New Visions for Old Cities: The Role of Visioning in Planning

Abstract

Many plans and strategies these days are underpinned by ‘visions’. This article examines the cultural and policy shift in planning in the UK toward more integrated and participative practice, and the potential role of visioning in this new climate. Reviewing examples of vision planning in the US, where the process has a longer lineage, it argues that these interventions suffer from a lack of evaluation of the effects of ‘visioning’. Yet this visioning approach has been adopted in certain cities and towns in Northern Ireland in recent years. This article assesses the impact of this approach in a detailed case study and finds the impact to have been modest.

Keywords:

• Visioning
• participation
• spatial planning
• integration and governance

Notes

1. ‘Orthodox’ development planning in Northern Ireland is largely modelled on the format and procedure of planning in England and Wales. Significantly though, planning responsibilities are spread across three central government departments. The Department of Regional Development has responsibility for regional planning and development, while the Department of the Environment has charge of statutory development planning and development control. The Department of Social Development is responsible for housing and urban regeneration. It is also important to point out that the 26 District councils are afforded only a consultative role in the planning processes.