Ministerial Advisory Group

In September 2007 DCAL established the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for architecture and the built environment in Northern Ireland. MAG’s primary role is to advise the Minister responsible for DCAL on the implementation and development of the A+BE policy. The following are the Chair and  members

Collectively they bring to MAG a range of expertise in architecture, architectural conservation, landscape architecture, procurement, sustainable development and town planning.

The Chair and Members of MAG are Ministerial appointments.

A Call-off List of expert advisors was recruited in February 2009 to support the MAG in the key area of design review and on an ad-hoc basis to assist in other areas where the MAG requires additional specialist expertise. Expert advisors are not members of MAG.

THE WORK OF MAG

MAG Responses to Public Consultations:

MAG response to OFMDFM Consultation on the Social Investment Fund (pdf 3MB) OFMDFM Consultation on The Social Investment Fund

MAG response to the DRD Consultation on Route Options for Belfast Rapid Transit (pdf 4MB) Route Options for Belfast Rapid Transit

MAG response to the public consultation on the draft supplementary planning guidance to PPS21 "Building on Tradition, A sustainable design guide for the Northern Ireland Countryside" July 2011 (201KB ) PPS21

MAG response to the Review of the Regional Transportation Strategy (pdf 2.24MB) Review of the Regional Transportation Strategy

MAG response to (Draft) PPS24 Economic Considerations (pdf 91.1KB) Draft PPS24

MAG response to (Draft) PPS23 Enabling Development and Best Practice Guidance Assessing Enabling Development (pdf 121KB) Draft PPS23

MAG response to the Public Consultation 10 Year Review of the Regional Development Strategy (Shaping Our Future) (pdf 228KB) 10 Year Review of the Regional Development Strategy (Shaping Our Future)

MAG response on Local Government Reform Consultation on Policy Proposals (pdf 1.65MB) Local Government Reform Consultation on Policy Proposals

Planning Bill: - Oral Evidence from MAG Chair to the Committee for the Environment Official Report (Hansard) Link (356.30KB) planning_bill_web_link.doc

MAG Symposium 'Planning for Places' 7 September 2010 Report and Resolutions (pdf 69.5KB 'Planning for Places'

MAG The First Three Years Report (pdf 381KB) mag_first_3_year_published_pdf.pdf

Response to DOE Committee for the Environment on the Planning Bill Northern Ireland 2010/2011 (pdf 294.48KB) Planning Bill Northern Ireland 2010/2011 pdf

Response to DRD Consultation 'Belfast on the Move' 29 November 2010 (pdf 254KB) Belfast on the move pdf

Response on the Public Consultation Document relating to Draft Planning Policy Statement {PPS} 21 Sustainable Development in the Countryside March 2009 (pdf 318KB)draft_planning_policy_statement__pps_21_sustainable_development_in_the_countryside.pdf

Response on the Consultation on Reform of the Planning System in Northern Ireland 02 October 2009 (pdf 175KB) reform_of_the_planning_system.pdf

Response to the Consultation on Criteria for Listing Proposed Revisions to Annex C of Planning Policy Statement 6 05 July 2010 (pdf 118KB) criteria_for_listing_proposed_revisions_to_annex_c_of_planning_policy_statement_6.pdf

Response to Antrim Coast and Glens AONB Draft management Plan 4 February 2008 (pdf 85KB) Antrim Coast and Glens AONB Draft Management Plan

Mid Term Report

In June 2009, half way through MAG's initial term of appointment a report detailing MAG's activities was published entitled 'Raising Expectations' (pdf 419KB) Raising Expectations

Design Reviews

Design Reviews form a major role and activity for the MAG. To date three forms of review have taken place; Pre-planning application, Post Planning application referrals and referals by Government Funders.

Links to the Draft Design Review Guide (pdf 95KB) Design Review A Guide to Project Teams

Registration Form(Word 52KB )Register of a Scheme for Design Review

Client Satisfaction Survey (Word 104KB)Design Review Client Satisfaction Survey

Symposium      'Planning for Places' The Navan Centre, Armagh, 7 September 2010

The MAG believes that by working with councils it can raise expectations for good design in buildings and places across Northern Ireland.

Supported by the Armagh City and District Council, the MAG held a symposium 'Planning for Places' 'in The Navan Centre, Armagh on 7 September.

Those invited to attend included senior council and government officials, community representatives and professionals

The programme involved a number of presentations by local and national speakers including CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. CABE has been working with English local authorities to see how design quality can best be embedded in emerging strategies.

Presentations can be accessed below:

Speakers:

Kathy MacEwen, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) (pdf 1.68 MB) Kathy MacEwen Presentation

Jim Thompson, Planning Manager Development Plans The NI Planning Service (pdf 385KB) Jim Thompson Presentation

Trevor Osborne, The Trevor Osborne Property Group (pdf 1.83MB)Trevor Osborne Presentation

John McGrillen, Belfast City Council (pdf 2.24 MB)John McGrillen Presentation

Henry Johnston, Department for Social Development (pdf 385KB)Henry Johnston Presentation

Trevor Martin, Belfast City Council (pdf 833 KB)Trevor Martin Presentation

Peter Carr, Belfast Metropolitian Residents' Group (pdf 54.9 KB)Peter Carr Presentation

John Murphy, Department of Environment Local Government Reform Division (pdf 43.0 KB) John Murphy Presentation

Emily Smyth, Member of the MAG (pdf 3.97 MB) Emily Smyth Presentation