One of Northern Ireland's top universities has received accreditation from the professional body overseeing standards in land use planning.

The Royal Town Planning Institute has awarded Provisional Accreditation to the University of Ulster's School of the Built Environment's four-year degree programme.

The news came following a visit to the University by RTPI representatives, at which it was also announced that the School had also been awarded the status of an accredited Planning School by the RTPI.

According to Head of School Professor Greg Lloyd, the new degree is the first of its kind in Ireland, and offers a strong focus on the complementary elements of the planning and property development disciplines.

The course also brings together the property, legal and economic aspects with the finance-based culture of property development and a creative urban design and spatial planning culture.

"The new programme is designed to meet the needs of those aspiring to become chartered surveyors and/or chartered town planners concerned with securing the public interest in land and property development.

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"By integrating these conceptual and practical aspects across four academic years students have the added benefit of graduating with a Master of Science (MSc) in Planning and Property Development," said Professor Lloyd, who recently joined Ulster from Liverpool University.

"Graduates from this programme will have a sound understanding of the new and competing challenges facing society, and demonstrate a positive approach to intervention and regulation and how the public and private sector work together to secure and manage land and property development.

"Importantly, the Ulster graduate will be alert and sensitive to the important synergies that exist and which allow for appropriate responses to change and the management of that change in the wider public interest," he said.

Dr Neale Blair, Course Director for the new degree, said: "With the new Planning and Property Development course, the University of Ulster is leading the provision of innovative and cutting edge education in this discipline.

"The course is unique in Northern Ireland, and indeed the island of Ireland, because of the integrative approach to study across four years.

"The Master of Science (MSci) award is attractive to both students and employers, the latter having played a key role in advising the teaching staff on the knowledge and practical skills necessary to develop students into professionals," he said, noting that the RTPI accreditation marks another forward step for the University.

"The Faculty is consolidating its role as the principal provider of professional education in these disciplines in the region."

(PR)