‘A Sense of Place’ - the Northern Ireland Planning Commission report
The National Trust has always taken an active interest in the planning system in Northern Ireland. How land use planning is delivered has a major impact on how well the Trust is able to discharge its statutory purpose to fulfil its commitment to "protect beautiful and special places for ever, for everyone".
Our interest in planning is not focused only on the protection of the places in our ownership. As a conservation charity we have a wider interest in the issues of management and use of land and resources, and in the need to properly value the nation’s natural, built and cultural heritage. We also have a real interest in how planning can be used to deliver sustainable development.
In March 2004 the Trust published ‘A Sense of Place’ (download PDF summary), the report of an independent Planning Commission we established to examine the planning system in Northern Ireland, and to make recommendations for improvements which would make a difference to the outcomes on the ground.
The report makes 29 recommendations for change, covering policies and procedures to provide better protection for the natural and built environment; improving design quality in urban and rural settings; and promoting greater public participation and trust in the planning system.
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