Delivering cross-border spatial planning: Proposals for the island of Ireland

There are two spatial strategies on the island of Ireland – the National Spatial Strategy for Ireland and the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland. These public-sector documents individually contend with private-sector development dynamics that are in fact island-wide and mutually interdependent. Both the British and Irish governments have recognised the need to advance joined-up planning for the island of Ireland. This paper reports on research that reflects upon the exisiting spatial strategies on the island of Ireland and explores the potential for further developing cooperation between the two jurisdictions. Drawing on the views of key actor groups in both territories, evidence indicates that mutual benefit can be gained across the island while maintaining the integrity of each jurisdiction. The actions necessary to achieve this include aligning existing policy and harnessing and facilitating existing structures to enable a wide range of stakeholders to contribute to the process.