1 / 19

What Planning does

What Planning does. Planning involves twin activities… • The management of the competing uses for space & the making of places that are valued & have identity • These activities focus on the location & quality of social, economic & environmental change.

leonora-karis
Download Presentation

What Planning does

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. What Planning does Planning involves twin activities… • The management of the competing uses for space & the making of places that are valued & have identity • These activities focus on the location & quality of social, economic & environmental change A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  2. Some things Planners do... • Managing development to create affordable housing • Playing a role in regenerating socially-deprived areas • Designing our towns and cities to include attractive buildings, vibrant public spaces & bustling shopping centres • Working to protect our countryside, trees, waterways and rivers • Helping to bring historic buildings into sympathetic use • Creating policies for managing traffic & providing sustainable solutions to our transport needs • Improving energy efficiency & cutting carbon emissions in our homes, factories & businesses • Engaging communities to have a say in how their living space is developed A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  3. Current system in Northern IrelandWhere we’re going… Local Government Reform Reform of Planning System Planning Act (NI) 2011 Preparing for change Challenges – Role of Councillors A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  4. Planning System in Northern Ireland • Prior to 1973, Planning powers were exercised through local councils. Post 1973, Planning powers brought into central government & statutory requirement to CONSULT local Councils • Single Planning Authority with responsibility for: Regional planning, policy development, legislation, development planning, conservation, development management including enforcement, regeneration; Since 2007 - Planning matters fall across 3 Departments - DOE, DRD & DSD - statutory consultation requirements retained PAC – independent appellant body (OFMDFM) A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  5. Local Government & Planning Reform In November 2007, Minister Foster announced: “I want a Planning system that supports and encourages sustainable economic growth while protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment.” “I want to see a planning system which delivers for everyone in Northern Ireland. No aspect of planning will be left untouched in the quest for a more streamlined development plan system, a more effective development control system, improved efficiency of processing and greater certainty about timescales.”Environment Minister Arlene Foster “No-one should underestimate the scale of the reform programme, particularly when combined with the transfer of responsibility for the majority of planning functions to the new councils.”Environment Minister Edwin Poots Minister Attwood has indicated his intention to maintain the momentum of Planning Reform and to ensure the reformed system contributes to economic recovery and growth A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  6. Planning Reform • Faster Plans & Processing of Planning Applications • Fairer & Faster Appeals • Simpler & Tougher Enforcement • Sustainable Development Enhanced Community Involvement A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  7. Planning FunctionsTransferring to Councils Conservation A better PLACE to live, work and invest • Local development planning; • Development management (excluding applications of regional significance) • Enforcement (all breaches of planning control)

  8. New Development • Management System • • Create positive development management culture • • Proportionate processes & decision making at appropriate • level through new 3 tier hierarchy • • Councils determine major & local developments – • DOE regionally significant through direct submission or call-in • • Early pre-application engagement and enhanced transparency • (including pre-determination hearings) A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  9. New Development Plan System • • New plan-led system to provide greater certainty for all • • Streamlined & flexible Plan system • • New 2 document approach • (Plan Strategy & Local Policies Plan) • • Overall timeframe reduced • • More effective participation from public & • Stakeholders early in process A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  10. Simpler & Tougher Enforcement • Period in which enforcement action can be taken changed to 5 years (previously 4 and 10 years) • Introduction of Fixed Penalty Notices for failure to comply with enforcement or breach of condition notices • Multiple fees for retrospective applications A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  11. What Stays with DOE? • • Planning legislation, policy & guidance • • Regionally significant planning applications • • Statutory listing of buildings of special architectural • or historic interest • • Fee setting, funding, grant making powers • • Oversight role with audit, inspection & performance • management of councils • • Selective reserve powers, e.g. to take enforcement action A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  12. • Planning Act (NI) 2011 received Royal Assent in 2011 • Introduce new legislation for Local Government Reform • Subordinate Legislation and guidance Thematic Pilot Projects • Capacity Building Practical Preparation for Transfer A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  13. Local Planning Offices Belfast Craigavon Omagh Enniskillen Londonderry Coleraine Ballymena Downpatrick DOE Planning Planning and Local Government Group Local Planning Division Strategic Planning Division Planning Policy Division Local Government Division Millennium House Millennium House Goodwood House • 600 Staff • Budget: £72.3m gross £60m net (incl. £44m general grant) A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  14. The Next Steps… • • Establish new governance arrangements for • councils and an ethical standards regime for councillors, • including a code of conduct • • Develop draft Guidance for councils, • developers and the public • • New Planning Reform Bill A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  15. Skills for Members • Community leadership • Scrutiny & challenge • Communication • Partnership working • Understanding planning system • Understanding development process A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  16. Making Good Decisions • Decisions must be • Informed • Authoritative • Transparent • Fair • Efficient Delivery A better PLACE to live, work and invest

  17. Conclusions •Brave new world for Councillors & planners • Major shift in attitudes will be required by both Planning officers from decision maker to advisor & Councillors from advocate to arbitrator New Relationships • Assist with economic recovery & deliver priorities for the Community • Councillors have confidence to accept new role and responsibility and take difficult decisions which are often unpopular but in the public interest. • Opportunity to maximise benefits of bringing together functions currently split between 3 Departments and Councils A better PLACE to live, work and invest

More Related