Belfast Map Consultation

25 January 2005

Mr T J Clarke
The Manager
Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015
Andras House
60 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7BB

Dear Mr Clarke

RE: Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015

Council welcomes the opportunity to comment on this planning framework for development in the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Council has raised a number of issues with you in pre planning consultation sessions and in general we welcome the plan and believe that it will provide a firm foundation for the control of development in the area. We welcome the emphasis on renewal in urban areas and limiting urban expansion into the green belt. However, we would be concerned at an erosion of green spaces within the urban foot print particularly that of wildlife corridors. Control of the erosion of townscape character could help to address the issue of cramming within the suburbs but cumulative impact of town cramming on existing green space should be addressed within the plan. Enhanced walking and cycling opportunities could also provide an opportunity for establishment of linear wildlife corridors that would help to support the extensive Special Sites of Local Nature Conservation Importance (SLNCI) network and provide green space access for all. I hope you find these comments helpful.

Yours sincerely
Dr Lucinda Blakiston Houston
Chair man