This research considers how local authorities can measure the outcomes of planning. This means going beyond simple metrics like speed of processing applications and number of housing units delivered and assessing planning in terms of placemaking aspirations and social, economic and environmental value, in order to track and improve the impact of planning.
Building on previous work that has taken place across the nations, the research team reviewed the context and needs of planning jurisdictions across the UK and Ireland, identifying guiding principles, developing a toolkit and then contextualising, testing and refining that toolkit.
The project has culminated in the development of a report and series of toolkits which can be adapted by local planning authorities across the UK and Ireland to improve their outcome measurement.
While this project covered the UK and Ireland, this webpage highlights the work that took place specifically in Ireland, which included a number of Irish Pilot Case Studies.
We would like to thank our Irish partners, the Government of Ireland - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Office of the Planning Regulator, for their support in moving this project forward.
The project was led by a consortium of planning consultancies and academics from around the UK and Ireland, led by Kevin Murray Associates with support from Cardiff University, the University of Dundee, MacCabe Durney Barnes, and Yellow Book Ltd.
Report, handbook and toolkit
Click here to download the Measuring What Matters: Planning Outcomes Research Report and appendices or visit our RTPI Research page
Click here to access the Measuring What Matters: Planning Outcomes Irish Toolkit (excel).
Click here to access the Toolkit Handbook which provides guidance to users of the toolkit.
Click here to access the Irish Pilot Case Studies, which discusses the Irish context and summarises the findings from the pilots
Visit our RTPI YouTube page to hear the research team behind the RTPI Measuring What Matters: Planning Outcomes Research discuss planning outcomes and the research toolkit.
"People know that the benefits of planning go much further than just measuring how fast planning decisions are made. Knowing we are making the right decisions that make that crucial difference for people’s lives is even more critical. Helping to make places that people love, that they feel safe and part of a community in. That leaves little environmental traces. A toolkit to measure the effectiveness of our planning process is long overdue and I believe this work across these islands in sharing expertise in building such a toolkit will be hugely beneficial to both national and local authorities in knowing more about how and where proper planning matters.”
Niall Cussen, Planning Regulator, Ireland
RTPI Ireland responds to a number of consultations on policy issues in Ireland. You can read the latest policy responses here. If you want to get involved with the work of RTPI Ireland please email us on [email protected] or call us on 08925 15649.