BELFAST HILLS: CURRENT PROPOSALS

(1) Proposal for a Belfast Hills Regional Park (May 1996)

The creation of a Belfast Hills Regional Park was proposed by the Planning Service of the Department of Environment in May 1996 in a document entitled Preliminary Proposals, Belfast Hills Local Plan 2001. The document identified five main landscape types: hilltop moorland, steep escarpment, shallow escarpment laid out in small fields and hedgerows, grassland fields with beech hedgerows, and river valleys running from the plateau to the edge of the urban area on the eastern side. It made the following proposals for the Regional Park:
Strategy - "The Department's strategy is to protect the rural character of the Hills, to further the opportunities for recreation and conservation, and to reconcile potential conflicts."
Land use - agricultural land will be protected from development, landfill activities in disused quarries will be regulated and new quarrying restricted. Existing streams and woodland areas will be protected and woodland tree planting will be encouraged where appropriate.
Management of the Regional Park will be the responsibility of the Environment and Heritage Service of the Department. The EHS will also prepare a Management Strategy for the area.
Conservation - development will be restricted in order to preserve the high quality rural landscapes and wildlife habitats, and to protect archaeological features.
Recreation - development proposals must be sympathetic to the rural character of the hills and respect their natural and man-made heritage. Pedestrian access will be improved by the intended completion of the Ulster Way through the area.
Hannahstown is the only settled area in the proposed Regional Park. The village will have a development limit, and building within that limit will be regulated.

 

(2) Proposal for a Belfast Hills Trust (April 1999)

Following the Preliminary Proposals, a feasibility study was commissioned by EHS, acting on behalf of DANI, the Planning Service, the four local authorities (Antrim, Newtownabbey, Belfast and Lisburn) and the Belfast Hills Regional Park Committee. The multi-professional study team was instructed to consult interested parties and "make recommendations on the most effective and achievable ways of advancing the conservation of the Hills and their sustainable use." A steering group consisting of representatives of the commissioning bodies was formed to liase with the study team and receive its report, which was completed in April 1999.

The report notes that the Belfast Hills face a number of threats, including development pressures and environmental degradation. There is a clear need for agreed objectives, supported by appropriate intervention.

Objectives for the Belfast Hills

The report notes that its consultations indicated the value of defining objectives for the Belfast Hills which:

  • recognise the Hills as an outstanding asset for the greater Belfast area
  • can attract support from public, private and voluntary sectors
  • reflect the need for sustainable use of the Hills
  • provide a vision and framework to guide the way forward at a policy and programme level

The following objectives comprise an overall aim (1) three policy statements (2, 3 and 4) and an enabling mechanism (5):

  1. To contribute to the quality of life of the wider city and residents of the Hills, through -
  2. Conservation, enhancement and restoration of the natural and man-made environment.
  3. Promotion of appreciation, responsible, managed access, sustainable use and enjoyment of the Hills.
  4. Support for traditional economic activities in the context of sustainable development.
  5. These objectives will be delivered by an effective organisational structure, management strategy and implementation capability.

Recommendations:

  1. Establishment of a Belfast Hills Trust to deliver the objectives for the Hills.
  2. Definition of an operational boundary for the Hills Trust.
  3. Preparation of a non-statutory Hills Local Plan.
  4. Acquisition of lands at Divis and Slievenacloy and other strategic lands.
  5. Safeguarding of the open space and amenity values of Carnmoney Hill.
  6. Protection, enhancement and development of public access routes to link publicly owned areas and provide strategic links.
  7. Preparation of an urban fringe farming support initiative.
  • The report notes that it there have been many planning policy statements in relation to the Belfast Hills since 1945, most of whose recommendations have not been implemented. The establishment of an effective Hills Trust with both strategic and executive responsibilities should ensure implementation.
  • The report identifies the EHS as having a key role to play in the establishment and operation of the Trust.
  • The Trust would have power to acquire lands and would be charged with implementation of the non-statutory Hills Local Plan. Its core funding would come from EHS, DANI, and the District Councils. There would be potential for project funding from a range of other sources, including Landfill Tax, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
  • The Trust would be accountable to the EHS and District Councils and would work in partnership with other interests, including farmers and local community and environmental groups. The selection of an appropriate Chairperson would be important, to ensure that the Trust is both accountable and effective.
  • The Trust should have a corporate culture which emphasises strategic guidance, partnership, accountability and implementation. It would operate at two levels, namely strategic / advisory and executive. The strategic / advisory level would encompass the key players - statutory bodies, farming interests and community / environmental groups. The executive level would have the resources and powers necessary to implement action on a wide range of programmes and projects.
  • The DoE Planning Service would be a key player in the preparation and implementation of a Local Plan for the Hills.
  • The Department of Agriculture and the farming and commercial sectors would also be key players at both the strategic / advisory and executive levels.
  • The operational boundary proposed by the report includes all of the Belfast Hills, from Carnmoney in the north to Boomers Hill in the south.

The report concludes by suggesting that it should be presented to statutory decision makers, including the Departments of Environment and Agriculture, Assembly Members, and the four District Councils. It should also be distributed to a wider audience to encourage the consultation process.

A small working group chaired by EHS should be formed. The working group should be representative of both the statutory bodies and local community and farming interests and would be asked to advise on the establishment of a Belfast Hills Trust.
Reaction to the report
  • The steering group gave its unanimous approval to the recommendations of the report.
  • The EHS set up a small working group in November 1999 to produce detailed proposals for the establishment of a Belfast Hills Trust. The working group includes representatives from the Belfast Hills groups, including the Cave Hill Conservation Campaign. If the resulting proposals are acceptable to the statutory bodies concerned and to the hills residents, and community and environmental groups, then the establishment of the Hills Trust will proceed, guided by the working group.