Find out about the latest updates for RTPI Northern Ireland.
The Big Conversation NI
Planning plays a crucial role in delivering a wide range of valuable outcomes – addressing the climate and biodiversity emergencies, economic development and supporting communities across Northern Ireland.
The RTPI NI Annual Review for 2025 has been published giving highlights for activities across the year.
Policy Consultations
With the help of our active Policy and Research Forum we responded to the following consultations:
Department for Infrastructure: Active Travel Delivery Plan
Private Member's Bill on Tree Preservation Legislation
Survey by the Office for Environmental Protection
NI Executive: Review of Architecture and the Built Environment Policy
Department for Infrastructure: Developer Contributions for Wastewater Infrastructure
Department for Infrastructure: Draft Transport Strategy to 2035
Department for Communities: Shaping Sustainable Places
Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: NI's draft Climate Action Plan 2023-2027
Assembly's Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: Dilapidation Bill
Tourism NI: draft Corporate Plan 2025/28
Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: NI's fourth Carbon Budget 2038-42
Department for Infrastructure: Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in New Housing
Department for Infrastructure: Review of Planning Fees
Research
We have commissioned by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development to conduct a Review of the Island's Strategic Spatial Planning Strategies and the Framework for Co-operation.
The study assesses the degree of alignment and/or divergence between the current spatial strategies of the island of Ireland and examines the impact the Framework for Co-operation has had on strategic spatial planning, policy co-ordination and cross-border working.
NI Planning Consultants Forum
Our Consultants Forum met 5 times and had guests attending each meeting including Heads of Planning, DfI, Planning Appeals Commission, IRPC Commissioners, NIEA and DfC Historic Environment Division.
Interim Regional Planning Commission
RTPI NI continued to provide Secretariat for the Interim Regional Planning Commission which involved attending meetings of the Commission. The Commission submitted their report to Liz Kimmins, Minister for Infrastructure on 14 November.
Advisory Groups
We participate in various advisory groups to promote planning issues. During 2025, these have included:
Historic Environment Group
Events
In September we held the Northern Ireland Annual Conference, sponsored by Tughans looking at Planning for the Future: from a Decade of Change. The Conference focused on the tenth anniversary of planning powers moving to Councils and looked at the lesson learned and what the future of planning in Northern Ireland might look like. The afternoon saw a session on safety at work from The Suzy Lamplugh Trust.
In October we held the Local Development Plans and Affordable Housing webinar where speakers, Angela Wiggam, Turley and Charles O'Neill, Co-Ownership gave an overview of how Local Development Plans (LDP's) are supporting the delivery of affordable housing with a focus on intermediary housing.
Also in October we held a Politicians in Planning event, the first of its kind for the RTPI. The event, sponsored by Tughans was held in Cookstown and welcomed Councillors and Officers involved in Planning Committees to hear speakers explore the roles and relationships of those involved in planning committees and help all stakeholders maximise the potential of the planning system as a force for positive change to deliver on the Council's objectives for the communities they serve whilst avoiding pitfalls and hazards.
And finally, wrapping up the year we had the Annual Planning Law webinar in November sponsored by William Orbinson KC. Delegates heard the latest updates and case studies from William Orbinson, KC, Maria O'Loan, Head of Planning and Environment Team, Tughans LLP and Mark Watson and Paul Duffy, Principal Commissioner from Planning Appeals Commission.
Northern Ireland Young Planners
The Young Planners NI Committee met on a number of occasions to discuss potential events. They held a Planning Law 101 event in October.
Communications
PlaNIt
Two editions of the RTPI NI journal plaNIt were published in 2025 and distributed online. We have also sent members more regular updates in our e-plaNIt bulletin.
Wider Engagement
Our Director and NI Chair met with Minister Kimmins on 10 June 2025
Director has attended meetings with other built environment professions, Councils and Consultancies:
Peter McReynolds, MLA
Department for Infrastructure
Planning Appeals Commission
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
Derry City and Strabane District Council
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Consultants meeting with RSUA (quarterly meeting)
Aecom
Juno Planning
Tughans
Renewable NI
Agenda NI
Interim Regional Planning Commission
University Engagement
Director met with staff and students at QUB, UU and Belfast Metropolitan College.
Our Executive and Young Planner Committee members gave presentations to new students in QUB and UU.
We presented the following student awards:
Hugh McKay Award (QUB) - Joint recipients for highest marked final dissertation:
Ryan Milligan and Padraig McCaughey
Student Project Prize (UU) -Student with highest mark in MSci Planning, Regeneration and Development:
Sasha Hornby
RTPI Prize (UU) - Niall Forde
RTPI Prize (QUB) - Aoife Murray
School Engagement
Our Chair along with some volunteers took our Planning for Schools pilot into St Malachy's Belfast. Further schools have been contacted for future dates.
Call for ambassadors to volunteer to take this material into local schools, ideally focusing on areas with more diverse or deprived communities.
Awards for Planning Excellence
We announced our NI Award winners at our Celebration event at Malone House on 9 June. Congratulations to our winners:
Best Project - Creevagh Heights/Sean Dolan's GAC submitted by Radius Housing
Planning Authority of the Year - Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Mid-size Planning Consultancy of the Year - Clyde Shanks
Young Planner of the Year - Sophie Burch
Judges also awarded the following projects:
Clooney Terrace Cannon Site submitted by Derry City and Strabane DC
Ross Street Mews submitted by Studiorogers Architects
Portaferry Public Realm submitted by AECOM
The Planner Magazine Women of Influence
Congratulations to this years NI Women of Influence recipients:
Kate Bentley MRTPI
Tamasin Fraser MRTPI
Helen Harrison MRTPI
Maria O'Loan LARTPI
New Chartered Members
We are delighted to welcome new members to RTPI Northern Ireland and now have just over 670 members in Northern Ireland working across sectors, organisations and roles. We held a Welcome Event at Malone House in June for all newly Chartered members.
Congratulations to the following who became Chartered Members of RTPI since our previous Welcome Event:
Aoife Byrne
Paul Catton
Michael Clarke
Thomas Ellison
Hannah Flynn
Alice Gallagher
Rebekah Gibson
Philip Glennon
Leah Hingston
Mandy Jones
James McBride
Chloe McDonnell
Eoan McTernan
Dani Sterling
The Northern Ireland Executive Committee is represented on the RTPI's General Assembly, committees and panels. The members who sat on the Committee in 2025 are:
Office Bearers
Emma Aldridge, Chair (pictured)
Nick Salt, Senior Vice Chair
Diane O'Neill, Junior Vice Chair
Chris Bryson, Immediate Past Chair
Corporate Members
Chris Blair
Sophie Burch
Julie de-Courcey
Mark Hanvey
Catherine McKinney
Robbie McNaugher
Student/ Licentiate Representatives
Robert McDonald
Emily Wray
Co-opted members
Victoria Travis, Student/Licentiate
General Assembly Representative
Sophie Burch
Nations and Regions Representative
Catharine McWhirter
Policy and Research Forum
The NI Executive Committee has a Policy and Research Sub-Forum which has met regularly across the year. The 2024 members were:
