Belfast Local Development Plan 2035
Draft Plan Strategy
Counter Representations
Overvi
ew
We consulted on the draft Plan Strategy (dPS) as part of an ongoing process for creating the Belfast
Local Development Plan 2035. A number of representations, which we have now published, were
received during the public statutory consultation process which ended at 5pm on Thursday 15
November 2018.
Hard copies of the representations received on the dPS are available for inspection during normal
office hours at:
Belfast Planning Service
Belfast City Council
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
The representations can also be viewed on our website at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/LDP.
Counter Representations
Following publication of the representations
received on the dPS, there is now the opportunity for the
submission of
c
ounter
representations. The consultation period for the submission of counter
representations runs from 12 noon on Friday 1 March 2019 to 12 noon on Friday 26 April 2019.
DPS-CR04
Counter representations may only be made in relation to a site specific policy representation seeking
a change to the dPS and should indicate the reasons for doing so in terms of soundness and
sustainability of the dPS.
Any person may make a counter representation, but must not propose alternative sites or any further
changes to the dPS and are without a right of hearing at Independent Examination (IE). Counter
representations of this nature or those supporting a site specific policy representation will not be
considered.
A “site specific policy representation” means any representation which seeks to change a
development plan document (DPD) (in this case, the dPS) by:
1. adding a site specific policy to the DPD; or
2. altering or deleting any site specific policy in the DPD.
A “site specific policy” means a policy in a DPD which identifies a site for a particular use or
development.
The dPS does not include site specific policies as these are dealt with at the next stage of the LDP
process, which is the preparation of the Local Policies Plan (LPP). However, a number of
representations received in response to the public consultation make reference to specific sites and
proposed development or uses. Any counter representation should clearly state the reference number
of the representation to which it relates.
Submitting a Counter Representation
Counter representations on site specific policy representations must be received by Belfast Planning
Service by 12 noon on Friday 26 April 2019. Any counter representation received after this time will not
be considered.
Counter representations can be submitted:
via the online survey on the Council’s consultation site, yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk
by email to localdevelopmentplan@belfastcity.gov.uk; or
by post, returning the response form to the address above.
Although we have provided a downloadable version of this consultation response form, we would
encourage you to respond via the online survey.
Accessibility
The relevant documents are available, on request, in alternative formats - Braille, audio, large print,
easy read. The council will also consider requests to produce it in other languages. If you require
the documents in these or other formats please contact us:
Belfast Planning Service
Belfast City Council
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
Telephone: 028 9032 0202, ext 2255
Email: planning@belfastcity.gov.uk
1. Data Protection
Belfast City Council is a Data Controller under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data
Protection Regulations (GDPR). The council is committed to protecting your privacy and to process
any personal data submitted by you in a manner which meets the requirements of the Data Protection
legislation. The Privacy Notice below provides more information regarding our commitments to you
under privacy and data protection.
Privacy Notice
Belfast City Council is the Data Controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for
the personal data it gathers for the purposes of sending regular email updates on the Local
Development Plan from Belfast Planning Service.
It should also be noted that in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Planning (Local Development
Plan) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, the council must make a copy of any representation
available for inspection. The Council is also required to submit the representations to the Department
for Infrastructure and they will then be considered as part of the independent examination process.
The council accepts that you are providing your personal data on the basis of consent and are
positively agreeing for the council to hold and further use it, publish it (without personal information
such as address or email address, but may include organisation or name). Belfast City Council must
also share it with the Department for Infrastructure and whoever they appoint to undertake the
independent examination.
Any personal details that you provide the Council will be handled in accordance with the GDPR and
Data Protection Act 2018. As such we will only use your data for the purposes that you have given
this information for and will only be shared where necessary to provide the service that you are
contacting us about. If you would like further information in regards please see the
website belfastcity.gov.uk/about/privacy
The personal data is held and stored by the council in a safe and secure manner and in compliance
with Data Protection legislation and in line with the council’s Records Retention and Disposal
Schedule.
If you wish to contact the council’s Data Protection Officer, please write to:
Belfast City Council
City Hall
Belfast
BT1 5GS
or send an email to records@belfastcity.gov.uk
Q. Please tick to confirm that you have read and understood the privacy notice
above.
(Required)
Please select all that apply
I confirm that I have read and understood the privacy notice above and give my consent for
Belfast City Council to hold my personal data for the purposes outlined.
Q. Do you consent for us to publish your response?
Under planning legislation we are required to publish responses received in response to the Plan
Strategy. On this page we ask for your consent to do so, and you may opt to have your response
published anonymously should you wish.
Even if y
ou opt for your comments to be published anonymously, we will still have a legal duty to
share your contact details with the Department for Infrastructure and the inspectorate they appoint
to oversee the examination in public into the soundness of our plan. This will be done in accordance
with the privacy statement above.
(Required)
Please select only one item
Yes, with my name (individuals) or organisation name
Yes, but without any identifying information
Note: Under either option, personal information such as email address or telephone number will still
be redacted from published documents.
2. Your details
Q. Are you responding as an individual, as an organisation, or as an agent acting on
behalf of an individual, group or organisation?
(Required)
Please select
only one item
Individual (Complete this Section, then proceed to Section 5)
Organisation (Complete this Section, then proceed to Section 3)
Agent (Complete this Section, then proceed to Section 4)
Q. What is your name?
Title
Full Name (Required)
Q. What is your address?
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
City
Postcode
Q. What is your telephone number?
Q. What is your email address?
(Required)
Ms
Emma Walker
Turley
Hamilton House
3 Joy Street
Belfast
BT2 8LE
02890723900
3 Organisation
If you have selected that you are responding as an organisational respondent, there are a number of
pieces of information that we are legally required to gather from you.
Q. If you are responding as a representative of a group or organisation, please
provide details below:
Organisation
Your Job Title
Organisation address (if different from above):
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
City
Postcode
4. Agent
If you have selected that you are responding as an agent on behalf of other
people/organisations, there are a number of pieces of information that we are legally required to
gather from you.
Q. Please provide details of the organisation or individual you are representing:
The name of the organisation or individual you are representing:
Client contact details:
Title
Full Name
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
City
Postcode
Telephone Number
Email Address
Q. Would you like us to contact you, your client or both in relation to this response or
future consultations on the LDP?
Please select only one item
Agent
Client
Both
Benmore Group and Benmore Octopus Healthcare Developments Ltd
Mr
David Burrows
Rushmere House
46 Cadogan Park
Belfast
02890666471
david@benmoregroup.com
5. Representation to draft Plan Strategy Consultation
Q. Did you submit a representation to the Belfast Local Development Plan Draft Plan
Strategy 2035?
Note: The formal consultation period for representations to the Belfast Local Development Plan
Draft Plan Strategy 2035 commenced on Thursday 20 September 2018, and closed at 5pm on
Thursday 15 November 2018.
(Required)
Please select only one item
Yes (Complete Sections 5b, then Proceed to Section 6)
No (Proceed to Section 6)
5b. Representation to draft Plan Strategy Consultation
Q. Please provide the reference number assigned to your representation to the
Belfast Local Development Plan Draft Plan Strategy 2035.
Note: Your reference number can be found on the letter sent to you, by Belfast City Council on
Friday 22 February 2019
(Required)
Q. Please provide a summary of the issue(s) raised in your representation to the
Belfast Local Development Plan Draft Plan Strategy 2035.
(Required)
DPS-B-UG-7
HOU 4 Density of Residential Development - Change Required - An increase in the density of housing and mixed use
developments will be promoted in town and city centres and other locations which benefit from high accessibility to public
transport facilities and major regeneration/masterplan sites including those with a waterfront location.
HOU 5 Affordable Housing is unsound as the policy fails the tests of CE 1, 2 and 3- Coherence and Effectiveness, The policy is
not founded on a robust evidence basis which explains the rationale behind the policy triggers and provides a clear understanding
on the implications arising from the policy.
HOU 6 Housing Mix is unsound as the policy fails the tests of CE 1 and 2 - Coherence and Effectiveness The policy should be
deleted as it duplicates provisions already set out in HOU 5 and places unnecessary restrictions on private housing developers.
HOU 8 Specialist Residential Development -That the policy is reworded to reflect Council’s evidence base, that criterion (a) of the
policy is deleted and that Council collates evidence to inform consideration of exemptions to the second strand of the policy.
DES 3 Tall Buildings - Policy should be reconsidered in tandem with comments at HOU 4 and Council should clarify whether a
locational or criteria based policy is being proposed.
TRAN 9 Parking Standards within areas of parking restraint - The policy fails to satisfy the test of CE2 in that the evidence base
prepared to support the policy is not provided within the technical supplements and the recommendations following from Council’s
Car Parking Strategy (published in May 2018) have not been provided. We respectfully suggest that Council prepares an up to
date evidence basis to support this policy and on the basis of the evidence collated reassesses whether the evidence supports
this policy position.
OS 3 Ancillary Open Space - There is insufficient evidence within the technical supplement to support the policy proposed
A robust, up to date evidence basis should be prepared to support this policy.
6. Counter Representation
Any person may make a counter representation in relation to a representation seeking a change to a
Development Plan Document (DPD). The purpose of a counter representation is to provide an
opportunity to respond to proposed changes to the DPD a result of representations submitted under
Regulations 15 and 16 of The Planning (Local Development Plan) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
2015.
A coun
ter representation must not propose any further changes to a DPD.
Q. Please provide the reference number of the representation to which your counter
representation relates.
Please provide only one reference number. If you wish to make a counter representation to more
than one representation, complete a separate sheet (Section 6 only) for each counter representation
you wish to make and append the sheet(s) to your submission.
Note: Your counter representation must relate to a representation made to the Belfast Local
Development Plan Draft Plan Strategy 2035 during the formal consultation period which commenced
on Thursday 20 September 2018 and closed at 5pm on Thursday 15 November 2018. The
representations received during this period can be viewed on the Council’s website at
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/LDP.
Q. Please give reasons for your counter representation having particular regard to
the soundness test in the above representation.
Please note that your counter representation should be submitted in full and cover succinctly all the
information, evidence, and any supporting information necessary to support/justify your submission.
There will not be a subsequent opportunity to make any further submissions based on your original
counter representation. After this stage, further submissions will only be at the request of the
independent examiner, based on the matters and issues he/she identifies at independent
examination.
(Required)
Continue on the next page
Note: If you wish to make a counter representation to more than one representation, complete a
separate sheet (Section 6 only) for each counter representation you wish to make and append the
sheet(s) to your submission.
See Enclosed Counter Representation
See Enclose Counter Representation
Benmore Group & Benmore Octopus Healthcare Development Limited
Belfast City Council LDP, Draft Plan Strategy Counter Representations
April 2019
1. Introduction
1. This counter-representation is submitted on behalf of Benmore Group and Benmore Octopus Healthcare Developments Limited (‘Benmore’) in response to
representations received in response to the Council’s consultation on the draft Plan Strategy (dPS) in August 2018.
2. For clarity these counter representations relate to representations made under Regulation 15 and 16 of the Planning (Local Development Plan) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2015 (‘Regulations’). Under Regulation 17, the Council has made available copies of all representations received in response to consultation
on the draft Plan Strategy. These counter representations are submitted under Regulation 18 as they relate to site specific representations.
3. We have formulated these counter representations having taken account of Regulation 2 of the LDP Regulations which states:
‘site specific policy’ means a policy in a development plan document which identifies a site for a particular use or development.
‘site specific policy representation’ means any representation which seeks to change a development plan document by:
adding a site specific policy to the development plan document; or
altering or deleting any site specific policy in the development plan document
4. These counter-representations should be read alongside draft Plan Strategy Representation Ref. DPS-B-UG-7 submitted on behalf of Benmore Group and
Benmore Octopus Healthcare Developments Limited (‘Benmore’).
2
2. Counter Representations
5. This section outlines our counter-representations to comments received by Belfast City Council in response to consultation on the dPS.
Reference No &
Author
Summary of Representation Comments
Counter Representation
DPS-B-92-P
(Historic Buildings
Council)
Comments to Draft Policy DES3 Tall Buildings
Outlines that buildings over 6 storeys should only be exceptionally
permitted in the city centre, with tall Buildings possibly being more
acceptable in the Titanic Quarter.
The Historic Buildings Council objects to the policy criteria set out
in DES 3, and suggests that Council should introduce a policy which
restricts both the height and location of tall buildings.
Benmore wishes to make a counter-representation to this
statement. It is our view that the approach proposed by the
Historic Building Council is unsound as no evidence has been
provided to support the stance advocated, and the proposed
change is not flexible to address any changing circumstances.
For these reasons the approach proposed by the Historic Buildings
Council fails against soundness tests CE2, and CE4.
We would refer Council to our position set out at paragraphs 3.50
to 3.55 in Draft Plan Strategy Representation Ref: DPS-B-UG-7.
DPS-B-UZ-T
(Organisation)
Comments to Draft Policy DES3 Tall Buildings
Seeks that high density development should be restricted to the core
city centre.
Representation DPS-B-UZ-T objects to the policy criteria set out in
DES 3, and suggests that Council should restrict tall buildings to
core of the city centre.
Benmore wishes to make a counter-representation to this
statement. It is our view that the approach outlined within DPS-B-
UZ-T is unsound as no evidence has been provided to support the
stance advocated and the proposed change is not flexible to
address any changing circumstances.
3
For these reasons the approach proposed within DPS-B-UZ-T fails
against soundness tests CE2, and CE4.
We would refer Council to our position set out at paragraphs 3.50
to 3.55 in Draft Plan Strategy Representation Ref: DPS-B-UG-7.
DPS-B-9H-C
(Ulster
Architectural
Heritage, (UAH))
Comments to Draft Policy DES3 Tall Buildings
Outlines that tall buildings should not be permitted in sensitive
heritage locations such as Conservation Areas or Area of Townscape
Character, and that there is no need for tall buildings in Belfast City
core at all.
UAH objects to the policy criteria set out in DES 3, and notes that
the policy falls far short of an adequate policy for tall buildings.
Benmore wishes to make a counter-representation to this
statement. It is our view that the approach proposed by the UAH
is unsound as no evidence has been provided to support the
stance advocated and the proposed change is not flexible to
address any changing circumstances.
For these reasons the approach outlined by UAH fails against
soundness tests CE2, and CE4.
We would refer Council to our position set out at paragraphs 3.50
to 3.55 in Draft Plan Strategy Representation Ref: DPS-B-UG-7.
DPS-B-8Z-W
(RSPB NI)
Comments to Draft Policy HOU4 Housing Density
Page 18 of the Representation notes that ‘while Figure 7.2 of the draft
Plan Strategy sets out a housing supply figure for Belfast Harbour of
3,500 units over the plan period, and Figure 7.3 identifies it as a
Character Areas, it has not however been identified as a
settlement/character area within the main body text of Policy HOU4.
All other character areas depicted in Figure 7.3 have been included
within Policy HOU4. Given the substantial allocation proposed for this
area coupled with its position adjacent to and within internationally
protected sites (Belfast Lough SPA and Ramsar) further detail is
therefore required in this regard)
RSPB are challenging policy HOU 4 on the basis that if fails
soundness test C3.
Benmore wishes to make a counter-representation to this
statement. It is our view that the approach proposed by RSPB is
unsound.
Policy HOU4 does not make specific reference to the Belfast
Harbour Area (BHA) as a settlement or character area. This is at
odds with all other references within the dPS regarding the
locations for future housing development.
Policy SD2 Settlement Areas clearly identifies the locations
throughout the plan area which are designated as settlement
areas. The hierarchy presented is reproduced throughout the
draft plan policies with the exception of HOU4. We would
consider this to be a drafting error as opposed to the BHA having
4
not been assessed for residential development.
It is also worth noting that the portion of BHA which has secured
residential planning permissions is within the Belfast City Centre
boundary.
DPS-B-UK-B
(Markets
Association)
Comments to Draft Policy HOU5 Affordable Housing
Welcomes HOU5 however expresses concern that a developer can
provide affordable housing on an alternative site or can negotiate a
reduced provision.
Representation DPS-B-UK-B welcomes the policy but advocates an
approach which would remove a number of proposed measures
that provide flexibility within the policy i.e. consideration of an
alternative site if it is not viable to development on the application
site without any consideration of viability.
Benmore wishes to make a counter-representation to this
statement. It is our view that the approach proposed by the
Markets Association is unsound as no evidence has been provided
to support the stance advocated and the proposed change is not
flexible to address any changing circumstances.
For these reasons the approach proposed by the Markets
Association fails against soundness tests CE2, CE4 and P3.
We would refer Council to our position set out at paragraphs 3.6
to 3.30 in Draft Plan Strategy Representation Ref: DPS-B-UG-7
DPS - B 9Z X
(Sinn Fein)
Comments to Draft Policy HOU5 Affordable Housing
Welcomes the policy and importance of social housing. Advocating
that the definition of affordable housing should be changed to
acknowledge that there are 2 distinct sectors which need to be
addressed - affordable housing and social housing
Benmore wishes to make a counter-representation to this
statement. It is our view that the approach proposed by Sinn Fein)
is unsound as it would be inconsistent with current planning policy
set out in the Strategic Planning Policy Statement.
For this reason the approach proposed by Sinn Fein fails against
soundness test C4.
5
DPS-B-8E-8
(unknown)
Comments to Draft Policy HOU6 Housing Mix
There is a significant requirement for family housing, amounting to a
significant proportion of the overall housing allocation. However, the
LDP does not demonstrate in the housing allocation proposed that
appropriate provision has been made for family housing. The
allocations made for the City Centre and Harbour Estate will
inevitably be predominantly apartment development, unsuitable for
families.
Benmore wishes to make a counter-representation to this
statement. It is our view that the position adopted is unsound as
the author provides no evidence to support their stance. Through
initiative and creative design solutions a range of housing options
can be developed within the City Centre and Harbour Estate. For
this reason the approach outlined by DPS-B-8E-8 fails against
soundness test CE2.