1. Planning and Economic Development National Spatial Strategy – Twin Objectives: Maintaining Economic Competitiveness and Balanced Regional Development
Achieve a more polycentric spatial structure
Policy focus is urban hierarchy :
9 Gateways (national engines of growth)
9 Hubs (Support the gateways)
Other towns and villages
Too many growth centres
Very different areas afforded the same status
Administrative fragmentation – linked gateways and hubs coordination?
Regional policy continues to be regarded as distributive rather than as a key influence on economic growth

2. Planning and Economic Development – Northern Ireland
Linked gateways?
Role of the Dublin-Belfast corridor
Proliferation of ‘corridors’ in N.I / Proliferation of ‘gateways’ in Ire – selectivity?

3. Common Information A – General Information
Area 70,273 sq. km
Population:
RoI. 4.6 million (2011) N. I. c. 1.8 million (2010)
Dublin 1.3 million
Belfast 641,638
Density:
65 people per sq. km
Dublin - 4,588 per sq. km (approx)
Belfast - 5, 571 per sq.km (approx)
Per capita income
€31, 273 per person (2010, World Bank)

4. Common Information B – Main Economic Activities
Exports:
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products, machinery and equipment, computers,
€83.2 billion (2009 est.)
Imports:
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
€1.750 trillion (2009)

5. Common Information C- Housing
Republic of Ireland
Family size (2011) 1.4 (2006)
Affordability
Average weekly rental cost €136
28% rent
34% own outright
35% own with mortgage
Northern Ireland
67.5% Owner Occupied
12.6% Northern Ireland Housing Executive dwellings
4.0% Housing Associations
16.0% Private Rental

6. D - Planning System 2010 1964 2000 ROI Planning System introduced
Local Government (Planning and Development) Act
Local government basis –
local authorities (Counties) designated as planning authorities
2000
Legislation and regulations consolidated and updated
Planning and Development Act 2000
A clear HIERARCHICAL PLANNING SYSTEM introduced
Regional planning and guidelines statutory footing for the first time
European Influence (ESDP )
Strategic Planning NSS
2010
Enhanced Integration and Coordination of Plans
Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010
A re-focus of forward planning / Stronger plan led approach
Inclusion of Core Strategy - to demonstrate that the objectives contained within the development plan are consistent with the NSS and RPG’s / compliance with EU directives (replacing ‘have regard to’)

7. Institutional Roles and Responsibilities
National
DoEHLG – Devising National policy framework and issuing of guidance documents in respect of national planning issues
An Bord Pleanala - Independent third party appeals system
Dept. of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
An Bord Pleanala
Regional
Drawing up and implementing Regional Planning Guidelines
Only 2 tiers of elected government - central and local, members of the Regional Authorities are nominated from among the elected members of the local authorities
8 Regional Authorities (1994)
1991 Local Gov Act – to promote coordination of public service provision and to monitor the role delivery of EU Structural Fund assistance in the regions
Local
Implementation of the planning system is the responsibility of the local authorities
Development Plans
Development Management
Enforcement
Development and Local Area Plans
88 Local Planning Authorities
29 county councils
5 city councils
49 town councils