Skip the Northern Ireland Government Bar|
Skip navigation
  • Travelwise NI - Opens in a new window
  • Roads service - www.roadsni.gov.uk - Opens in a new window
  • Download Browsealoud - Opens in a new Window
  • Download Adobe Reader - Opens in a new window
  • Get Word Viewer - This link opens in a new window

Regional Planning - Minutes Of Meetings

EXTERNAL WORKING GROUP ON THE MAJOR REVIEW OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR NORTHERN IRELAND 2025 (RDS)

A major review of the Regional Development Strategy is currently being carried out.  The aim is to prepare a revised RDS for public consultation before summer 2009.  The External Working Group will provide advice and act as an important sounding board as the review progresses.  The Group will meet up to the public consultation exercise and also before the final document is prepared.

Much has changed since the RDS was published in 2001.  We are investing more than envisaged in our infrastructure, we are changing our local government structures, climate change is increasingly important, changes to the world economy impact more and more on our daily lives, we have seen rapid changes to our housing market.  The RDS needs to change to reflect and better address such issues.  That is the purpose of the Review.

The review is necessary to:  

  • identify long term trends in population, housing, business etc;
  • explain what makes places successful in the 21st Century;
  • provide a Spatial Framework for the Region;
  • set out the potential for new Council areas, cities and towns, villages and countryside, and their role in developing a prosperous Region;
  • shape the long-term potential for the Region in a fast changing world; and
  • understand our relationships with our neighbours.

Role/Terms of Reference of the External Working Group

The Group will:

  • act as a forum for debate between stakeholders;
    assist in scoping and debating emerging issues that have, and will, impact on the Regional Development Strategy;
  • provide specific advice from their particular area of expertise; and
  • advise on how the role of the revised RDS will be part of a new Planning system.

The Group will act in an open and transparent manner and minutes of meetings, once agreed by the Group, will be published on the RDS website.

Minutes

Minutes of the External Working Group   

THE MAJOR REVIEW OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Inter Departmental Steering Group

Much has changed since the RDS was published in 2001.  We are investing more than envisaged in our infrastructure, we are changing our local government structures, climate change is increasingly important, changes to the world economy impact more and more on our daily lives and we have seen rapid changes to our housing market.  The RDS needs to change to reflect and better address such issues.  That is the purpose of the review.

The revised RDS Strategy will:

  • identify long term trends in population, housing, business etc;
  • explain what makes places successful in the 21st Century;
  • provide a Spatial Framework for the Region;
  • set out the potential for new Council areas, cities and towns, villages and countryside, and their role in developing a prosperous Region;
  • share the long-term potential for the Region in a fast changing world; and
  • understand our relationships with our neighbours.

Role/Terms of Reference of the IDSG

The Group will:

  • provide advice on strategic spatial issues affecting Departments;
  • assist in scoping and debating emerging issues that have, and will, impact on the Regional Development Strategy;
  • undertake a co-ordination role across their Departments and Ministers in providing advice and clearing papers;
  • provide advice on how the revised RDS can best support the Programme for Government and be interwoven with key strategies such as the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, the Sustainable Development Strategy and the Regional Economic Strategy;
  • advise on how the role of the revised RDS will be part of a new Planning system; and
  • provide advice on how a revised RDS should take account of the structure and functions emerging in the review of public administration.

The Group will act in an open and transparent manner and minutes of meetings, once agreed by the Group, will be published on the RDS website.

 

Minutes

Minutes of the Interdepartmental Steering group


Information