New Book 'Integrated Area Planning: A Sustainable Approach' Explores the Application of Collaborative Planning Principles Within an Irish Context

Business Wire, July 16, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/372e9e/integrated_area_pl) has announced the addition of the "Integrated Area Planning: A Sustainable Approach" report to their offering.

Over the past seven years, Tipperary Institute (TI) has been commissioned by various local authorities and community groups to assist them in dealing with issues arising from the planning process. These groups were interested in drawing up good local development plans and were interested in finding a less adversarial, and more positive, way of engaging in such processes. Since TI's central mission is the promotion of rural development, and given the importance of planning in the rural context, such involvement in planning has become an important focus for TI. This work has allowed TI staff to develop a framework for local planning called Integrated Area Planning (IAP).

The proposition that lies behind this book (a synthesis of lessons learned over the past seven years) is that the decisions about how a particular geographic area develops should be made in a way that actively involves the community in question. A fundamental process that affects how areas develop is how decisions about land-use and environmental management are made. The type of planning mechanism used when such decisions are made may have a profound impact on the way that area actually develops. Rather than seeing planning as a mechanistic exercise, or a process that is owned by experts, the broad-based ownership of the planning process is recognised and what are called collaborative planning principles are applied. This book explores the application of these collaborative planning principles within an Irish context.

Key Topics Covered:

Figures

Authors

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Ciaran Lynch & Catherine Corcoran

Planning Issues in Small Places

Two Types of Rural'?

Integrated Area Planning in Action

1 The Concept of Participation in Land-use Planning

Ciaran Lynch

Participation in Planning in Ireland

Conceptualising Participation

Critics of Collaborative Planning

Conclusion

2 The Kinvara Case-Study

Catherine Corcoran

Tipperary Institute & Participatory Planning

Stages in Developing an IAP Framework

Conclusions & Recommendations

3 The Environment & the IAP Process

Elisha McGrane

IAP & Environmental Sustainability

EU, National, Regional & Local Policy

The Story So Far -- Reflections on IAPs

Future Possible Developments in the IAP Process

Conclusion

Hacketstown Integrated Area Plan -- Epilogue

Appendix: Summary of Visions, Objectives & Actions for the Natural Environment, from the Hacketstown IAP, 2004

4 The IAP Process & Capacity-building

Michael Ryan

The Research Methodology

The Research Findings

Research Findings for Stage 1

Research Findings for Stage 2

Research Findings for Stage 3

Issues Identified for Further Research

Conclusion

Appendix: TI Research Timetable for the Hacketstown IAP process

5 Exploring the Capacity of Individuals to Participate

Bridget Kirwan

Defining Participation

The Individual's Motivation to Participate

Participation in Practice -- The IAP Experience

Recommendations

Conclusions

6 GIS Applications in IAP

Martin McCormack

Advantages of GIS in IAP

Information Requirements for an IAP

Planning for Sustainability: Optimising Resources & Preparing for Change

Conclusion

7 Making Local Development Plans: The Irish Experience

Ciaran Lynch

The Local Government System

Land-use Planning

The Irish Planning System -- The Legal Context

The Irish Planning System -- The Policy Context

The Irish Planning System -- The Institutional Context

8 Participation, Politics & Organisations

Paul Keating

The Political Context of Participation

The Institutionalisation of Participation

Conclusion

9 Social Inclusion vs Social Integration

Cora Horgan

The Context of Rural Social Exclusion

Social Inclusion

Social Integration

IAP: Combining Social Inclusion & Social Integration ... is this Social Cohesion?

Conclusion

10 Conclusion

Ciaran Lynch & Catherine Corcoran

Bibliography

Further Reading

Index

FIGURES

1.1 Models of Decision-making

2.1 Proposed Steps in Developing an IAP

3.1 View over Hacketstown, Co. Carlow

3.2 View of Kinvara town, from across the bay (viewed from NE)

3.3 View to SE of Kinvara town, across the bay area

3.4 Vision, Objectives, Actions & Indicators for Hacketstown, Co. Carlow

4.1 Hacketstown, Co. Carlow -- Location

4.2 Overview of the TI-IAP Process in Hacketstown

4.3 Draft Capacity-building Indicators

4.4 Capacity-building Indicators -- Frequency of Reference

4.5 Steering Group & TI Perception of Improvement in Capacity-building Indicators

5.1 Participation

5.2 Power & Involvement

5.3 Erickson's Psychosocial Stages

5.4 Training Opportunities, based on Covey's "Seven Habits"

5.5 The Cost/Benefit of Participation

5.6 The Pattern of Participation

5.7 The Age Profiles of Participants

5.8 The Participation Pattern by Gender at Steering Group Meetings

6.1 Map Showing Percentage Population Change (1996-2006) for Co. Offaly by DED

6.2 Shannonbridge DED & Surrounding DEDs (in Offaly, Roscommon & Galway)

6.3 Shannonbridge DED & Surrounding DEDs: Number of Houses Built per DED (1996-2006)