Northern Ireland Planning System Insights

The planning system is often perceived as complex and adversarial, presenting barriers to development and public satisfaction. Success requires overcoming these challenges by embedding continuous improvement and promoting a culture where planners act as facilitators, not barriers.

This episode explores the Department for Infrastructure’s (DFI) central role in setting strategic direction and its priorities, including the Planning Improvement Programme and the complex timeline for Local Development Plans. We discuss the increasing legislative complexity, resourcing, and the potential for mutual learning through cross-border collaboration.

Host Seán O’Leary is joined by Rosemary Daly, Northern Ireland’s Chief Planner, and Philip McGowan, Joint Head of Regional Planning Policy with the Department for Infrastructure.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

  • Planning is a cognitive, creative process
  • DFI’s central leadership role explained
  • Improving efficiency via the planning improvement programme
  • Complexity challenges and judicial process
  • Cross-border professional learning and growth

QUOTES

  • Good planning is fundamentally a cognitive discipline before it becomes a technical one. – Philip McGowan
  • The thing that really attracts me to planning is there is something for everyone. – Rosemary Daly
  • I see planning, especially policy planning, as a creative, deep thinking cognitive process. – Philip McGowan
  • The big takeaway for me is the more we work together, the better we will achieve in the world of planning. – Rosemary Daly

GUEST DETAILS

Rosemary Daly is Chief Planner and Director of Regional Planning, Governance, and Legislation at the Department for Infrastructure (DFI). She has almost thirty years of planning experience, including private consultancy and eighteen years as a commissioner at the Planned Appeals Commission. Her skills include insight into development delivery and a passion for planning’s link to community.

Philip McGowan is a Principal Planner and Joint Head of Regional Planning Policy at DFI. He is a policy expert, instrumental in delivering the Strategic Planning Policy Statement and creating new policy for safeguarding established residential areas.

Connect with the Irish Planning Institute:

  • Website: ipi.ie
  • Podfollow: podfollow.com/ipi
  • Search podcast player: “IPI Planners Podcast”

The Planners Podcast is produced for IPI by dustpod.io

KEYWORDS

#NorthernIreland #PlanningReform #PolicyPlanning #CrossBorder #PublicInterest