Dr. Conor Norton:

I am a member and the vice president of the Irish Planning Institute. The issues of quantity, timing and so on were raised, but what is often forgotten is the quality of decision making. It is far more difficult to monitor the quality of outcomes in the planning process, particularly in development management. On monitoring outputs in this process, it may be useful to have a qualitative analysis of some of the outputs of strategic housing development if it is to continue. The SHD regulations came into effect in July 2017. As Mr. Corr stated, we advocate that strategic housing development should be a temporary measure and that these functions should be returned to local authorities. However, it is acknowledged in the conclusion that there is an understanding it is an emergency measure. We suggest that if it is to continue to 2021 as suggested, the powers would revert to local planning authorities at that stage. That is the view of the IPI. As I stated, we wish to be pragmatic about this and supportive of initiatives made within the context of a larger review of the planning system which may be needed.

The more specific issue of active land management was raised. Planners have a particular role in that regard in terms of planning and getting more engaged with its delivery aspect. There are some examples of good practice evolving around the country although they have not been codified. Active land management is probably all about understanding in a better way what sort of land is available, its ownership and the level of activity on it, such as whether it is inactive or undeveloped. On a deeper level, consideration could be given to the reasons land is inactive or underdeveloped and seeking to understand that on a site by site or parcel by parcel basis. Further, one could identify strategies for individual parcels of land within a larger area-based approach. IPI members have asked us to provide continuing professional development training on that on and we are working on a programme for planners in the area of active land management.