Regional Spatial and Economic StrategiesThe National Context

Niall Cussen Principal Planning Adviser DECLG

• Because anticipating future needs crucial to ensuring that the right kind of development happens in right places and at right time

• Because co-ordination of public and private sector activity creates the conditions where investment and job creation flourishes

• Because delivery needs the bringing together of key sectors: community, employment, housing, infrastructure, environment

Why Plan?

• Putting People First/ Local Government Act 2014…

• 31 Local Authorities – some large, some small…

• Through the Regional Assembly dimension, individual local authorities can work together and increase impact…

• Generate ideas and proposals to Government for action…

• Create easier structures for engagement with Government…

• Establish stronger co-ordination and governance structures…

• Better information, better policy, better planning

Why Have a Regional Dimension to Local Government?

• Unemployment reduced from nearly 17% to circa 9% and falling steadily

• Exchequer moving into balance – ahead of target

• Cities, especially Dublin now recovering/growing quickly

• Recovering investor, consumer sentiment

• Tackling legacy issues – unfinished developments down from nearly 3000 in 2010 to probably less than 600 today

• Moving from crisis management phase to preparing for longer term and more sustainable growth patterns

• But! we must continue to learn from our mistakes

Building on Progress…

• Ensuring an evenness in recovery, rural and urban…

• Chronic undersupply of housing and emerging infrastructure shortages in key urban areas…

• Investment requirements in key locations vs pressure on public capital programme and lack of traditional development contribution income…

• Making reforms work: Core Strategies (2010) Vacant Site Levy (2019)…

• Alignment of financial and physical planning/place making for overall benefit…

Key Challenges…

Strategic Planning and Investment: Powerful Combination

Planning in Ireland: What Works/Doesn’t

Difference?

Plan-Led vs speculative development…

Critical Success Factors

Infrastructure

InformationAccessibilitySustainabilityAdaptationCertainty

INVESTMENT

PUBLIC DOMAIN

AccessibilityLegibilitySecuritySpacesShape WaterMixSpirit

INVESTMENT

CONSERVATION/CHARACTER

RETAILRETAIL• Mixed Use / Ground FloorMixed Use / Ground Floor• HubsHubs• Multiple Role of Small Multiple Role of Small Retail / CafesRetail / Cafes

CULTURECULTURE

• Cultural QuartersCultural Quarters• Cultural InfrastructureCultural Infrastructure• Public ArtPublic Art• EventsEvents

+ Effective Governance

+ Innovation Culture

• New circumstances = National Planning Framework (NPF) to replace the National Spatial Strategy (2002)…

• Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies require a fresh strategic context…

• Infrastructure planning by Irish Water, National Transport Authority, energy grid operators needs a fresh strategic context…

• New economic realities require a more focused approach, including on regions…

• New policy challenges: climate change adaptation, transitioning to a low carbon economy, well being, environmental protection…

Government Policy on Strategic Planning…

• An integrated view of how Ireland should develop strategically

• Urban and Rural

• Competitive, Sustainable Place-Making

• Housing and other key property requirements

• Resilience, Low Carbon, Environment

• The Nationally Strategic Developments

• Implementation – How? Who? When? How Much

• Completion by 2016

Content of the National Planning Framework

Potential Models: 3rd Scottish National Planning Framework

• Roadmap for preparation to be published Q4 2015

• High level document describing the key urban/rural trends, environmental, social and economic drivers/implications and policy responses to 2026

• Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill No.2 2015 will provide a statutory process for preparation/adoption by Dáil Éireann

• Ministers want an inclusive NPF preparation process

• Regional “Drafting Teams” with DECLG as co-ordinator – Major Scope for Regional Assembly and LA participation with Regional Strategies to closely follow

• Hard choices will be required – coupled to EU Directive requirements

Preparation of the National Planning Framework

• Statutory process governed by P+D Act (as amended by LG Act 2014) - Detailed arrangements to be finalised

• NPF and RSES work needs to be developed together to inform both processes (not top-down)

• Assembly level co-ordination

• Hard work will be done at Strategic Planning Area (SPA) level

• Ultimately subject to Ministerial oversight before they are finalised

• Implementation through existing City and County Development Plans and new Local Economic and Community Plans

• Implementation oversight: Minister

Building the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies

• Regional Indicators Report

• NIRSA/ESPON

• Joint DECLG/ESRI forecasts re economic output, employment, demography (by Q1 2016)

• Many reports to draw from

Evidence Based Policy Development - Sources

• Purpose of regional strategies is to lead and co-ordinate

• Lead, taking into account national policies

• Co-ordinate local authorities to secure shared (national and local) objectives

• Should be a clear link between national, regional and local level policies

• Key decisions settled nationally and regionally

• Assembly input to city/county plans and local economic and community plans framed in the light of the RSES

National and Regional: Examples of Co-ordination

• Planning process and Irish Water must work together as provided for under Water Services Act 2014

• Irish Water must take account of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy

• IW will play a crucial role in the RSES process along with other key departments and agencies

• Investment priorities must be clear clear

National-Regional-Local: Water Services and Planning

From National to Regional to Local… (LECP’s)

• Enterprise sector supports – micro-enterprise development and smoothing the path for larger projects

• Regeneration initiatives – urban and rural

• Natural resource sector – marine and renewable energy sector (Challenges here)

• Activity based tourism – (LG sector could lead on common standards)

• We have come through very difficult times and are well positioned

• Successful places/regions are well planned places/regions

• Government has given the Regional Assemblies a key task

• To be delivered as a key element of a co-production

• Work is about to commence with resources committed

• A strategic input from Members will be crucial!

Conclusions

Resurgence of Planning

• National Level: National Planning Framework

• Regional Level: Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies

• Local Level: City/County Plans Local Economic and

Community Plan

• Evidence: www.myplan.ie

• Governance: OPR