Conservation Areas within the Council Area

CONSERVATION AREAS WITHIN THE COUNCIL AREA

There are three Conservation Areas within Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, each with their own specific design advice contained in a conservation area guide.  The Council intends to update these guides alongside preparation of the Local Development Plan at Local Policies Plan stage.

The Conservation Area guides are a useful reference when bringing forward development proposals in these areas and will be used when assessing planning applications, along with all prevailing planning policy including the Strategic Planning Policy Statement and the retained policies in Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage (in accordance with the transitional arrangements).  Any differences in the wording of the policy will be reconciled in favour of the policies in the Strategic Planning Policy Statement.  

Heritage Features

Within the Council’s Conservation Areas there is an extremely rich and diverse historic environment that contributes to our sense of place and history.  Within these areas there are many historic assets including listed buildings, monuments and protected archaeological sites.

The Department for Communities has produced a Historic Environment Map Viewer which allows you to observe those historic assets it has identified in the Council area: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/services/historic-environment-map-viewer.

General information on listed buildings, including guidance and technical notes can be accessed from : https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/listed-buildings

Lisburn Conservation Area

Lisburn Conservation Area, originally designated in 1992, encompasses the original street plan for Lisburn (formerly Lisnagarvey) drawn around 1640. Most growth took place in the late 17th century through linen manufacturing and other commercial activity.

The Conservation Area extends from Market Square, branching out west along Bow Street; north along Railway Street; east along Bridge Street and Castle Street, encompassing Castle Gardens. Within this area most buildings still retain their traditional character and appearance on individual narrow plots. It is the combination of this historic core, heritage of fine buildings and open spaces which create a sense of place and an area worthy of protection.

The benefits of good design and physical enhancement of the street scene, has been demonstrated in Lisburn Conservation Area. The Heritage Fund through the Bridge Street Townscape Heritage Initiative has encouraged investment, where historic buildings on the street have been retained and repaired to replicate their original designs, with numerous examples of high quality shop fronts and signage.

Click to view the Lisburn Conservation Area Guide and Conservation Area Map

Hillsborough Conservation Area

Hillsborough is an elegant small town predominantly formed in the early 18th century by the Hill family (subsequently the Marquesses of Downshire), who encouraged linen making and development of a planned Georgian town, with a formal Square and significant public buildings such as the Castle, Fort and Court/ Market House.

The Conservation Area, originally designated in 1976, encompasses Main Street, branching off to Lisburn Street/ Ballynahinch Street to the North and Dromore Road to the South, including within it Hillsborough Castle and gardens which is under the management of Historic Royal Palaces (HRP).

Hillsborough which is considered to be a ‘jewel in the Crown’ of the council area, is distinctive and special due to a combination of the historical and physical characteristics of its built fabric, spaces and landscape features.

Click to view the Hillsborough Conservation Area Guide and Conservation Area Map

Moira Conservation Area

Moira, similar to Lisburn and Hillsborough, developed as a plantation town in the 17th century.  The Rawdon family, who occupied Moira Castle from 1680, were largely responsible for the construction of the principal buildings and the setting out of Main Street between 1720 and 1760.  The family also established linen manufacturing and marketing which brought prosperity to the town.

Moira’s Conservation Area, originally designated in 1983, is comprised of Main Street, which is the thriving commercial centre of the town.  Its Conservation Area designation seeks to maintain the existing street pattern, building lines and plot widths with the principle of near continuous street frontage maintained.

Click to view the Moira Conservation Area Guide and Conservation Area Map