Town improvement plans launched

New measures to help alleviate flash-flooding in Northern Ireland streets were announced on Monday.

Plans for greater use of permeable paving are included in a government paper intended to safeguard the character of residential areas.

Environment Minister Edwin Poots said proposals included infilling of vacant sites and conversion of existing flats.

He said the measures would protect buildings against the impact of future residential development proposals.

"These draft policies retain sufficient flexibility to allow for higher density housing schemes through imaginative and innovative design, which can deliver significant benefits, while continuing to ensure that new residential schemes are sensitive in design terms to people living in existing neighbourhoods, and are in harmony with the local character of established residential areas," the minister said.

"In order to help reduce flash flooding in urban areas, I am also issuing a draft planning policy to encourage greater use of permeable paving within new residential developments."