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Legacy Development Plans

The legacy development plans covering the Borough are the Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 (including Alterations 1, 2 and 3) and the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015.

Local Development Plan

Under the Planning (Local Development Plan) Regulations (NI) 2015, a transitional period applies where provisions contained in the legacy development plans prepared by the former Department of the Environment will continue to apply until such time as the Council’s Local Development Plan is fully adopted.

It should be noted that the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan adopted in September 2014 was subsequently quashed as a result of a judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered in May 2017. As a consequence, the BUAP is now the statutory development plan for the Metropolitan Newtownabbey area of the Borough, with dBMAP remaining a material consideration.

Until such times as the Council’s Local Policies Plan identifies the boundaries of settlement limits, local designations and zonings, the provisions of the current legacy plans will continue to apply in the decision making process.

Once the Council’s Local Policies Plan is adopted the legacy plans as they relate to our Borough, shall cease to have effect.

The following is a list of the legacy development plans that apply to the Borough:

Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001

The Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 was adopted on 21 June 1989. It defines settlement development limits for Antrim, Randalstown, Crumlin, Templepatrick, Toome and Parkgate. It also contains land-use proposals for the towns and at Belfast International Airport.

The plan indicated two phases of land for housing in Antrim. The first phase was released upon adoption of the plan and all second phase land has since been released.

The Plan comprises the following elements:
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Written Statement including maps 7, 8 and 9
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Map 1 District Strategy
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Map 2 Belfast International Airport
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Map 3 Antrim Town
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Map 4 Antrim Central Area
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Map 5 Randalstown
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Map 6 Crumlin
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Map 10 Rural Policies

The Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Alteration No. 1 Limits of Development for Hamlets was adopted on 24 March 1993. It defined settlement limits for Dunadry, Groggan, Milltown, Creggan-Cranfield, Killead and Moneyglass.
Area Plan 1984-2001 Alteration No. 1 Limits of Development for Hamlets

The Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Alteration No. 2 Housing – Antrim Town was adopted on 31 March 1999. It released two sites for housing in Antrim at Kilbegs Road and Niblock Road from the Phase Two land identified in the original Plan.
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Alteration No. 2 Housing – Antrim Town

The Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Alteration No. 3 Industry – Antrim Town was adopted on 31 March 1999. It released a further site for industrial use at Kilbegs Road in Antrim.
The release of the remaining Phase Two housing land in Antrim was achieved through a Ministerial Statement on 28 June 2013.
Antrim Area Plan 1984-2001 Alteration No. 3 Industry – Antrim Town

Release of remaining Phase 2 Housing Land
Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001 (BUAP)

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Carrickfergus Area Plan 2001 (CAP)

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Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 (dBMAP)

dBMAP covers Metropolitan Newtownabbey, Ballyclare, Ballyeaston, Ballynure, Ballyrobert, Cogry/Kilbride (Burnside), Doagh, Straid and surrounding areas. It defines settlement limits and contains a range of land-use zonings and other policy designations.

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Draft Newtownabbey Area Plan 2005 (dNAP)

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Supplementary Planning Guidance
Supplementary Planning Guidance provides further advice on specific planning matters, covering a range of areas and topics.
Design guidance was prepared by the Department of the Environment for the following conservation areas.

Related Pages on Department for Infrastructure website: