Draft Plan Strategy: Share Your Views

Pre-consultation 

The Council is launching the draft Plan Strategy (DPS) four weeks in advance of a formal eight-week period of consultation. This pre-consultation period  shall run from 18 September 2025 to 16 October 2025. 

Please note that representations must not be made until the commencement  of the formal eight-week consultation. Any representations received during  the pre-consultation period set out above will be returned to the sender and will not be considered. 

Formal Consultation 

The formal consultation on the DPS shall commence for an eight-week period on the 17 October 2025, closing at 4.30pm on 15 December 2025. 

Representations can also be submitted during the consultation period regarding the associated appraisal documents, namely the Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating the Strategic Environmental Assessment), the draft Habitats Regulations Assessment, draft Equality (Section 75) Screening Report and Rural Needs Impact Assessment. 

Representations received after the closing date will not be considered. 

During the formal consultation period, the Council's LDP team will host a series of drop-in public consultation events and information sessions.  

Availability of the draft Plan Strategy 

In addition to the online versions, these documents are also available to view at the following Council offices during office hours: 

• City Hall, The Castle, Bangor, BT20 4BT 
• 2 Church Street, Newtownards, BT23 4AP 

The DPS and supporting documents can be supplied in alternative formats; please submit your request and requirements to the above postal addresses or by emailing the LDP team at planning@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 

How to Respond  

Representations are welcomed to the DPS and supporting documents as  follows: 

Online (preferred): https://ards-northdown.govocal.com/en-GB/  

Email: planning@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 

Post : LDP Team, Ards and North Down Borough Council, 2 Church Street, Newtownards, BT23 4AP 

Telephone: 028 9182 4006 

Representations 

The DPS is considered by the Council to be 'sound'; if you have any comments or representations to make, you should demonstrate why you consider that the DPS is not 'sound' and how any proposed changes make the document  more 'sound'.  

Furthermore, representations should demonstrate how any proposed changes meet the requirements of the SA and are more appropriate in terms of meeting the sustainability objectives of the DPS.  

Before submitting a representation, you are strongly advised to read the latest DfI guidance, presently contained within a series of Development Plan Practice Notes (DPPNs) including DPPN 06 'Soundness' and DPPN 09 'Submission and Handling of Representations'.  

Development Plan Practice Note 6 Soundness 

Development Plan Practice Note 9 Submission and Handling of Representations 

It is also recommended that you read the latest guidance from the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) available on their website: Planning Appeals Commission

Respondents should note that any representations should be made in full to the Council. Further information or clarification will not be sought unless requested by an independent examiner. 

Drop-in Sessions 

The Council is keen to hear the views of its residents, businesses, community and voluntary groups on its Local Development Plan draft Plan Strategy.  

There will be a number of public drop-in sessions* across the Borough, during the consultation period, where interested parties can call in to discuss the draft Plan Strategy with planning officers. For details of these sessions, see below.

*Please be aware, it will not be possible for staff at these events to discuss any live planning applications or general planning issues.* 

What happens next? 

The Council will facilitate an additional eight-week period for the submission of counter-representations. All responses will be considered by the LDP team and a Consultation Report will be prepared. Following this, any necessary amendments will be made prior to the formal submission of the DPS to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in advance of Independent Examination (IE). 

Representations and counter-representations will be considered at an IE conducted by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) or other independent body that will be appointed by DfI. The IE will determine whether the DPS satisfies statutory requirements and consider its 'soundness'.  

It should be noted that all forms of representation are public documents that must be published on our website and made available for public inspection and Independent Examination. All responses will therefore be held on a database in accordance with the provisions of the UK GDPR.   

A copy of our LDP Privacy Notice is available to view here:  Privacy Notice for LDP (PDF, 143 KB) (opens new window)