Carrickfergus Shoreline Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Narrow flat coastal plain.
• Large industrial and commercial developments along coastal edge.
• Almost continuous belt of development which includes the main settlements of Carrickfergus and the smaller village of Greenisland.
• Peripheral industry as well as scattered housing along roads links separate settlements and obscures their separate identities.
• Pockets of woodland around Castle Dobbs.
• Communications and services corridor.
• Expansive views of the sea.

Landscape Description

The Carrickfergus Shoreline forms a fringe of flat land, 1km to 3km wide, between the high basalt ridge of the Carrickfergus Farmed Escarpment to the north and Belfast Lough to the south. The accommodating relief has been utilised by extensive development which runs more or less continuously along the length of the shore and extends westwards to the outskirts of Newtownabbey. Carrickfergus is the most concentrated area of settlement, with recent housing extending northwards from the shoreline core of the town. Prominent industrial structures, such as the stack of Kilroot Power Station provide a focus for miles around. Other ribbon development extends along the A2 and B90.

The linearity of the Carrickfergus Shoreline is emphasised by the roads, railway and transmission lines that pass along it. Views of the sea are a fundamental aspect of the local landscape character and, while coastal development blocks visibility from many locations inland, there are a number of significant waterfront viewpoints, such as Carrickfergus Castle. The railway follows the edge of the shoreline east of Carrickfergus, with excellent views across the Lough.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The landscape has been subject to extensive recent development, especially between Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey. This has detracted from the identity and uniqueness of separate communities and has depleted the character of the natural rocky shoreline and views of the sea. Additional development will therefore be less pronounced in its effect, although there are opportunities to improve the landscape and visual quality of this area and further development should be associated with local environmental improvements.

All development currently lies to the south of the B90 which forms a northern boundary to this coastal strip landscape. If development extends beyond this boundary, it will extend into the adjacent Carrickfergus Farmed Escarpment, where the characteristic small-scale ladder field pattern is highly sensitive to landscape change. The Inner Belfast Lough ASSI extends from Belfast to Carrickfergus and this designation makes the water's edge a particularly sensitive area.

Principles for Landscape Management

• There may be opportunities to develop coastal viewpoints, such as parks and jetties, along the shoreline, and to give priority to amenity land uses in this sensitive and important area.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• There is scope to develop a landscape strategy for continued development with clearly identified zones for development, environmental improvements and landscape works.
• Existing landscape elements such as hedgerows, stone walls and woodlands may provide structural edges to individual settlements and help to reinforce settlement identity, preventing the coalescence of adjacent settlements.
• Local features and built elements may be used to establish gateways to existing settlements, enhancing their distinctive character.