Information Gathering
INFORMATION GATHERING
It is now a widely held view that strategy development needs to be guided by evidence about all the activities which impact upon or are likely to be affected by that strategy. The Regional Development Strategy has a strong influence over where development is placed or should be placed in future to have maximum economic and social benefit. Feedback from stakeholders during the 5 year Review of the RDS pointed to the need for more attention to development for economic prosperity, and how we unlock the potential of the main towns throughout the region. Two pieces of research were commissioned to inform debate.
SUB REGIONAL WORKSHOPS - “WHAT WE HEARD” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
The Regional Development Strategy is an overarching regional strategy for the North of Ireland. It sets strategic guidance on a range of Social, Economic and Environmental matters and is implemented through the plans and strategies of individual Government Departments.
As part of the process in developing a revised Strategy, DRD held workshops in November and early December 2008 in each of the 11 new administrative areas proposed under the Review of Public Administration. The purpose of the workshops was to share with stakeholders the work that has been done to date in reviewing the Strategy and to listen to their views and ideas about their specific areas.
These views and comments will help shape the revised Regional Development Strategy which is planned for public consultation in summer 2009.
The workshops were organised in partnership with the Strategic Investment Board (SIB). Approximately 640 invitation letters were issued to key stakeholders from local government, public, private, and voluntary/community sector. All MLAs were invited and advertisements were placed in the main daily and weekly papers.
This resulted in a total of 274 attendees at the workshops.
The workshop consisted of a short presentation by SIB on the generic economic position in the North of Ireland followed by a specific area presentation given by DRD. Attendees were randomly divided into discussion groups and asked to nominate a chairperson to direct discussion and provide feedback on key issues. All groups were asked to consider five questions the responses to which are recorded below.
Feedback is listed under the proposed 11 new District Council areas. These are:
- Ards & North Down(34.5KB)
- Belfast City Council(47.5KB)
Business Land Need Study
First, we procured research to provide information about the kind of jobs we will have, or want to have in the future, and where these jobs are most likely to occur. We asked about future economic prospects and how these might translate into employment land. The resulting study suggests how our economy may change, how different job skills may be needed in future, and how these two factors combined might influence where employers will want to be based. The study is based on historic trends set against the changing global picture. The findings do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Department for Regional Development but will be useful as a basis for discussion and debate.
Business Land Need Study (1063KB)
Business Land Need Study Annex A(1063KB)
Business Land Need Study Annex B(96KB)
Business Land Need Study Annex C (311KB)
Business Land Need Study Annex D (85KB)
Business Land Need Study Annex E(359KB)
Business Land Need Study Annex F (835KB)
Business Land Need Study Annex G(2575KB)
Business Land Need Study Annex H(3057KB)
Business Land Need Study Update - August 2009
The data used in the original Study to consider employee jobs by sector at council level was December 2005. When the 2007 Census of Employment data became available early in 2009 it was deemed advisable to analyse this new data as 2005-2007 was a particularly dynamic economic period. Consequently this would affect the starting base for councils and the forecast trend growth which will help inform policy guidelines.
An updated copy of the Business Land Need Study which considers employment trends within the new 11 Administrative areas proposed under the Review of Public Administration (RPA) is attached
Business Land Need Update - August 2009(440KB)
Key Settlements Study
The second research task was to build up a picture of the main cities and towns beyond Belfast and Derry. The objective was to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of these towns and the contribution they make to prosperity and to a better quality of life. Not all towns are the same and most people would not want all towns to be identical. We value the differences that can make places unique or have an identity. These factors can be used as strengths if they are understood. The study does not set out to select some places as being more important relative to other places. Again, the findings in this study are the views of the researchers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Department for Regional Development but are useful as a basis for discussion and debate.
Key Settlements Study pdf (3.46mb)
