Newtownards gets ready to wait!
February 16th, 2011 by adminby Ryan McBirney, Consultant, Strategic Planning
2010 proved to be the ‘nearly year’ for retailing in Newtownards as the progression of a conjoined public inquiry into major retail schemes seemed to gather serious pace only to fall at the first hurdle. Read the rest of this entry »
Planning Fees Reform – a bitter pill for an ailing industry.
December 3rd, 2010 by Chris Brysonby Chris Bryson, Associate, Strategic Planning
On the 8th November 2010, the Planning Service published a consultation paper proposing an overhaul of the fees structure for development proposals. This new fee structure would bring fees in NI into line with England & Wales and such a move has been expected for some time. Though given the current economic situation, one must question the timing of such a move.
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The Executive needs to accelerate Planning Reform
October 27th, 2010 by David KerrIt has been a turbulent few months for Environment Minister Edwin Poots. The pull-out from George Best Belfast City Airport by Ryanair and Michael O’Leary’s scathing criticism of Government indecision in Northern Ireland has created a firestorm of debate around whether Planning Service and the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) are fit for purpose.
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PPS 21 – the future of living and working in the countryside.
October 26th, 2010 by Ryan McBirneyby Ryan McBirney, Strategic Planning
Following a lengthy consultation period the Northern Ireland Executive issued Planning Policy Statement 21 in final form in the summer of 2010 only to be met with mixed reviews. The topic of single dwellings in the countryside is always an emotive one amongst the Northern Ireland public with views normally being expressed at either end of the spectrum and very few in between. Read the rest of this entry »
Area Plans and RPA – what next?
October 26th, 2010 by Chris Brysonby 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 »
