ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM: INFRASTRUCTURE SUB-GROUP

 

Meeting held on Thursday 25 August at 3.30 pm in Clarence Court, Belfast.

 

 

1.         Infrastructure Issues : CBI perspective

 

1.1       Nigel Smyth presented a paper to the sub-group in which he set out the CBI perspective on key issues related to infrastructure and the contribution which it can make to economic progress.

 

1.2       Among the issues highlighted were:

 

·                     the need for a comprehensive understanding of the peripherality of NI and the issues which that raises;

·                     the key importance of infrastructure in relation to supply chain management and access to markets;

·                     the impact of regulatory trends;

·                     the contribution which increased use of public transport by car owners would make to reducing congestion for commercial traffic;

·                     in this context, the importance of the development of QBCs and Park and Ride facilties.

2.         Investment Strategy : SIB

2.1       David Gavaghan and Roisin Kelly spoke about the development of the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, and the possible barriers to its implementation about which the sub-group had concerns – specifically statutory planning processes and economic appraisals.

 

2.2       Planning applications were often poor when they were submitted.  The Planning Service could do more to help in the early stages to give applicants a clear idea of what would or would not work.

 

2.3       It should be possible to fast track projects with an economic benefit for Northern Ireland.  But there were structural problems caused by the dispersal of planning functions and the lack of targets for responses from consultees.

 

2.4       Economic appraisals had not featured as a big issue.  However, DFP was trying to simplify the mechanics of the processes, while adhering to Treasury rules.

 

2.5       There could be scope to be more ambitious in relation to transport schemes, both road and rail.  Decisions should be made on the basis of what would be required in 10-15 years, not merely in response to current needs.  There would be benefits in being slightly ahead of the curve so as not to lose out on economic development.

 

3.         Next Steps

 

3.1       The sub-group would now be required to make a report to the September EDF meeting.  A draft would be prepared in the coming week.