Illumination Strategy Rural Needs Analysis

Contents

• Section 1 - Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016
• Section 2 – Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service
• Section 3 – Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas
• Section 4 – Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas
• Section 5 – Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service
• Section 6 – Documenting and Recording

Section 1 - Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

1A. Name of Public Authority

Belfast City Council

1B. Please provide a short title, which describes the activity being undertaken by the Public Authority that is subject to the Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016.

Belfast City Centre Lighting Strategy

1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B above relates to.

• Designing a public service    
• Delivering a public service

1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the Policy, Strategy, Plan for Public Service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C above.

Belfast City Centre Lighting Strategy

1E. Please provide details of the aims and/or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service.

Belfast City Council is currently developing a Lighting Strategy for the city which focuses on optimum light types and light levels across various urban contexts. It is a technical document.

 Precinct lighting in Belfast city has predominantly been delivered through various departments and agencies and not aligned with an overall set of design principles or vision for the city. Consequently, the overall impact is less than if it had been designed through a shared vision. The potential of lighting to contribute positively to 'place' in a myriad of ways - increasing safety, encouraging footfall, creating atmosphere, and helping to support social, economic and sustainability targets, is well evidenced. The Lighting Strategy document sets out a methodology and guidance for city delivery partners on balancing light and dark to achieve this potential. 

BCC Strategy document will be finalised and circulated in Dec 2020.  The lighting strategy objectives are:

• Provide a more legible and accessible environment by improving the uniformity of light and reducing glare
• Balance, by reducing and enhancing where appropriate, the amount of light used, and improving both colour appearance and colour rendering
• Provide a more ‘human scale’ of lighting, and improve functionality and aesthetics through the repositioning of existing street and building lighting (i.e. optimising position for human use)
• Celebrate the city’s character and create warm, friendly and exciting city experiences by highlighting; heritage buildings and sites, contemporary architecture of merit, iconic landmarks, public artworks and key thresholds and gateway points into and within the city
• Incorporate multi-functional infrastructure within schemes to encourage and support the use of innovative approaches and dynamic light for special events
• Increase safety by ensuring appropriate light levels in identified and perceived dark and dangerous areas to support the prevention of crime through surveillance
• Encourage, guide and inform lighting proposals made as part of new developments, as well as for interim lighting on development sites
• Balance the social and economic benefits of light with the environmental consequences, working with sustainable materials and approaches
• Focus on minimising light pollution and prioritising a balance between lighting proposals and retaining dark skies
• Identify avenues of funding and delivery of lighting in the city for input into a future action plan

Section 2 – Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

2A. Is the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service likely to impact on people in rural areas?
(If the response is NO GO TO Section 2E.)

No

2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.

N/A

2C. If the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently.

N/A

(If the response to Section 2A was YES GO TO Section 3A)

2E. Please explain why the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is NOT likely to impact on people in rural areas.

The strategy focuses on developing a co-ordinated approach to lighting for the city’s urban area and will have no direct impact in rural areas.

Section 3 – Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?
(If the response is NO GO TO Section 3E.)

No

• Consultation with rural stakeholders    
• Consultation with other organisations    
• Surveys or questionnaires    
• Published statistics    
• Research papers    
• Other publications    
• Other Methods or Information Sources (include details in Question 3C below).

3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc. 

N/A

3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority

N/A

If the response to Section 3A was YES GO TO Section 4A.

3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?

The strategy focuses on developing a so-ordinated approach to lighting for the city’s urban areas and will have no direct impact in rural areas.

Section 4 – Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

The strategy focuses on developing a co-ordinated approach to lighting for the city’s urban areas and will have no direct impact in rural areas.

Section 5 – Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, been influenced by the rural needs identified?
(If the response is NO GO TO Section 5C.)

No

5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified?
(If the response to Section 5A was YES GO TO Section 6A)

N/A

5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or the delivery of the Public Service, has NOT been influenced by the rural needs identified.

This programme has considered the impacts on a range of existing and potential stakeholders.  We do not consider this policy to have relevance to the social and economic needs of persons in rural areas.

Section 6 – Documenting and Recording