12. Contextual Design Information
What is it?
Policy DES1 of the Plan Strategy relates to the principles of urban design and states that planning permission will be granted for new development that accords with design criteria relating to high quality, sustainable design that makes a positive contribution to placemaking.
Policy BH1 relates to proposals affecting a Listed Building.
Policy BH2 relates to new development within or affect the setting of a Conservation Area.
Policy BH3 relates to new development within an Area of Townscape Character.
Contextual Design Information is visual material, such as drawings or CGIs, which accurately reflects the proposal in its immediate and local context, usually the existing street scene into which the development is to be placed. It is used to help assess the impact and suitability of the design of the proposal within its surrounding context.
When is it required?
Contextual Design Information will be required for the following (other than where they only involve a material change of use):
- applications for Major development;
- proposals that impact on built heritage including Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, historic monuments/gardens, Conservation Areas and Areas of Townscape Character; or
- proposals that may significantly impact on the street-scene or townscape.
What should it include?
The type of Contextual Design Information that is required will depend on the nature of the proposal, its location, scale and the potential impacts.
Examples of Contextual Design Information include:
- extended scaled elevations, both existing and proposed, which illustrate the existing context and how the proposal responds to this context in relation to neighbouring buildings and the wider street-scene;
- site sections;
- photomontages showing existing and proposed key views;
- axonometric drawings; and
- 3D modelling such as use of VU.CITY: Belfast (an accurate 3D model of most of Belfast).
