James Hennessey Expert Advisor to the MAG Landscape Architect and Urban Designer
The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) operates “ to champion the provision and maintenance of the highest standards of design quality in architecture and the built environment in Northern Ireland. ” (MAG mid term report 2009) * Non-statutory body established in 2007 to advise the Minister and Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) on matters relating to the Architecture and Built Environment policy (2006) * Appointed by the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure and funded by DCAL Consists of Chair + up to 8 Members + currently has 21 Expert Advisors in core * specialisms: Archaeology Architecture • • Urban Design Art • • Transport Landscape Architecture • • Renewable Energy Town Planning • • Conservation Procurement • • Sustainability Civil Engineering • • Surveying Ecology • • Structure of the MAG
Architecture and Built Environment Policy: 5 3 Objectives: Guiding Principles: 1. Delivery of Good Design 1. Creativity and Innovation 2. Planning Policies 2. Heritage 3. Sustainable Development 3. Knowledge and Skills 4. Awareness 5. Integration of Art www.dcalni.gov.uk Operations of the MAG
Architecture and Built Environment Policy: 5 3 Objectives: Guiding Principles: 1. Delivery of Good Design 1. Creativity and Innovation 2. Planning Policies 2. Heritage 3. Sustainable Development 3. Knowledge and Skills 4. Awareness 5. Integration of Art www.dcalni.gov.uk MAG work areas (agreed between Chair, Members & Secretariat): Design and Briefing Review • Heritage • Carried out through: Sustainability • • Interaction / discussion / debate / action learning experiments Planning (with NI Central and Local Government, local • communities and passionate communities of interest) Procurement • • Symposia Landscape • • Consultation responses Civic stewardship • • Position Papers Social inclusion • Operations of the MAG
Architecture and Built Environment Policy: 5 3 Objectives: Guiding Principles: 1. Delivery of Good Design 1. Creativity and Innovation 2. Planning Policies 2. Heritage 3. Sustainable Development 3. Knowledge and Skills 4. Awareness 5. Integration of Art www.dcalni.gov.uk MAG work areas (agreed between Chair, Members & Secretariat): Design and Briefing Review • Heritage • Carried out through: Sustainability • • Interaction / discussion / debate / action learning experiments Planning (with NI Central and Local Government, local • communities and passionate communities of interest) Procurement • • Symposia Landscape • • Consultation responses Civic stewardship • • Position Papers Social inclusion • Operations of the MAG
Colin Glen, Colin Glen Trust MAG proposed Position Paper on Landscape: “ Our landscapes are vitally important and I would welcome your views on how they can be protected. I would ask you to consider preparing me a Position Paper covering the issues and the recommendations you may wish to make. ” (Request by Minister for Arts and Leisure, Caral ni Chuilin, Nov 2011) * Prepared by MAG in consultation with key parties (NIEA, Landscape Institute, Heritage Council, NIEL, CNCC) * Currently with DCAL Minister, who is consulting with other NI departments before approval MAG proposed Position Paper on Landscape
Dunganon, UAHS Landscape is our environment, lifestyle and wealth Landscape is valuable Landscape is changing It is beneficial to us to enhance landscape value All landscapes matter We are all responsible A landscape approach to planning (multifunctionality, in contrast to present monofunctional landuse planning) Fundamentals of the MAG Position Paper on Landscape
Mournes, MHT 8 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Northern Ireland ’ s current landscape practice & competence
Glenariff, NITB 60 Conservation Areas Northern Ireland ’ s current landscape practice & competence
Cave Hill, NITB 130 Landscape Character Areas (Northern Ireland Landscape Character Assessment) Northern Ireland ’ s current landscape practice & competence
Carrickarede, NITB Red Squirrel partnership, NIEL Carnlough, NITB Areas designated for landscape purposes * = less than 20% of NI area * Areas designated for natural heritage purposes = less than 16% of NI area Areas designated for built heritage purposes * = less than 0.5% of NI area Northern Ireland ’ s current landscape practice & competence
Ecosystem Services, NIEL Northern Ireland government actions to manage landscape quality : * 6 AONB s have management partnerships for integral consideration of societal and ecological benefit = 12% of NI area (approx) * Capacity to designate Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) areas with integrated management partnerships. None designated * Interdepartmental NI Executive commitment to partnership for benefit of community and environment on Rathlin Island = less than 0.1% of NI area (and already included in AONB) Northern Ireland ’ s current landscape practice & competence
MAG draft recommendations for baseline landscape awareness (* subject to approval)
Newcastle, NITB Portland, Oregon, BES Castlederg, UAHS NI government (and the people of Northern Ireland) need to: * Understand why landscape value is strong in some places and weak in others * Recognise the benefit of landscape quality to all development * Ensure that all development increases the strength of landscape value in all cases MAG draft recommendations for baseline landscape awareness (* subject to approval)
Comber Greenway, Sustrans 1. Engage with the European Landscape Convention a. Fully update the Northern Ireland Landscape Character Assessment Include urban, seascape, and cross border landscapes • Evaluate and monitor change • Consider all scales and connections • Include objectives for landscape value rather than • landscape character which may change b. Adopt a landscape planning approach (based on multifunctionality) Planning must serve the quality of all living surroundings • rather than focussed on recognised ‘ special ’ features Landscape stewardship should be nurtured through (rather • than in spite of) economic development c. Promote and develop landscape expertise Nurture a vibrant learning culture that relates landscape • quality to a durable and successful Northern Ireland Require provision of specific landscape training for • professionals in spatial planning and development MAG draft recommendations for NI government action (* subject to approval)
Crossgar, NIEL 2. Be an exemplary landscape steward a. Embed landscape skill and expertise in government make it available across government • facilitate it through procurement practice • b. Establish a NI Landscape Steering Group to champion landscape value involving and coordinating all government departments, • all key and interested parties c. Determine a definition of landscape in NI legislation Common to all NI policy and processes • ELC definition: landscape is an area as perceived by • people, whose character is the result of action and interaction of natural and / or human factors … comprising townscape, countryside, seascape, good, ordinary and poor condition Landscape-proof all existing and new governance policy • d. Consult with RECEP-ENELC regarding proposals for new governance structures in 2105 MAG draft recommendations for NI government action (* subject to approval)
NITB Annalong, 3. Commit to a Northern Ireland Landscape Strategy a. NI Landscape Strategy to be integrated in a multifunctional planning system as the statutory basis for all planning decisions binding for all government action and processes (not • just those with land or landscape remit) b. NI Landscape Strategy to be based on an updated and revised Northern Ireland Landscape Character Assessment to guide landscape change for enhanced value in all landscapes Green Infrastructure / Ecosystem Services / Natural • capital approach regular monitoring programme for the NILCA • linking cross-border to the proposed Landscape Strategy • for the Republic of Ireland a. NI Landscape Strategy to include general presumption in favour of refusal for detriment to landscape value . all development applications to be accompanied by a • ‘ Statement of Landscape Value ’ to demonstrate design consideration relating to landscape value MAG draft recommendations for NI government action (* subject to approval)
James Hennessey Expert Advisor to the MAG, Landscape Architect and Urban Designer Connecting with our landscape: our landscape relationship
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