COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Committee Office Room 402
Parliament Buildings
Belfast
BT4 3XX
Tel: 02890 521970
Fax: 02890 525927
Email committee.regionaldevelopment@niassembly.gov.uk

Conor Murphy, MP MLA
Minister for Regional Development
Clarence Court
10-18 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8GB

12 March 2008

Five- year and 10-year Reviews of the Regional Development Strategy: Committee response

Dear Conor,

1. The Committee considered the five-year and 10-year Reviews of the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) at its meetings of 30 January 2008, 6 and 13 February 2008, at which time Members also received oral briefing from officials. Officials also provided a short briefing paper and the following two documents:

a. Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland; Report of the Process, Key Findings and Planned Actions (Review Report); and

b. Adjustments to the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025 First Five year Review. (Adjustments document).

2. At the meeting of 5 March 2008, the Committee formulated the following response to the issues posed in the five-year and 10-year Reviews, and would make the following comments and suggestions. The Committee’s response is structured around the following three issues:

a. The five-year Review documentation (Review Report and Adjustment document)

b. The list of issues identified by the Department as forming the main work areas to be addressed in the 10-year Review and

c. Comments raised during Committee discussions of the 10-year Review.

These will be addressed in turn below.

The Five-Year Review Report

3. The Committee is agreed that the five-year Review documentation be published.
4. The Committee noted that the RDS contains a commitment to carry out a ‘focused assessment’ after five years to identify any aspects where ‘in-course’ adjustments might be appropriate to the Strategic Planning Guidelines (SPGs), and that this is discussed in Section 2 of the Review Report. The Committee also noted the reassessment of the Housing Growth Indicator (HGIs), the assessment of the need to make any adjustments to the SPGs contained in the RDS and that of these assessments were consulted on separately and had separate Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) undertaken as set out in Section 3 of the Review Report. The Committee also noted that advice was sought internal and external to the Department, and that the results of annual monitoring exercises, together with public consultation informed the proposals in the Review Report and the Adjustments Document.  
5. The Committee noted that, following the Review of the Housing Figures and the Examination in Public, the independent Panel of Experts made 27 recommendations which were accepted, which included an uplift of the regional housing need figure to 208,000 additional dwellings by 2015. The Committee was also pleased to note that the regional housing figures will be reviewed every 2 years, and that ongoing work on Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 12 – Housing in Settlements, has the potential to address the issue of affordable and social housing.
6. Members also noted that a number of adjustments have been made to some of the objectives, the SPGs and their supporting actions and that adjustments have also been made to a number of Diagrams and Appendices. Members considered these adjustments at the Committee meeting of 13 February 2008.
7. In terms of preparation for the 10-year Review, the Committee notes that studies will be undertaken which will provide more information, covering Indicators (to assist in monitoring the implementation of the Strategy); Economic development; Industrial Land Requirement; and Housing Need.
8. The Committee also notes that a framework is being drawn up on the implementation of the RDS and Republic of Ireland’s National Spatial Strategy (NSS) which sets out areas of collaboration and developing priorities and that collaborative working is also being focused at the sub-regional level, as set out in Section 6 of the Review Report. It further notes that w ork will also be undertaken to ensure that there is closer alignment between the RDS and the proposals in the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland.  

The 10-year Review proposals

9. The paper from the Department on the 6 February 2008 set out the need for the 10-year Review as arising from;

• a new Assembly and Executive with new priorities reflected in the Programme for Government, Budget and ISNI 2;
• increased investment in our infrastructure, including transportation improvements opening up new community opportunities;
• population change at a speed and direction previously unheard of;
• an increased focus on environmental issues such as climate change, our carbon emissions and increasing energy costs;
• proposals for change under RPA;
• proposed changes to streamline and improve the planning system;
• a rapidly changing business and investment context;
• more North / South and East / West co-operation; and
• the release of major sites for development, such as the Maze/ Longkesh, Ebrington and Fort George, Lisanally Barracks, Titanic Quarter and, once released, Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly.

10. The Department indicates that these issues will be addressed in the 10-year Review. In addition, the work areas proposed for the 10-year Review will also include:

• research on best practice in Europe and other Administrations;
• discussions with all Government Departments on regional development;
• spatial analysis of data on housing, employment, economic development, transport and the environment;
• studies of the main towns outside Belfast and Derry/Londonderry;
• an update of housing need figures and an assessment of industrial land need; and
• the publication of a Consultation Document by the end of 2008.

11. Members note that the Department has indicated that it aims to complete the 10-year Review by 2010, in order to feed into the development of both the next Spending Review and next Investment Strategy. The Department’s work in developing an indicative timetable for consideration by the Committee, and its desire to engage with the Committee at key points as the 10-year Review progresses has also been noted by Members.
12. The Committee notes that the External Advisers Group, established to inform and advise the five-year Review and consisting of individuals representing business, trade unions, local government, the environment, rural development, house builders, academia, the planning profession and industry and investment, will be used to provide advice and guidance as the 10-year Review progresses. In addition, an Inter Departmental Group of senior officials will provide oversight as the work develops, and input will be sought from a Ministerial group at key stages in the process.  
13. The Committee notes the arrangements outlined in the papers provided by the Department and summarised at paragraphs 9 to 12 above. The Committee is content with these arrangements and draws the following points and observations to your attention in progressing relation to the five-year Review and the 10-year Review of the Regional Development Strategy.

Issues raised during Committee consideration on 6 and 13 February 2008

14. It is the view of the Committee that a sea change is needed on environmental issues, in particular on reducing carbon emissions. The Committee recommends that such considerations are central to the 10-year Review and must be reflected creatively in future changes to the RDS.
15. The Committee awaits the further work by the Department on options for Housing Growth Indicators, methodology and the level of allocation.
16. The Committee’s view is that the question of second homes should be considered when determining local housing allocations and that local housing allocations should contain some element of flexibility to allow for the impact of a new PPS 14.
17. The Committee notes and supports the opportunity to move towards sustainable homes in the RDS, especially in relation to the provision of both affordable and social housing.
18. The Committee’s view is that the rural economy is very important, and any review of the RDS should reflect this importance. Members would want to see balanced consideration of rural and urban areas, not just a focus on towns and cities.
19. The Committee is also of the view that the regeneration of villages should be considered as part of the rural economy, as this will have an impact on schools, hospitals, and other services.
20. The Committee considered that the impact on the local economy of the withdrawal of military from sites should be considered in conjunction with the redevelopment opportunities this may present.
21. The Committee strongly welcomes the decision to exclude gardens from the definition of brownfield sites in the five-year review, together with the reiteration of the target that 60% of the number of additional houses proposed, are built on brownfield sites. The Committee also wants to see a continuation of the 60% target in the context of windfalls.
22. The Committee is of the view that our ports and airports are critical to the economic and social well-being of Northern Ireland. A forward looking review of the adequacy of road and rail infrastructure to ports and airports must be included as part of the 10-year Review. 

The 10-year Review of the Regional Development Strategy represents an important opportunity to address the long term spatial and infrastructural and socio-economic development needs of all of Northern Ireland and the Committee is looking forward to close and productive engagement with the Department on this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Fred Cobain MLA
Chairperson
Regional Development Committee