Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 16 will bring forward clearer, more flexible planning policy creating more opportunities for tourism that will be beneficial to the local economy and will protect tourism assets from inappropriate development.

It will make it easier for developers and other stakeholders to bring forward tourism proposals that are appropriate and sustainable in towns, cities and the countryside.

Key changes in the policy that will promote sustainable tourism development and provide more opportunities for sustainable development in the countryside are:

• the inclusion of an exceptional circumstances policy, this means that unique proposals for a major tourism development project in the countryside, which will bring jobs and tourists to rural communities and benefit the tourism industry, can be approved;
• the removal of the requirement for an applicant to demonstrate ‘need’ for tourist accommodation in the countryside will make it less difficult for applicants to bring forward proposals, and easier and quicker for the planning authority to process applications;
• holiday / caravan park sites in the countryside no longer need to be within the Development Plan, as required by Draft PPS16. In rural areas, new or extended holiday parks will be required to integrate into the surrounding countryside and to demonstrate a high quality layout and design;
• expansion of the Draft PPS16 provisions for hotels to now also include proposals for guest houses and tourist hostels in the countryside.

“The new policy aims to manage the provision of sustainable and high quality tourism developments in appropriate locations within the built and natural environment. This will reinforce the green and clean credentials that make the North such a special place. It will provide a planning framework that will help boost the economy as tourism serves as an economic driver. As the tourism sector grows in a sustainable way, so do jobs, services and facilities.

“PPS 16 underpins the recently announced half a million pound regeneration fund for coastal communities and the £1 million dereliction fund that I have made available to tackle dereliction and spruce up a number of areas in Northern Ireland. The built and natural heritage will drive future increases in tourist numbers and spend. Six of the top ten visitor attractions are features of our built and natural heritage. Growing tourism from a £500 million to a £1 billion a year industry will revolve around the positive protection and development of this heritage and this new policy that I am bringing forward will help to do this.”

Geoffrey Chestnutt, Chairman of Caravan and Camping Forum for Northern Ireland said: “The Caravan and Camping Forum for Northern Ireland welcome the recognition within PPS16 of the importance of the holiday parks industry to Northern Ireland’s economy.

“DOE Planning’s engagement with the industry was instrumental in framing policies which should provide the flexibility to allow sustainable park development. Northern Ireland’s economy benefits from the business generated by over 120 holiday and touring parks which provide a market for local goods and services as well as jobs, both on parks and in their host communities.”

PPS 16 will protect tourism assets from insensitive development, not just tourism development, to avoid damage to their quality and character.

The Minister concluded: “I believe it is important to afford protection to tourism assets associated with our natural and built heritage, not only for conservation reasons, but also to ensure their continued effectiveness in attracting tourists and underpinning the tourism industry.” 

Notes to editors:

1. PPS 16 will replace tourism policies SP 10 and TOU 1 to TOU 4 and coastal policies CO 5 to CO 7 of ‘A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland’. It will also supersede policy CTY 1 of PPS 21 insofar as it relates to the tourism policies of ‘A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland’.
2. PPS 16 has been brought forward in consultation with DETI and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and takes account of emerging Tourism Priorities for Action Plan
3. The final version of PPS 16 takes account of the public consultation responses made in regard to Draft PPS 16.
4. The Caravan & Camping Forum for Northern Ireland is established to provide a forum for the exchange of views between and amongst private and public sector stakeholders of the Caravan and Camping industry in Northern Ireland

this information was taken from the NI planning website

How Slemish Design Studio Help can help?

At SDS we are able to advise you on the finer detail of the policy, its materiality and weight in respect of current or future planning applications.
We can use our expertise and experience to help guide your application through the increasingly complex planning system.
SDS can advise on the acceptability of these proposals and provide planning statements to support their approval. We can advise on the appeal case law that has developed on the interpretation of these policies and your likely chances of success.
We can also advise you on the chances of success at appeal if your application is unsuccessful. We can advise on whether your application can be amended to make it more acceptable.
For further information please contact:
Steven or Joe at Slemish Design Studio – info@slemishdesignstudio.co.uk

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Our clients sent us an a few pictures of how their extension and renovation is coming along in Ballymote, Co. Sligo.
It’s great to see everything taking place & we cannot wait to get down to see it in person.

Check our Facebook page for more information on this project & other we’ve been working on

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After putting the news on our blog & social media pages about our new gym project. We’ve been contacted by two other business people about doing another few gyms in County Antrim!!

image is from internet & not of our gym project.

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Ballymena Architects Slemish Design Studio,  have been awarded a new project for a private gym on the Woodside road, Ballymena.
Great to see people starting up new businesses & looking forward to heading to it on completion. Which they hope to be in by the start of September.

image is from internet & not of our gym project.

Check out our Facebook page for more information on what projects we’re doing

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We’re just about to commence on site with our Extension & Renovation project near Toome.
Our brief was to include extra living space to make use of the existing mature garden to the rear, along with providing extra bedroom and bathroom space.
All this as well as a double garage with office space to the first floor accessible via external steps.
All this was done in accordance with the new building regulations (2012) with extra insulation to help the thermal values.

Starting on site for our Extension & Renovation project near toome

for more information check out our Facebook page

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Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a welcome meeting for new members in the Adair Arms last week.
In the last few months Chamber has recruited 14 new members.
Chamber President Thomas McKillen welcomed the new members, saying: “It is great to see so many new members here this morning. New members are the lifeblood of any organisation.
“There is a wealth of experience and knowledge in this Chamber and I hope you find membership to be both enjoyable and beneficial.”
The new members then introduced themselves and Thomas presented them with their membership certificates.
Unfortunately we couldn’t attend due to having site meetings that morning, but Chris Wales from the Chamber came out to our offices on the Woodside Road, to Ballymena architects, Slemish Design Studio us with their certificate.
We’re now listed in the Chamber as Architects & Planning Consultants, so should you need any advice on either, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.

Steven Bell, Joe Magill (Slemish Design Studio), Chris Wales (Chamber of Commerce)

Click here for more information on the Ballymena Chamber

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This project is for a new house on a great site in Glarryford, Ballymena.
  

The site for this house is located in Glarryford, Ballymena, gaining planning approval as “a dwelling on a farm” under PPS21
Our client wanted a modern/contemporary feel to the traditional farm house seen throughout Northern Ireland.
The challenge was to deal with the conflicting objectives of getting planning permission while designing a home that made the most of the site and views. The form of the house is a response to the local environment, its orientation, the adjacent family farm , and its prominence in this local area.

Check out our Facebook page for more information & images

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Site visit to our House Extension and Renovation on the Craigstown Road, Randalstown

View from the front entrance, Craigstown Road, Randalstown

View from the front garden, Craigstown Road, Randalstown

New stonework added to back door entrance. Craigstown Road, Randalstown

Check out our Facebook page for more information
Check out our Google+ page for more information

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Not content with bringing you all our latest architectural projects/news and information on our website blog…..we’re also on a lot more social media pages.

Updating slemish design studio website can be quite a lot on it’s own, but as architects we look at all other ways of showing what type of designs we produce and as a way to drive brand awareness, connect with people with similar passions and to do what all business owners seek – attract leads and clients looking for good architects.
Starting off nearly a year ago with Facebook and twitter, we progressed to most of the other media’s.

below is a list of those we’re on.

check out our other media pages & if your feeling generous share them/like them/ contribute to them

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check out Sewpro Ballymena’s Website for more information

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the rep Craig Gibson was brilliant & took us on site to show us how & what the Heat Recovery system does.
It’s becoming more & more popular to have in houses helping with things like;

• Clean, fresh air reduces the symptoms for asthma and allergy sufferers
• No  trickle vents or extractor fans letting cold air in
• Enhancement of energy efficiency in the home

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see our Facebook page for more information on our farm house extension and renovation in Ballymote

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Here’s a few images we took on site.

check out our facebook page for more info

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