Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd delivered the keynote address at the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) planning conference. The two-day event focused on the challenges and opportunities of planning and governing metropolitan regions and cities in the 21st century.

In his address, Minister O'Dowd praised the ICLRD's valuable research and advice, which aims to improve the lives of people on the island of Ireland. He expressed his department's commitment to working closely with the organisation and highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing the complex planning challenges faced by urban areas.

Addressing the conference Minister O'Dowd said: "I believe that collaboration is key to creating, sustaining and planning for successful cities and  metropolitan regions. We must all ensure that the planning system works for businesses, people, and the environment and the Executive's Draft Programme for Government, which is currently out for consultation, seeks to support necessary improvements in the planning system here in the North as part of our commitment to investing in our public infrastructure and reshaping how our services are delivered.

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"The Planning Improvement Programme will be at the core of helping to achieve that and I am determined to build upon the momentum that has been created through the planning improvement agenda so far, including the partnership working between the Department, local government and other stakeholders.

"There are of course challenges ahead, however I remain very clear that to help achieve this much needed improvement, the whole system and key parties to delivering the process, must be properly funded and resourced in terms of capacity and capability.

"Quality infrastructure is essential for our cities to keep pace in today's globalised market place. We need to be delivering positive change now and for the future.

"The newly opened Grand Central Station is an example of the importance of infrastructure and the transformative changes my department can deliver by working together across many agencies.

"Collaboration on a cross border basis has proved vital at the highest strategic level of planning and this is continuing to evolve through projects such as the All Island Rail Review which will play an important role in the development of, and access to, our city regions and address regional imbalance; the construction of Narrow Water bridge, which will provide a poignant symbol of connection between the north and south; and through the development of the North West City Region.

"With the projected rise in population, I would encourage everyone to continue to embrace a shared approach to planning our city regions and look towards strategic and sustainable growth in areas such as transportation, infrastructure, environmental management, economic opportunities and tourism, today and in the years ahead."