James Hennessey Expert Advisor to the MAG Landscape Architect and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

James Hennessey Expert Advisor to the MAG Landscape Architect and Urban Designer

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:

• Architecture
• Urban Design
• Landscape Architecture
• Town Planning
• Procurement
• Sustainability
• Ecology

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)

Structure of the MAG

• Archaeology
• Art
• Transport
• Renewable Energy
• Conservation
• Civil Engineering
• Surveying

* * *

Architecture and Built Environment Policy: Guiding Principles:

1. Creativity and Innovation 2. Heritage 3. Sustainable Development

Operations of the MAG

Objectives:

• 1. Delivery of Good Design
• 2. Planning Policies
• 3. Knowledge and Skills
• 4. Awareness
• 5. Integration of Art

3 5

www.dcalni.gov.uk

Architecture and Built Environment Policy: Guiding Principles:

1. Creativity and Innovation 2. Heritage 3. Sustainable Development

MAG work areas (agreed between Chair, Members & Secretariat):

• Design and Briefing Review
• Heritage
• Sustainability
• Planning
• Procurement
• Landscape
• Civic stewardship
• Social inclusion

Operations of the MAG

Objectives:

• 1. Delivery of Good Design
• 2. Planning Policies
• 3. Knowledge and Skills
• 4. Awareness
• 5. Integration of Art

Carried out through:

• Interaction / discussion / debate / action learning experiments

(with NI Central and Local Government, local communities and passionate communities of interest)

• Symposia
• Consultation responses
• Position Papers

3 5

www.dcalni.gov.uk

Architecture and Built Environment Policy: Guiding Principles:

1. Creativity and Innovation 2. Heritage 3. Sustainable Development

MAG work areas (agreed between Chair, Members & Secretariat):

• Design and Briefing Review
• Heritage
• Sustainability
• Planning
• Procurement
• Landscape
• Civic stewardship
• Social inclusion

Operations of the MAG

Objectives:

• 1. Delivery of Good Design
• 2. Planning Policies
• 3. Knowledge and Skills
• 4. Awareness
• 5. Integration of Art

Carried out through:

• Interaction / discussion / debate / action learning experiments

(with NI Central and Local Government, local communities and passionate communities of interest)

• Symposia
• Consultation responses
• Position Papers

3 5

www.dcalni.gov.uk

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

Colin Glen, Colin Glen Trust

* *

Fundamentals of the MAG 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)

8 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Northern Ireland’s current landscape practice & competence

Mournes, MHT

60 Conservation Areas

Northern Ireland’s current landscape practice & competence

Glenariff, NITB

130 Landscape Character Areas

(Northern Ireland Landscape Character Assessment)

Northern Ireland’s current landscape practice & competence

Cave Hill, 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

Carnlough, NITB Red Squirrel partnership, NIEL Carrickarede, NITB

* * *

Northern Ireland government actions to manage landscape quality: 6 AONBs 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

Ecosystem Services, NIEL

* * *

MAG draft recommendations for baseline landscape awareness

(* subject to approval)

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

Castlederg, UAHS Portland, Oregon, BES Newcastle, NITB

* * *

MAG draft recommendations for baseline landscape awareness

(* subject to approval)

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

Comber Greenway, Sustrans (* subject to approval)

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,

• rdinary 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

Crossgar, NIEL (* subject to approval)

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

Annalong, NITB (* subject to approval)

Connecting with our landscape: our landscape relationship

James Hennessey Expert Advisor to the MAG, Landscape Architect and Urban Designer