Energy: Renewable planning
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Planning reform could help to increase electricity generated from renewables to 40 per cent by 2020. agendaNi reports. PPS18 was released in 2009 in order to prepare for an increase in renewable energy applications stemming from the European Union’s 2020 targets (to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent on 1990 levels, to generate 20 per cent of energy from renewables and increase energy efficiency by 20 per cent.) The Strategic Energy Framework’s target to generate 40 per cent of electricity and 10 per cent of heat from renewables by 2020 adds more pressure to bring about...[full story]
Energy: North sea supergrid
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011North Sea states are making progress in plans for a connected offshore grid, due to strong government support. Political will is crucial for developing offshore energy, European energy representatives have emphasised. As part of the Open Days conference, agendaNi attended a seminar on supergrids in the North Sea and English Channel, hosted by the Norwegian mission to the EU. While not a member state, Norway co-operates closely with the EU on energy and produces as much oil as the entire union. In contrast, it generates virtually all its electricity from hydro plants. Friends of the Supergrid...[full story]
Housing: Better spaces for Belfast
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011Thinking outside the box can save the city’s remaining terraces and regenerate its wasted open spaces, architect Mark Hackett tells Peter Cheney. Belfast’s original streets are disappearing and will soon be gone for good unless urgent action is taken, according to Mark Hackett. “I think we have very little time to save what is unique about Belfast’s spaces,” the architect states. Most of the old Victorian terraces and mill buildings have been knocked down, taking with them much of the city’s character. Some of the best remaining examples can be found in the Village and the...[full story]
Planning: Draft Regional Development Strategy
Friday, March 11th, 2011agendaNi considers what the next 14 years could hold for Northern Ireland, according to the draft Regional Development Strategy. Released in January, the draft Regional Development Strategy maps out how Northern Ireland is expected to change up to 2025. It follows on from a 10-year review of the first ‘Shaping our Future’ strategy, which was published in 2001 and amended in 2008. This had been the British Isles’ first spatial strategy. “Place, where things are and where things happen, can be often overlooked in decision making but it matters to people,” it states. The final...[full story]
Tourism: Planning for tourism – PPS16
Thursday, March 10th, 2011Growing tourism depends on protecting the environment. agendaNi reviews what this means in practice through PPS16. Planning applications for tourism purposes must respect the environment on which the trade depends, according to Northern Ireland’s first specific policy on the subject. Draft Planning Policy Statement 16 (PPS16) was published in November and its consultation runs to 25 March. As with the other statements, it applies to Northern Ireland as a whole. The final version’s provisions will prevail unless they are outweighed by other overriding policy or material considerations. In...[full story]
Cover story: Sisk’s agile growth – Mark Barr
Thursday, March 10th, 2011Construction company Sisk has developed a thriving business in Northern Ireland despite the current economic backdrop. Mark Barr, Head of Business Development, talks to Owen McQuade about the challenges that the company has undergone in recent years. Unlike many of its competitors, avoiding turning into a property developer has given Sisk the agility to survive and thrive in the current economic downturn. Of the recession, Barr comments: “We stuck to our core business as a builder and it allowed us to react very quickly to the market and redeploy staff.” The company strategically...[full story]
Local Government: Planning power for councils
Friday, January 28th, 2011Edwin Poots has released details of the “most sweeping reforms to the planning system for 30 years” but other MLAs question its timing. Emma Blee analyses the plans. Councillors across Northern Ireland are to take on responsibility for planning decisions in their areas, under new proposals within the Planning Bill. Edwin Poots has said that the new legislation will “transform the planning system” and return control to councils. A draft Planning Bill has been agreed by the Executive and is now being considered by the Assembly’s Environment Committee. Most planning functions...[full story]
Planning: Planning for recovery – Edwin Poots
Monday, December 6th, 2010Following a number of high-profile planning controversies, Environment Minister Edwin Poots has outlined his proposals for a reformed, efficient and streamlined planning sector that will contribute to the economic recovery. agendaNi reports. The planning system needs to be capable of meeting the needs of investors, therefore it must be “flexible, predictable and prompt,” according to Environment Minister Edwin Poots. Speaking at an agendaNi ‘planning and the economy’ seminar, Poots pointed out that the Executive is “still fully engaged in attracting overseas investment, and...[full story]
Business Q&A: Osvaldo Mauro-Hun
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010Osvaldo Mauro-Hun is Chief Executive of Rose Energy. Osvaldo was born in Antofagasta, a main harbour city in the mining region in the north of Chile. During his first few years he travelled the length of the country – some 3,000 km – with his family, who then established their home in the capital city Santiago, where Osvaldo attended school from the age of five. Following his secondary education he travelled to the UK to attend Loughbrough University, where he completed both bachelor and masters degrees in chemical engineering. During his career he has worked in the coal, electrical...[full story]
