Proposed Greenway: Newtownards to Green Road Bangor
Project Overview
We are proposing to create a greenway route between the towns of Newtownards and Bangor. This would be progressed in two stages.
1) Newtownards to the Somme Museum. The route will begin at Belvedere Road, Newtownards and follow the former railway track, in the most part, to the Somme Museum.
2) Somme Museum to Green Road Bangor. This route will pass part the Ark Open Farm and then turn off-road in a north-easterly direction following the former railway line and field boundaries, in the most part, to Green Road, Bangor.
The combined route is 5.4km.
Project Value
The development of this combined route represents an investment of c£3.85M in green infrastructure in the Borough.
Key Benefits
- Health and wellbeing benefits for residents. The southern part of the route runs between a significant number of residential properties that will enjoy easy access to the greenway.
- Increased leisure use including access to Whitespots Country Park.
- Increased commuter use by those attending South Eastern Regional College for work or study.
- Potential to contribute to domestic and out of state tourism by offering connections to the Ark Farm, Somme Museum and Whitespots Country Park.
- Green active travel connection between the towns of Bangor and Newtownards.
For other general benefits of greenways click this link BENEFITS.
Current Status
In July 2021, Council approved the detailed ‘Outline Business Case’ (OBC) for the route and it has been submitted to the Department for Infrastructure to help support its planning for capital funding for greenways across Northern Ireland. The OBC will remain in draft until approved by the Department.
The scheme has been submitted to the Planning Service in two stages:
The first stage Belvedere Road Newtownards to the Somme Heritage Centre was submitted in October 2020 and planning permission was granted on 1 September 2022.
To view the application click on this link: Belvedere Road Newtownards to the Somme Heritage Centre Greenway Planning Application
The second stage Somme Heritage Centre to Green Road was submitted in July 2021. Determination of this planning application is anticipated in Spring 2022.
To view the application click on this link: Somme Heritage Centre to Green Road Greenway Planning Application.
Background
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Strategic Plan for Greenways’ Exercise Explore Enjoy: A Strategic Plan for Greenways | Department for Infrastructure (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk), published in 2016, aims to encourage a substantial increase in the number of people walking and cycling as a regular part of everyday life through the building of a connected and accessible regional Greenway Network.
The plan provided a framework to assist local councils to develop their own greenway schemes and provided funding for feasibility studies, one of which was for a proposed Orlock Point to Donaghadee, Newtownards and Helen’s Bay Greenway.
This feasibility study was submitted to DfI and AECOM was appointed to further the design of the Greenway. As a result of feedback during public consultation and meetings with both residents and landowners, the route was altered and split between two greenways, with this one linking Newtownards to Green Road. From here the greenway can be linked into Bangor and extended to Donaghadee.
The greenway between Newtownards and Green Road, Bangor is being developed in two stages. The first is between Belvedere Road (connecting to South Eastern Regional College) Newtownards and the Somme Museum, Bangor Road, Newtownards and the second between the Somme Museum and Green Road, Bangor.
The first stage has a site area of 0.99ha and so in planning terms is classified as a local development. The planning application for this section of the greenway was submitted in October 2020.
Planning Ref: LA06/2020/0940/F. To view the application click on this link: Belvedere Road Newtownards to the Somme Heritage Centre Greenway Planning Application
The second stage planning application was submitted in July 2021.
Planning Ref: LA06/2021/0885/F. To view the application click on this link: Somme Heritage Centre to Green Road Greenway Planning Application