Draft Plan Strategy

View magazine style version: ANDBC Local Development Plan online

Download a copy of the Local Development Plan draft Plan Strategy (PDF, 126 MB) (opens new window)

Ards and North Down Borough Council has published its draft Plan Strategy, the first stage of the new Local Development Plan 2032, for public consultation.

The draft Plan Strategy sets out how Ards and North Down will grow and develop up to 2032. It is the first formal document in a two-stage process - the second being the Local Policies Plan (LPP). Together, these two documents will form the Councils new Local Development Plan (LDP).

The draft Plan Strategy was advertised in local press (Newtownards Chronicle, County Down Spectator and Belfast Gazette) in September 2025:

Chronicle/Spectator Public Notice (PDF, 104 KB) (opens new window)

Belfast Gazette Public Notice (PDF, 99 KB) (opens new window)

The Local Development Plan shares the vision of the 'Big Plan,' our Community Plan.

The DPS contains Economic, Social, Environmental and Infrastructure Objectives to support this Vision, and these are underpinned by a strategic policy framework that addresses a range of key issues such as housing, economic development, tourism and renewable energy. The overall aim is to deliver sustainable development whilst improving the quality of life and wellbeing of residents of Ards and North Down.

Draft Plan Strategy Supporting Documents

Maps

Map 1b - Ards and North Down Countryside Map (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

Map 1c - Ards and North Down Environmental Designations (PDF, 2 MB) (opens new window)

Map 1d - Ards and North Down Undeveloped Coastal Zone (PDF, 2 MB) (opens new window)

Draft Plan Strategy Assessments

Sustainability Assessment, (SA) incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) (PDF, 5 MB) (opens new window)

Sustainability Assessment (SA) Non Technical Summary Report (PDF, 708 KB) (opens new window)

Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (PDF, 10 MB) (opens new window)

Draft Plan Strategy Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) (PDF, 2 MB) (opens new window)

HRA (Annex A) Report (PDF, 21 MB) (opens new window)

DPS Equality (Section 75) Screening Report (PDF, 775 KB) (opens new window)

Rural Needs Impact Assessment of the draft Plan Strategy (RNIA) (PDF, 463 KB) (opens new window)

Technical Supplements

A range of Technical Supplements (and supporting studies) have also been produced which provide the evidence base for the draft Plan Strategy. They are available to view below:

1. Settlement Hierarchy and Settlement Evaluation Technical Supplement 1    (PDF, 21 MB) (opens new window)

2. Housing Technical Supplement 2  (PDF, 989 KB) (opens new window)

3. Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation Technical Supplement 3  (PDF, 641 KB) (opens new window)

 4. Health, Education, Community and Cultural Facilities Technical Supplement 4 (PDF, 462 KB) (opens new window)

5. Economic Development Technical Supplement 5  (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

6. Town Centres and Retailing Technical Supplement 6  (PDF, 414 KB) (opens new window)

Retail and Commercial Leisure Report (Nexus) (6A)  (PDF, 25 MB) (opens new window)

7.Tourism Technical Supplement 7  (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

8. Mineral Development Technical Supplement 8  (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

Mineral Resource Analysis (8A)  (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

9. Natural Environment Technical Supplement 9  (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

Landscape Character Area (LCA) Review -Ironside Farrar (9A)  (PDF, 25 MB) (opens new window)

10. Historic Environment Technical Supplement 10  (PDF, 3 MB) (opens new window)

11. Coastal Management Technical Supplement 11  (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

12. Flooding and Drainage Technical Supplement 12  (PDF, 758 KB) (opens new window)

13. Outdoor Advertisements Technical Supplement 13  (PDF, 361 KB) (opens new window)

14. Renewable Energy Technical Supplement 14  (PDF, 427 KB) (opens new window)

15. Transportation Technical Supplement 15  (PDF, 756 KB) (opens new window)

Local Transport Study (15A)  (PDF, 10 MB) (opens new window)

16. Public Utilities Technical Supplement 16 (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

17. Waste Management Technical Supplement 17  (PDF, 815 KB) (opens new window)

18. Transitional Plan Period Zonings and Designations Technical Supplement 18 [to follow]

Supplementary Planning Guidance

Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) documents represent non-statutory planning guidance which supports, clarifies and/or illustrates by example policies contained in the AND LDP Plan Strategy. They should be read in conjunction with the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for Northern Ireland and the Council's Local Development Plan.

They are intended for use by developers, applicants, consultees, the public and planning officers and will act as a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The Council is formulating a number of SPG documents, covering a variety of topics, and these will be published on the Council website when they are available.

Public Consultation

Further details of the Public Consultation can be found here: Draft Plan Strategy: Share Your Views

LDP Mapviewer

The draft Plan Strategy contains two proposed new designations:

NM 1 - Nendrum Area of Significant Archaeological Interest
AND UCZ 1 - Ards and North Down Undeveloped Coastal Zone

The extent of these designations can be viewed in more detail on the draft Plan Strategy Mapviewer: DPS Map Viewer