Implementation
Regional planning policy statements
Another important component of the RDS will be the development
of key Regional Planning Policy Statements. DRD will, in 2001/2,
initiate consultation with key interests, on draft regional
planning policy statements on:
- transportation and land use;
- housing in settlements;
- retailing and town centres; and
- commence the preparation of a Regional
Planning Policy Statement for the countryside.
 Regional
transportation strategy
DRD will, by the end of 2001, produce a draft 10-year regional
transportation strategy and by the Spring of 2002 prepare
a Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan. The latter will be
a key input prepared in conjunction with DOE's work on the
Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan. Together these will provide
the integrated statutory framework for the future development
of the Belfast conurbation.
Finance
The section on the Status of the Strategy clearly indicates
on page 3, that the appearance of policy, or possible developments
in the RDS should not be read as a commitment to find public
finance. The implementation of the Strategy depends on investment
by the public and private sectors. Given the heavy competing
pressures on public expenditure, new approaches to the funding
of some development, including infrastructure will have to
be examined.
Under present policy, the development sector will be expected
to contribute towards achieving public objectives by the provision
of capital, buildings, and works on land when proposals for
development are being considered. Such planning obligations
– ‘planning gain’ – have been a feature of planning consents
for development schemes in recent years and more widespread
use of such measures will be expected in future. There will
however clearly be a need to protect the integrity and fairness
of the process for dealing with planning applications.
New ways of financing public services will also be explored,
including:
- the opportunities for the use of
private finance in major public services like transport,
roads, water and sewerage;
- the use of road user congestion
charges, work-place parking levies and other forms of charging
for specific services; and
- a review of rating policy.
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