Implementation

Introduction

The Regional Development Strategy (RDS) sets out a challenging agenda which will shape the development of Northern Ireland over the next 25 years for the benefit of the whole community. The Strategy provides a vital context within which major investment decisions will be taken by the public and private sector and individuals.

This chapter is in six main parts. First, it sets out the legal framework within which the RDS will be progressed. The section also outlines the relationship with the planning process. Second, it deals with the mechanism for delivery including the important link between the regional management of the process and supporting the work at sub-regional level. Third, it covers the monitoring and review arrangements, and includes the underpinning consideration of Sustainability. Fourth, it outlines the Regional Planning Policy Statements that will be brought forward. Fifth, it deals with the important related issue of regional transportation. The final section deals with finance.

Partnership: A guiding principle

The Department for Regional Development has been in the lead in preparing this Strategy. It has done so in close consultation with other Departments and through an open and inclusive dialogue with all the other interests.

This participative approach will be carried forward into the implementation, monitoring and review stages. The successful development of the Region, and the realisation of its full potential, can only be achieved through effective partnership between regional and local government and with the public, private, community and voluntary sectors through appropriate co-operation with our neighbours in the island of Ireland and with Great Britain.

Lessons from successful regional and inter-regional developments in Europe and elsewhere will continue to be monitored for applications which could be of advantage to Northern Ireland.

Legal framework

Under the provisions of the Strategic Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, DRD is responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of the RDS and providing policy guidance and advice in relation to the Strategy and its implementation.

The Order also places on other departments a responsibility in exercising any functions in relation to development to have regard to the Strategy.

The Schedule to the Order amended the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 by requiring the Department of Environment (DOE) to ensure that any development plan for an area is consistent with the Strategy. It also requires the Department for Social Development (DSD) to ensure that any development scheme is consistent with the Strategy.

Concerns have been raised about whether the ‘consistent with’ requirement might introduce an unnecessary and undesirable inflexibility into the planning system. It has, therefore, been decided to promote amending legislation which would substitute a requirement that development plans and development schemes ‘must be in general conformity with the regional development strategy’.

These statutory provisions, including this proposed amendment, provide the legal framework within which implementation of the Strategy will proceed. These provisions will, however, be kept under review to ensure that they provide a sufficiently flexible, yet effective, legal framework.

Relationship with planning process

The overarching framework for the development of the Region provided by the Strategy is a flexible framework. It will need to be interpreted, implemented and kept under review in the light of emerging social, economic, environmental, demographic and technological trends. As explained above, the DOE, in preparing planning policies and development plans is at present required to do so in a way that is consistent with the Strategy. In practice, this requirement and the proposed change to ‘in general conformity with’ will mean ensuring that planning policies and development plans are in broad harmony with the strategic objectives and policies set out in the Strategy, subject to any need to take account of emerging trends which are relevant to DOE's responsibility to secure the orderly and consistent development of land.

While the introduction of a new overarching framework has implications for future plan and policy-making, it is impossible however to align immediately every policy and plan with the Strategy. Planning practice recognises that there are lead-in times required for the alignment of policies. The RDS is a long-term Strategy to 2025 and will have increasing effect particularly from 2005/6 onwards, as a complete suite of updated plans become available.

For the purposes of clarification, new development plans and planning policies introduced subsequent to the RDS must, as they are brought forward, be consistent with the RDS. In the interim period, planning decisions on individual development proposals can continue to be made, taking into account the RDS, existing development plans and relevant planning policies. It will be a matter of judgement for DOE, as the Planning Authority, to judge in each case as to what is the best planning decision weighing up all the relevant planning policies.

The strategies and policies in the RDS are, of course, material considerations which may take precedence over existing development plans. The weight to be afforded to the RDS, the development plan, and to any other material considerations will be a matter for judgement and may vary from case to case.

In some cases, it may be appropriate to give more weight to new policy directions set out in the RDS. In other instances, it may be judged more appropriate to give greater weight to the existing area plans until new development plans are prepared.

DOE continues to keep the planning processes under review, particularly its systems for operational planning policy, development planning and development control. The aim is to make the processes as efficient as the legal and consultative constraints will allow.