Regional Planning Policies
- Implementation
IMPLEMENTATION
The Strategy consists of broad regional policies to provide
a planning framework for the way in which land is used and
development takes place in Northern Ireland. Its successful
implementation, or in other words, what happens on the
ground, depends on the outcome of the decisions of
individuals, companies and agencies from the public, private
and voluntary sectors. The Department, as the planning
authority, has a positive role in facilitating development
through the process of designating land in statutory plans
and controlling development when determining planning
applications.
Development Plans
Implementation of the
Strategy will be principally through the statutory
development plan system plans produced in consultation with
the District Councils and the general public which interpret
at District and local level the broad principles contained
in this Strategy. They will set out the detailed policies
and specific proposals for the development and use of land
in the rural area and will guide most day to day planning
decisions. They are not prescriptive and should not be
considered as such but rather provide an important framework
for sound and effective development control within which
appropriate development can take place.
Development plans in Northern Ireland comprise:
- Area Plans
- dealing with matters affecting the development
and use of land for the whole or a substantive
part of one or more District Council's area;
- Local
Plans - affecting part of one or more
District Council's area; and
- Subject
Plans - based on consideration of a
particular description of development or other
use of land in the area to which it relates.
The principal vehicle for
applying the Strategy to local areas will be the area plan.
The proposals and policies to be included in area plans will
be identified only after a thorough planning assessment of
the District and its communities, landscapes and
environment. The proposals and policies will therefore be
tailored to the specific circumstances and particular needs
of each area. For example, in planning for the growth of
settlements, limits of development will be defined and land
will be zoned for the principal land uses; based on an
assessment of any strategic, environmental and/or servicing
constraints. A thorough assessment of the latter is
important as developers may be expected to bear all or part
of the costs involved in providing any new infrastructure
required to facilitate the development of zoned land.
Indeed, it may be necessary to phase the release of zoned
land to enable developers to set priorities for
infrastructure investment, and to encourage the orderly
implementation of the plan provisions.
Some of the regional policies relate to specific issues of
development control, for example, the policy for the control
of development in the open countryside. The Department's
policy published in 1978 was included within a number of
area plans for information, together with the particular
definitions of the areas to which the policy applied. The
development control policies for the countryside set out in
this Strategy come into effect immediately and supersede the
previous expressions of policy in existing plans. Proposed
plans will review the area definitions of where these
policies apply and decisions on the location and extent of
the policy areas will be based on a Countryside Assessment
for the district. Particular importance is attached to
consultations with District Councils in reviewing area
definitions.
Planning
Applications
A relevant and up-to-date development plan is a very
important basis for deciding planning applications.
Decisions are not arbitrary, each application is carefully
considered against published criteria and standards, the
Department's strategy and its associated policy and
practice, statutory development plans so far as they are
material to the application, and other material
considerations.
Generally, planning permission will be granted if the
proposed development will not cause demonstrable harm to
interests of acknowledged importance. The Department strives
to provide a speedy and efficient service for processing
planning applications, commensurate with the proper
assessment of their planning merits, including the important
contribution of District Councils, consultees and the
general public. The development control process is both open
and accessible. In the case of some applications for major
developments a public inquiry may be held and in some cases
the applicant will be required to provide additional
information by way of an Environmental Statement assessing
the likely impact of the project upon the environment and
describing any measures envisaged to deal with any
significant adverse effects.
Many planning permissions will be subject to conditions
designed to ensure that the proposed development is
acceptable. Conditions will be imposed only where
reasonable, necessary and relevant both to planning and to
the actual development. In some instances a developer may be
prepared to enter into a planning agreement to facilitate,
regulate or restrict the proposed development and in some
cases, as a matter of policy, the Department would expect
developers to complete an agreement.
Enforcement
The Department will monitor planning decisions and
particularly those conditions which enable permission to be
granted; for example, occupancy, replacement or landscaping
conditions. Enforcement action may be taken to ensure that
planning conditions are complied with.
Regrettably there are occasions when development is carried
out without the benefit of planning permission. It is
therefore important that the Department has recourse to
efficient and effective enforcement procedures to deal with
breaches of planning control. In each case of unauthorised
development it is for the Department to consider whether it
is expedient to serve an Enforcement Notice or not. An
Enforcement Notice will specify the steps required to remedy
the breach of planning control and failure to comply with
these is an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a
fine. It should be noted, however, that in practice most
breaches are resolved, by co-operation, without the need for
formal action.
Development Control powers alone cannot secure
implementation of the Strategy. For example, the Department
can control the design and layout of a building, although it
cannot ensure that it is actually built or occupied. The
Department may control the change of use of premises, but it
cannot stop an existing business from closing down. It can
however ensure, through the operation and enforcement of its
development control policies, that there is a balance
between development and conservation.
Planning Guidance
The Department accepts that it has a responsibility not only
to regulate development but also to provide positive
guidance to assist members of the public and their agents to
bring forward satisfactory proposals. For example, the
quality of rural development is a matter of particular
importance and the Department proposes to prepare a guide
setting out design principles for new development in the
countryside. The Design Guide will augment the information
made available through the Countryside Assessments carried
out as part of the plan making process.
When it is necessary, the Department will produce additional
guidance in relation to its development control policies and
practice. In addition, the Department may prepare design
briefs for individual sites. These relate the overall
guidance provided by a local planning policy to the
particular characteristics of specific sites.
Strategy
Implementation
Apart from planning controls, the Department may influence
the implementation of the Strategy's objectives by direct
action. For example, it is directly involved in a number of
areas of physical development and is responsible for the
improvement of public areas within selected settlements. It
is also preparing enhancement strategies for designated
Conservation Areas. A positive approach has been taken to
conserving areas of architectural and historical interest
with a recognition of the contribution that they can make to
economic regeneration.
The Department has a positive role in implementing
initiatives aimed at assisting economic development, by
stimulating private enterprise such as the Urban Development
Programme. Likewise, community regeneration projects are
supported. The Community Regeneration and Improvement
Special Programme (CRISP) is designed to provide
regeneration projects in towns and villages in disadvantaged
areas with a view to encouraging economic revival. The
Department works, m concert with the International Fund for
Ireland and in partnership with local community
organisations. Regeneration is fostered by a variety of
types and combinations of projects. The CRISP schemes and
the Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Programme
are complementary regeneration activities in disadvantaged
rural areas. The two Departments work closely together to
ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness in
implementation.
The Department has power to promote comprehensive
development schemes where it is considered necessary that an
area should be developed, redeveloped or improved as a
whole. It can acquire land in connection with a development
scheme and also in the interests of the proper planning of
an area. Use of such powers is naturally dependent upon an
assessment of need and priority and is subject to the
availability of resources.
Review
The Department wishes to ensure that the Rural Strategy
remains relevant and up-to-date. It is considered that the
Strategy, with its associated policies, has inherent
flexibility and will be able to respond to changing
circumstances. The plan making process allows for
modification and alteration to cater for necessary change
and adaption, as circumstances vary over time.
The Department will evaluate and review implementation by
monitoring a number of key environmental and developmental
indices. Circumstances can alter, the needs of society can
change, and the community's awareness of and response to
environmental issues can develop. It normally takes a period
of time before a new strategy is fully implemented and
operating effectively. Therefore a five year period would be
an appropriate time for evaluation. The Department will
consider the need for a formal review of the Strategy in the
year 2000 when it would be appropriate to consider its
progress and the potential for adjustment to ensure its
continued relevance to meet the needs of society in Northern
Ireland. A major review of the Strategy will be subject to
public consultation.
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