DevPlanGIS A National Planning Information System Niall Cussen Senior Planning Advisor Department of Environment, Community and Local Government Mapping the Public Service Seminar 4 October 2011
Why Planning? Three key strands to planning in Ireland. Forward Planning policy for future development Development Management implementation of policy through assessment of individual proposals for planning permission Enforcement ensuring compliance with terms of permissions Delivered over three spatial levels. National: Dept of Environment Community and Local Government (legislative and policy framework, statutory interaction with local authorities) Bord Pleanála (appeals and strategic infrastructure) Regional: 8 Regional Authorities prepare Regional Planning Guidelines to coordinate city/county development plans every 6 years Local: City and County Councils prepare statutory development plans and local area plans (about 450 in total) for their areas as the policy context in assessing development applications Public consultation key element of each of the above
Our Planning System Now EU/National Context 2010 Planning Act Spatial Strategy 7 Regional Planning Guidelines National Regional Spending Review EU IMF commitments 34 City and County Development Plans (+Core Strategy) Local Local Context Economic development CDB Strategies Climate Change Transport Strategy 54 Town Development Plans 350+ Local Plans Capital programmes Housing Strategy Unfinished Housing EU Directives Policy Context for Unfinished Housing Retail Strategy Assessment of and Decisions on Development Proposals Application to Planning Authority (PA) Bord Pleanála (Strategic Infrastructure) (SI) PA Decision SI Decision Development/ Refusal of PP ABP decision to grant/refuse Appeal?
The Problem? 450 statutory plans In 88 different planning authority areas With individual approaches Challenges in assembling data Challenges in comparing data Evidence based policy challenges
An Example.. Housing Land Availability Survey Conducted annually, circular to LA s mid year Return info to DECLG re amount of land available for housing development and infrastructural readyness 34 LA s x say 1 weeks (min) work for 2 staff members to prepare and return: cost? DevPlanGIS could calculate automatically and compare with other datasets
The Solution Work with LA s to develop a standarised GIS based planning information system Internet (cloud) based browser, using proprietary (cost effective) software GIS planning information system incorporating national planning spatial data sets eg. Zoning Phasing of development Residential densities Unfinished housing developments Flooding Housing land availability Capable of integrating other relevant spatial datasets (census, Natura 2000 sites etc). DECLG initiated project in late 2010 overseen by a Project Board with LA, Bord Pleanála, National Transport Authority, NAMA etc representation Objective: Complete a National Zoning Map for Ireland by end 2011 Enable analysis/monitoring of planning data after that
88 Authorities: Standardisation Project is based on two types of zoning data for each plan The zones in the (legally) adopted statutory plans Local Authority generalisation of above zones (Generalised Zone Types... GZTs:) Categories (which are sub-categorised) Residential Services / Facilities Commerce / Industry / Enterprise / Economic Development Networks & Basic Infrastructure/Utilities Green / Recreation / Conservation Mixed Use Other Hyperlinks to Development/Local Area Plan GZTs subject to INSPIRE Directive requirements
But its not just about zoning The order of priority (phasing) of development land Becoming increasingly important because of reforms to the zoning process introduced by 2010 legislation Other Plan Designations: examples Landscape designations Policies applying in different areas on rural housing Infrastructure objectives Other (potential) datasets Working with Other Agencies Unfinished Housing Flood Zones School Catchments Transport Infrastructure NAMA securities
DevPlanGIS Benefits Timing good as many plans are being/will be reviewed soon under P+D Act 2010 Improved decision making system will enable monitoring of planning reforms Time/cost saving in data discovery, collection and analysis + develop once uses many times (eg NAMA use of DevPlanGIS) A more informed public Meet one of DoECLG s objectives under the Croke Park Agreement More joined-up government Will meet Ireland s obligations in the Land Use theme of the EU INSPIRE Directive
Where we go from Here? Get the national zoning map done by end 2011 Maps done for main cities Rest by end Oct LA s will update from then on (option of regulatory requirement tie in with DECLG ICT Strategy LA Data sharing) Forward facing roll-out Q1 2012 Developmental options 2012+