Coming Soon- Research Publications

The OPR has commenced work on a number of projects identified in the Strategic Planning Research Programme for the period 2023-2025. Work is currently ongoing on two projects identified in the programme, and the output from these projects will be published shortly. Further information in relation to these projects is included hereunder.

1. Research Series Report on the theme of ‘Brownfield Land Activation Measures‘ 

Research Output: Research Series Report 

Research Series Reports (RSRs) are defined in the OPR’s Strategic Planning Research Framework as ‘discrete publications on a particular topic/issue’ which ‘reflect the format of more conventional research reports found in professional journals or academic periodicals’. This will be the first Research Series Report published by the OPR to date and will focus on the topic of ‘Brownfield Land Activation Measures’.

This Research Series Report will set out the findings from research conducted in relation to completed and ongoing brownfield urban regeneration and compact growth type projects. It will provide a comprehensive insight into the key planning and wider conditions essential to delivering these projects.

 The Research Objectives of this Research Series Report are to:

• Create an evidence base of the key drivers and enablers of brownfield development;
• Identify the challenges and obstacles faced and the opportunities;
• Identify best practice from the lessons learnt in the case studies to inform potential policy development; and
• Outline findings and potential action areas to promote brownfield land activation.

Research Output: Practice Note

Practice Notes (PNs) are defined in the OPR’s Strategic Planning Research Framework as a ‘short paper that examines a specific subject matter from the perspective of the practitioner. They seek to fill a gap between high-level legislation and policy and the practicalities of implementation on the ground’. Practice notes provide support and reassurance for practitioners and promote professional and public confidence in the planning system.

The OPR has published four practice notes to date:

PN01 Appropriate Assessment Screening for Development Management;

PN02 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening;

PN03 Planning Conditions; and

PN05 Planning Enforcement.

This Practice Note, PN04, seeks to set out a practical approach for estimating enterprise land requirements to inform the development plan preparation process, which ensures consistency with the national and regional strategic and statutory policy context in the National Planning Framework (NPF), the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES), the requirements of planning legislation and planning guidelines.

• Inform planning authorities of techniques which can be used to provide a robust evidence base for the core strategy and rationale for the zoning of land for employment purposes;
• Improve the enterprise/employment evidence base when reviewing development plans to provide a rationale for any requirement to zone additional lands and develop appropriate future policies and proposals in development plans and local area plans; and
• Improve systems for monitoring the outcomes, estimating future development requirements and reviewing enterprise and employment policies.

Publication:

It is anticipated that this Practice Note will be published in Q2 2024.