THURSDAY, 23RD MARCH 2017

BELFAST

Guests of Honour: Angus Kerr, Director, Planning Policy Division, Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland Executive and Trevor Rue, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Planning Appeals Commission

Taking place two years after the transfer of planning powers to local authorities, this conference will provide an opportunity to consider latest thinking on ways to address the key challenges which planners, applicants and local councils have faced - including the reported failure of planning offices within local authorities, on average, to meet statutory targets for processing major development applications, local applications, and in concluding enforcement cases.

Delegates will also review lessons learned over the past two years, and how effective the changes have been more widely in furthering the policy aim of a more local, accountable and effective planning system. 

Further sessions will discuss themes emerging from the responses to the newly formed Department for Infrastructure’s call for evidence on the strategic planning policy for Development in the Countryside and Renewable Energy, and its consultation on the review of permitted development rights.

The agenda also looks at the way forward for the Department developing a strategic planning policy which can act as a driver for local and regional economic growth, and consider next steps in the role of local authorities in urban regeneration, town planning and economic development. 

Angus Kerr, Planning Policy Division Director, Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland Executive and Trevor Rue, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Planning Appeals Commission have kindly agreed to deliver keynote addresses at this seminar.

At this very early stage Diana Fitzsimons, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors; Maura Fox, Head of Planning, Derry City and Strabane District Council; Alison McCullagh, Director of Regeneration and Planning, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council; James Miller, Senior Planning Services Manager, North Ayrshire Council and Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association have also agreed to speak.

William Humphrey MLA, Chair, Committee for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland Assembly andJenny Palmer MLA, Member, Committee for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland Assembly have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.

Further senior speakers are currently being approached.