Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022

A collaborative, well resourced, positive, plan-led planning service can deliver long term goals and ambitions and act in the long-term public interest; balancing competing interests by setting the framework and decisions for a sustainable future. 

It is vital that the role and capabilities of a supported and properly resourced planning function is fully understood and supported by all stakeholders.

The recent evidence highlights many issues, a systems review is essential in identifying the causes and therefore the solutions.  A detailed analysis would be able to identify pinch points and weaknesses in the current system by following a sample and wide range of planning applications across Northern Ireland.

Review to ensure the number and skills of public sector planners are deployed in the right way, with support for specialist knowledge, support and guidance for statutory consultees, guidance in managing the operation of the system, including investing in efficiency-saving digital technologies can help support the shift from a largely reactive, regulatory planning system to a proactive and strategic planning system.  The systems review is an important step in informing the review of resource allocation.

RTPI NI supports the recommendation in the NI Audit Office report proposing “the Department and councils work in partnership to ensure that the planning system is financially sustainable in the longer term”.

The NI Audit Office report addresses the issue of skills, competency and integrity in the planning system, setting out several recommendations for change.

RTPI NI believes that the skills of planners along with ongoing training for both planners and elected members, on emerging technologies, process and practice must be addressed as a priority in addressing the future performance and delivery of the system.

All RTPI members are held to account by the RTPI’s Code of Professional Conduct which sets out the standards, ethics and expected professional behaviour.  Our members abide by the highest professional and ethical standards, which mean employers, clients and the wider public trust them.  We therefore encourage employers to support and promote RTPI members.

Take Climate Action

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our society.  There is a robust and wide-spread body of evidence which points to the need for speed in taking action and whilst it is accepted that many of the changes needed will take time, the focus for taking action must not be alleviated.  

RTPI NI welcomes the progress of the NI Climate Bill (awaiting Royal Assent at the time of publication), which is an important step in leading climate action.

The Executive must now take a leadership role in delivering climate action for Northern Ireland, and support all Departments, local government, and other stakeholders and business.  It has a natural role to be the coordinating body and lead the necessary actions to support Northern Ireland through the very real problems it faces through climate change.

The planning system can prevent locking-in inefficient, high-carbon infrastructure that will be used for decades.  Through stringent climate requirements set in policy, the planning system has the potential to avoid significant carbon lock-ins from fossil-fuelled infrastructure that make it difficult to shift to lower-carbon pathways.  There needs to be a shift in thinking towards adoption of active travel and land uses which reduce energy use.  This will be critical to supporting the net-zero transition.

Planning that protects natural environments, safeguarding the landscapes and places we will value in the future must be supported. Northern Ireland’s environment and its natural resources are one of its particular strengths and even economic advantages.

There is a need for alignment across all strategies and plans at a regional and local level to ensure all stakeholders work towards a shared vision and maximise funding streams and resource. 

Further investigation of the issues and solutions for any disconnect between policy and its implementation on the ground is important to support an ‘outcome-focused’ planning system in the future, that is evidence led and rooted in sustainable development.

Local authorities are key actors in facilitating joined up working across agencies and sectors, but it requires incentivising and encouraging, given current capacity and within local authority and other sectors.

For example, the NI Audit Office report addresses the role of statutory consultees in the planning system and found, “significant silo working within the planning system. … It is crucial that all statutory bodies involved in the planning system play their part and fully commit to a shared and collaborative approach going forward”.

We also acknowledge the Public Accounts Committee’s call for a positive change in culture and collaboration across the planning system, at all levels.  We would suggest this needs to include wider stakeholders in the planning process, including statutory consultees, infrastructure bodies etc.  This requires strong leadership and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency if we are to deliver shared visions and objectives. 

The long-awaited transfer of regeneration powers to Local Authorities would be a key tool to enable collaborative working at a local level.

The report of the Planning Engagement Partnership, ‘Planning Your Place: Getting Involved’ sets out recommendations on how to enhance the quality and depth of community engagement in planning and place shaping.  These recommendations must be acted on with the aim of developing an effective, open and transparent system which will provide certainty and over time grow confidence in the planning system.

RTPI NI calls for strong leadership, an open and joined up discussion along with a creative approach in resourcing to strengthen the planning service to enable it to deliver valued outcomes.

Local Development Plans (LDP) provide the opportunity for an integrated approach with other areas of policy, linking decisions on economic development with those on housing, climate change, energy generation, biodiversity, transport, and other infrastructure, providing a spatial framework for investment at different scales across Northern Ireland.  The adoption of LDPs by Councils are key to the delivery of local evidenced-based policies to support their visions and deliver for their communities.

Concern has been raised regarding the speed at which LDPs are coming forward.  Northern Ireland is not alone in this regard.  Difficulties in progressing a new system of plans is an issue that other UK jurisdictions have all faced, and some are still challenged by.  While we support the call for the progression of LDPs, it is vital that the underlying issues are understood and addressed to allow this to happen and LDPs are properly resourced and supported by all stakeholders to come forward as a matter of urgency.

Planning must strive for development that promotes a holistic approach to the planning and design of development, putting people and communities at the heart of development and framed within the wider agendas of sustainable development, climate change, decarbonisation, ecological improvement, health and wellbeing, social equity etc.  This will require training for planners, the development and support of specific expertise and a collaborative approach across sectors and disciplines.

It is vital that our initial response to the pandemic, alongside the ambition to improve efficiencies throughout the wider planning system does not overlook the positives already in place, or favour short term fixes, over longer term benefits.  There is good planning work taking place in Northern Ireland delivering good outcomes for communities and we must not lose sight of this. 

We recommend that more emphasis is placed on the 'place' and the quality of housing, ensuring sustainable, future proofed, thriving, prosperous and connected homes and communities.  The location of development is extremely important in providing a sustainable healthy community, and one that does not 'lock in' certain behaviour traits, such as car dependency, but allows for sustainable connectivity.