land
- status of site
- land zoned for residential development or mixed use
- unzoned land
