Agenda and minutes

Apologies were reported on behalf of Alderman McGimpsey and Councillor Dorrian.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Information contained in the following report is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 17th April, it had agreed to defer consideration of the report so that Members could review the LDP Draft Strategy further and requested that a special meeting be scheduled in May to discuss the matter.

            The Committee was also reminded that, at its meeting on 15th May, it had also agreed that another additional special meeting of the Planning Committee be scheduled for Wednesday, 6th June to finalise the discussion of the LDP Draft Strategy.

            The Principal Planning Officer provided an overview of the Local Development Plan Draft Strategy, which included the structure, growth strategy, settlement areas, accommodating new home and affordable housing, together with other emerging policies. He explained draft policies in relation to protecting the existing housing stock and short term lets, tall buildings,  community cohesion, employment land supply, hot food takeaways, environmental quality, resilience and the green and blue infrastructure network.

            During discussion, Members raised the following points for consideration by the Planning Department:

·        Further explanation of the amendments under the Affordable Housing statement (Policy HOU5);

·        Concern in relation to the feasibility of the contribution scheme (Policy HOU5);

·        The definition of ‘Affordable Housing’;

·        The need to consider equality, social and community cohesion;

·        The figures of housing need;

·        Differences in housing need across Belfast and viability;

·        Regeneration of areas and development that could support  social mobility;

·        Effect of housing policy on developers and communities;

·        Controls surrounding short-term lets;

·        Space provision standards and open space policy;

·        Community engagement;

·        Encouraging employment outside the city centre;

·        Inclusion of controls of hot food takeaways;

·        Developing Greenways;

·        Encouraging renewable energy;

·        Development of the River Lagan;

·        Equality Impact Assessment timescale and requirements;

·        Inclusion of other innovation areas;

·        Rewording of the Vibrant Economy section (8.1);

·        Timescale for the review of settlement boundaries (12.5); and

·        Rewording of the shaping a liveable place section (page 32).

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that Members’ comments or amendments in relation to the Local Development Plan Draft Strategy document be submitted to the Planning Department for consideration and any further revisions to the document would be published for review at the Special Meeting scheduled for 6th June.

The Committee considered the report on the progress of the draft Belfast Green and Blue Infrastructure Plan (GBIP), the concept of which was included in the Council’s LDP Preferred Options.

            It was reported that the draft GBIP was a high-level plan that recognised the many functions and benefits of green and blue infrastructure, including health and wellbeing, biodiversity and environmental resilience.  It set a strategic vision, framework and key principles for the delivery and enhancement of a network of green and blue assets and represented an over-arching strategy that would guide more detailed strategies and action plans over time.

            The Committee noted the preparation of the draft GBIP (copy available here).