by Chris Bryson, Associate, Strategic Planning

The July 2009 Consultation Paper on Planning Reform was ‘big’ on a plan-led system but there is an important missing ingredient…area plans. It is widely acknowledged that a new full suite of area plans is required and this had started to take shape with the Ards & Down Area Plan being published in March 2009 and the enquiries finished into draft BMAP, BNMAP and MAP; with all awaiting the PAC report to the Department prior to adoption. Despite these developments, there remains a huge gap in up-to-date area plans elsewhere. Read the rest of this entry »