First call Cardiff, at a pre conference reception in the City Hall...
RTPI Cymru is thriving under the leadership of their chair, and Director Roisin Willmott has galvanised member interest in the country.
Wales has a National Spatial Strategy and, as was demonstrated at the Conference the following day, ministerial support in Jane Davidson AM (Welsh Assembly Government Minister) in delivering a substantial sustainability and climate change agenda through the planning system.
I understand she also announced yet another review of the planning system in Wales! What we need is a review of the capacity of the development industry to deliver sustainable communities. If better schemes were submitted, the process of stakeholder consultation and approval would speed up immediately.
Next, on to Belfast with Philly, to the Northern Ireland visit. If you recall my last visit, it included an excellent awards ceremony with the RSPB and, at the end of it, I asked if I might visit some of the winners.
First, however, a Young Planners reception at Café Vaudeville, the launch of the Northern Ireland section by its chair – sponsored by the estimable Michael Burrows and Pragma Planning.
A lively debate ensued surrounding the optimism for the proposed local authority restructuring that will create “super councils” to take on planning responsibilities from government. The following morning, an interview with Radio Ulster regarding the importance of planning in delivering a vision for the community; then breakfast with a group of planning consultants, who clearly felt they were the poor relations as far as the RTPI was concerned. I found it relatively easy to disabuse them of this notion, describing where consultants, as 50% of the membership, were actively engaged in governance to mutual advantage. We agreed an agenda of Branch engagement and I look forward to seeing the results shortly.
Brokerstown Village, one of the award winners on the outskirts of the city, is an interesting example of the courage of a local developer to invest in a huge bio mass boiler for a scheme that, in the current market, will take many years to take up the energy capacity of the £2.7 million investment. Good architecture and clearly well thought out scheme illustrated here.
Then off to a hugely important lunchtime meeting with Stephen Peover, the Department Secretary. He is about to be promoted to NI Treasury Secretary and has been a keen supporter of RTPI NI, for example, agreeing to pay for subscriptions for the several hundred planners in his department. We agreed a process of more formal civil service and branch liaison, in particular concerning training for councillors and members.
Ulster University Planning School followed with an excellent meeting, led by their Head, Prof Greg Lloyd, who recently completed a helpful report for government on planning reform. The meeting with students centred on careers and I was able to offer a wider than perceived choice, especially with the likely increase in jobs following reform.
Finally for the day, a delightful dinner, sponsored by Fleming Mountstephen Planning, in the recently refurbished Ulster Hall. This was a lively affair with the “crème de la crème” of Northern Ireland planners where, as a result of their generosity, I was able to bank £150 for my Presidential charity, LINK Community Development.
Up early the following morning, with Gavan Rafferty current and David Worthington, Past RTPI NI Chairs, to Londonderry – firstly, for an interview on Radio Derry regarding the Playhouse Scheme, another Award winner; then via Mary Macintyre’s (Senior Vice Chair) divisional planning office, many of whom joined us for the Playhouse visit. The scheme is exceptional – a dream of Pauline Ross, turned into reality by Niall McCaughan, and now a driving force for arts, theatre and community support in this city, with an extraordinary, and at times terrible history.
Finally, finally back to Queen’s University to meet David Cleland, Head of School, and an excellent team of lecturers, again the discussion with students centring on careers. We finished the day in East Belfast right in the centre of an area which faces many challenges, where students were presenting regeneration schemes to a community representative. Perhaps the most startling contribution from a very enthusiastic and committed group of future planners was that one team had produced a model of their proposals shown here. No problems about how to communicate what planners have in mind. Very well done!
I would be wrong in not admitting to us both being a little tired! Nonetheless, a rewarding and encouraging visit, which I believe will lead to improved communications between Botolph Lane and the branch, especially with our policy officer Brian Sore in place. We need one of him for each of the English Regions!
Martin Willey
RTPI 2009 President
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