THE ROLE OF REGIONAL SPATIAL PLANNING IN SUPPORTING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NORTHERN IRELAND Jenny Pyper Director 6 th Annual ICLRD Conference 20 January 2011 PURPOSE OF REGIONAL PLANNING Framework to guide long term development Guidance on role of urban and rural areas and their connections Aid for decision makers on location of jobs, houses, services and facilities and provision of regional infrastructure Informs preparation of plans, programmes & strategies of all Government Departments
THE RDS IN THE NI PLANNING SYSTEM RDS PPSs Guidance Masterplans and Local Development Plans Neighbourhood Action Plans DRD DOE DSD & Local District Councils New Economic Strategy NEW ECONOMIC STRATEGY Rebuilding and Rebalancing 5 Key Themes:- stimulating innovation, R&D and creativity; improving employability and the level, relevance and use of skills; competing in the global economy; encouraging business growth; and developing our economic infrastructure
DEVELOPING A REVISED RDS Review of 2001 Shaping our Future Climate change Economic context Population growth and movement Transportation needs Social disadvantage Review of Local Government
STRUCTURE OF NEW 2010 RDS Vision and Objectives Spatial Framework -the overall approach Strategic Guidance for geographic areas and themes. Regionally Significant Economic Projects Implementation RDS 2010 - KEY FEATURES Importance of Belfast City as driver of regional economic growth Significance of Derry as the capital of an expanding NW region Key sub regional centres providing employment, services and jobs Urban renaissance and compact urban form New emphasis on ways to reduce reliance on car Planning to deal with climate change
THE SPATIAL FRAMEWORK Hierarchy of Settlements The Metropolitan Area centred on Belfast Derry City hub of the North West Sub-regional centres Clusters of Cities and towns The rural area Gateways and corridors
GATEWAYS Belfast (including the sea port and George Best City Airport) Belfast International Airport Larne Derry (including the sea port and Derry City Airport) Newry (including Warrenpoint) Enniskillen
ECONOMIC CORRIDORS Connect Belfast and Derry and main centres of economic activity and the external gateways Based on the Regional Strategic Transport Network
REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE Deliver strategic improvements in external and internal communications Contribute to the achievement of renewable energy targets Contribute to the achievement of waste management and climate change targets Raise issues of more than regional importance
COLLABORATIVE SPATIAL PLANNING EU supports Member State connectivity RDS and NSS have similar messages Key areas for cross border co-operation Urban corridors and gateways Transportation Energy Telecoms Role of ICLRD OVERLAP OF CATCHMENTS NORTH AND SOUTH
CONCLUSION RDS is a long term Strategy Interregional and local sharing of knowledge Importance of influencing others Cross cutting issues to be addressed Ethos of Sustainability Prioritisation of resources Ongoing co-operation inc. data sharing The will to implement REFLECTIONS :- 1. Planning system may have to adapt its approach to achieving longer- term objectives and enabling economic survival 2. Need to place the citizen at the centre of our information gathering and policy- making processes 3. Planners must adopt sensitive and sophisticated communication approaches managing divergent political / stakeholder views outlining realities 4. Are our housing demand projections still valid to sustain all the existing plans? Core strategies will provide the test 5. How can we reduce the cost of infrastructure and delivery? 6. Where are there economies of scale?.. shared services & expertise..
REFLECTIONS :- 1. Planning system may have to adapt its approach to achieving longer- term objectives and enabling economic survival 2. Need to place the citizen at the centre of our information gathering and policy- making processes 3. Planners must adopt sensitive and sophisticated communication approaches managing divergent political / stakeholder views outlining realities 4. Are our housing demand projections still valid to sustain all the existing plans? Core strategies will provide the test 5. How can we reduce the cost of infrastructure and delivery? 6. Where are there economies of scale?.. shared services & expertise..