Northern Ireland Planning Policy

Few areas of legal practice are as dominated by policy as planning, in which decisions are reached within a complex policy context.

The difficulty for those practising in the planning field is identifying which of the myriad policies apply to the case before them.

As a result, relevant policies are sometimes overlooked by practitioners and decision-takers alike.

This is unfortunate for practitioners and their clients, but decision-takers find that their decisions are invalidated where material policies have not been taken into account.

This Index recognises the inaccessibility of Northern Irish planning policy, and for the first time provides all those working in this growth area of practice with a reliable and convenient means of focusing on relevant policies.

It cites those regional planning policies which have a bearing on the numerous alphabetically-listed subject headings to help the reader, there is commentary on the role of policy and development plans in the decision-making process, while the Appendix notes all the current and pending Development Plans, the Conservation Areas, and the principal domestic and European legislation. Also included are the addresses and contact details of the various Department of the Environment Planning Service offices and the Planning Appeals Commission. 'The need for an Index such as this is long overdue and I have little doubt that this publication will become an essential addition to the library of lawyers, planners, architects, surveyors and other professionals involved in the Northern Ireland planning system.

William Orbinson, through his thorough and painstaking analysis of the various Departmental documents, has produced a valuable resource which will be used frequently' - John Warke, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Planning Appeals Commission.