REGIONAL PLANNING

Shaping Our Future, is a Regional Development Strategy which offers a strategic and long-term perspective on the future development of Northern Ireland up to the year 2025.  It has been prepared in close consultation with the community and seeks to define an agreed vision for the Region and to frame an agenda which will lead to its achievement.

5 Year Review of the Regional Development Strategy

The Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy, MP MLA, has endorsed the publication of the first 5-Year Review of the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025.  This work fulfils a commitment to identify the need for minor changes to the Strategy.  

The publication consists of two documents.  The adjustments to the Strategy are detailed in the document entitled 'Adjustments to the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) – 2025' (3MB).  The Adjustments Document is now part of the RDS and should be read in conjunction with the existing Strategy document.

A number of important policy issues on economic development, health and the environment, including climate change, have been taken into account as part of this review.  These have been incorporated into the document in the form of revisions to relevant strategic planning guidance and supporting actions.  

The second is a supporting document entitled ‘First 5-Year Review Report of the Process, Key Findings and Planned Actions’ (2MB) which sets out the procedure followed in the Review, outcome of the consultation exercise, relevant supporting information and projects as a lead-in to the 2010 Review.

These two documents are available on the Shaping Our Future website www.drdni.gov.uk/shapingourfuture .  The documents will be made available on request in large text print, Braille or audio cassette.  To obtain these telephone (028) 90 540616 or by textphone at (028) 90 540642, or write to Regional Planning and Transportation Division, Room 3-01, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BY2 8GB, email shapingourfuture@drdni.gov.uk .   

In accordance with Regulation 10 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Northern Ireland) 2004 Regulations, the Department for Regional Development, as responsible authority, has consulted with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency who considers that the modification proposed is not likely to have significant environmental effects and that an environmental assessment is not required in respect of the modification.

If required, additional information is available on the Shaping Our Future website or on request.

As part of this 5-year Review the Regional Development Strategy has also been screened for equality of opportunity and good relations implications and has been screened out for an equality impact assessment.  This can be viewed at www.drdni.gov.uk/index/equality_agenda/equality_agenda_equality_screening.htm .

The Minister made a Statement to the Assembly on Monday 9 June announcing the commencement of the major review of the Strategy.  The overall objective of the major review is to ensure that the Strategy is fit for purpose and capable of supporting the achievement of the Northern Ireland Programme for Government.

Department of the Environment assumes responsibility for planning policy statements

On 25 October 2007 Mr Justice Gillen issued his final judgement on the judicial review of draft Planning Policy Statement 14.  While he found that DRD did not have authority to make this planning policy statement he did not quash the draft policy.

Following this judgement the Minister of the Environment Arlene Foster MLA made a Statement to the Assembly indicating that her Department, with the agreement of the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, would assume responsibility for rural planning policy.  

Agreement has also been reached between Ministers that all planning policy statements would transfer to the Department of the Environment.  This has now taken place.