Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has emphasised the crucial role of an effective and efficient planning system in delivering the commitments outlined in the new Programme for Government. Speaking at a roundtable event in Belfast entitled ‘Plan to Improve: Pathway to Progress’, Minister Kimmins brought together representatives from business, education, the public sector, environment, councils, and legal professions to foster open dialogue on the planning system.

In her keynote address, Minister Kimmins urged increased collaboration across various sectors as she outlined her plans for the next phase of the Planning Improvement Programme. She positioned the programme as a key element of her Department's broader strategy, stating: "Plan to Improve is one of seven Foundations for a Better future, which are underpinning the work my Department is doing today, to build a better tomorrow and support objectives in the new Programme for Government."

Highlighting the importance of planning, Minister Kimmins noted its role as a "key facilitator for the delivery of housing and infrastructure." She also acknowledged the significant contribution of the planning profession to wider societal goals, including economic development, addressing climate change and biodiversity issues, and supporting community growth across Northern Ireland.

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Reflecting on the decade since the transfer of most planning functions to local councils, Minister Kimmins acknowledged the collaborative work undertaken with local government and other stakeholders to develop and implement the Planning Improvement Programme. She pointed to positive outcomes from the programme, such as a "marked improvement in the performance of our planning statutory consultees with around 80% of consultations being responded to within the statutory timeframe."

However, the Minister stressed that this was "just the beginning of a necessary continuous improvement culture." She indicated that the next phase of the programme would adopt a more focused and prioritised approach, targeting key areas with the greatest potential to enhance system performance, delivery, and long-term sustainability.

Key areas of focus for the upcoming phase include addressing strategic workforce challenges by working with professional and educational institutions to develop graduate and apprenticeship programmes and identify skills gaps and training needs. The programme will also examine the long-term financial sustainability of the planning system and explore opportunities for establishing a more resilient cost recovery model.

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, such as resource constraints, increasing complexity, the impacts of climate change, and the risk of legal challenges, Minister Kimmins concluded by emphasising the importance of collective effort. She stated: "The importance of working collectively to make improvements cannot be underestimated and by sharing insight and expertise, both within the planning profession and across various sectors, we can all shape the path forward to deliver the best planning service possible for the North."