Ards and North Down Borough Council and Newry Mourne and Down District Council publish their draft Local Development Plans
Ards and North Down Local Development Plan 2032 published
Ards and North Down Borough Council has published its Draft Plan Strategy, marking the first formal stage in the preparation of the new Local Development Plan (LDP) 2032.
This strategic document sets out how the Borough will grow and develop over the next decade, shaping decisions on housing, employment, tourism, infrastructure and environmental protection.
The LDP aims to:
- Promote sustainable development.
- Enhance quality of life and wellbeing.
- Support economic growth and environmental stewardship.
- Deliver inclusive placemaking across the Borough.
A four-week reading period is now in progress ahead of a formal consultation on the Draft Plan Strategy that will begin on 17 October 2025.
This will be open for a period of eight weeks. During this time, a series of drop-in public consultation events and information sessions will be held.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, said: “This Draft Plan Strategy is a significant milestone for our Borough.
“It sets out a clear and ambitious vision for how we want Ards and North Down to grow, sustainably, inclusively and with the wellbeing of our residents at its heart.
“I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and help shape the future of our communities.”
Representations must be made during the eight-week consultation period that begins on 17 October 2025 and ends on 15 December 2025 at 4.30pm. Any received outside of these dates will not be considered.
For more information, and to view the Draft Plan Strategy, visit:
www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/LDP-Draft-Plan-Strategy.
Alternatively, the Draft Plan Strategy can also be viewed at City Hall, Bangor, and also 2 Church Street, Newtownards.
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Alliance representatives welcome Draft Local Development Plan Strategy
South Down MLA Andrew McMurray and Rowallane Councillor David Lee-Surginor have commented on the launch of Newry Mourne and Down District Council’s Draft Local Development Plan Strategy.
Andrew McMurray MLA and Cllr David Lee-Surginor (both Alliance) welcomed the publication of NMDDC’s Draft Local Development Plan Strategy.
Commenting after the launch, Cllr Lee-Surginor said: “As an Alliance councillor representing the diverse communities of Rowallane – from our rural villages to growing urban towns – I’m cautiously optimistic about the direction of the Local Development Plan 2035.
“It’s encouraging to see commitments to sustainable development.
“However, it is vital that we see clear, targeted measures for affordable housing, strengthened support for active and public transport, and investment in town centre revitalisation – all of which are essential for places such as Ballynahinch for instance.
“For growing villages such as Crossgar, we need to ensure that future development is well-planned, with the infrastructure and services to match.
“Improvements in rural infrastructure – especially transport and digital connectivity —-are key to ensuring balanced growth that works for all residents.
“I’ll continue to push for an inclusive and transparent implementation process that genuinely reflects local needs and voices.”
Andrew McMurray MLA, Alliance spokesperson for Infrastructure and South Down, added: “I welcome this important document, which will play an important role in shaping the development of the District over the next decade.
“Poor planning system performance is an ongoing shared challenge for the Department for Infrastructure and Councils across Northern Ireland.
“Local Development Plans have a vital role to play in improving performance in this area, providing clarity and helping to create well-connected, resilient, and attractive places for people to live, work, and invest.
“It is important that the final plan meet the needs of our local community and I would encourage residents, businesses and community groups to read the draft plan and respond to the Council’s public consultation.”
(Down News will insert a link from the Council website once it’s available.)
