Planning and Economic DevelopmentNational Spatial Strategy – Twin Objectives:

Maintaining Economic Competitiveness and Maintaining Economic Competitiveness and Balanced Regional DevelopmentBalanced Regional Development

• Achieve a more polycentric spatial structure

• Policy focus is urban hierarchy :– 9 Gateways (national engines of

growth)– 9 Hubs (Support the gateways) – Other towns and villages

• Too many growth centres• Very different areas afforded the

same status • Administrative fragmentation –

linked gateways and hubs coordination?

• Regional policy continues to be regarded as distributive rather than as a key influence on economic growth

Planning and Economic Development – Northern Ireland

• Linked gateways? • Role of the Dublin-

Belfast corridor• Proliferation of

‘corridors’ in N.I / Proliferation of ‘gateways’ in Ire – selectivity?

Common Information

A – General Information• Area 70,273 sq. km

Population: • RoI. 4.6 million (2011) N. I. c. 1.8 million (2010)• Dublin 1.3 million• Belfast 641,638

Density: • 65 people per sq. km• Dublin - 4,588 per sq. km (approx)• Belfast - 5, 571 per sq.km (approx)

Per capita income• €31, 273 per person (2010, World Bank)

Common Information

B – Main Economic Activities

Exports:•chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products, machinery and equipment, computers,

•€83.2 billion (2009 est.)

Imports:•data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

•€1.750 trillion (2009)

Common Information

C- HousingRepublic of Ireland• Family size. 1.38 (2011) 1.4 (2006)

Affordability Average weekly rental cost €136 • 28% rent• 34% own outright• 35% own with mortgage

Northern Ireland

Affordability• 67.5% Owner Occupied• 12.6% Northern Ireland Housing

Executive dwellings• 4.0% Housing Associations • 16.0% Private Rental

D - Planning System1964

ROI Planning System introduced

Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1963963

Local government basis – local authorities (Counties)

designated as planning authorities

2000Legislation and regulations consolidated and updated

Planning and Development Act 2000

A clear HIERARCHICAL PLANNING SYSTEM introduced

Regional planning and guidelines statutory footing for the first time European Influence (ESDP - 1999)

Strategic Planning NSS - 2002

2010Enhanced Integration and

Coordination of Plans Planning and Development

(Amendment) Act 2010A re-focus of forward planning /

Stronger plan led approach

Inclusion of Core Strategy - to demonstrate that the objectives

contained within the development plan are consistent with the NSS and RPG’s / compliance with EU

directives (replacing ‘have regard to’)

Institutional Roles and ResponsibilitiesNational

Regional

Local

Dept. of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

An Bord Pleanala

8 Regional Authorities (1994)1991 Local Gov Act – to promote coordination of public service provision and to monitor the role delivery of EU

Structural Fund assistance in the regions

Implementation of the planning system is the responsibility of the local authorities

Development Plans Development ManagementEnforcement

2010 - 440 Development and Local Area Plans

88 Local Planning Authorities•29 county councils•5 city councils

•49 town councils

Drawing up and implementing Regional Planning Guidelines Only 2 tiers of elected government - central and local, members of the Regional Authorities are nominated from among the elected members of the local authorities

DoEHLG – Devising National policy framework and issuing of guidance documents in respect of national planning issues

An Bord Pleanala - Independent third party appeals system