President pays a Visit to Magheramorne
6-12-06

Clive Harridge, current President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), kicked off his recent two day visit to Northern Ireland with a visit to Magheramorne, and was suitably ‘wowed’ by the experience in terms of both the enormity and setting of the site and the imaginative proposals that have been put forward for the redevelopment of the old works and quarry. ‘An ambitious and bold vision’ is how he described our plans.

Clive’s theme for his year long term of office is the position of planning at the heart of sustainable development, of which the creation of sustainable communities is a key element. Our plans for a One Planet Living Community on the old works site were therefore of particular interest to the RTPI President.

Of the recreational elements of the proposal, Clive said: ‘They show the site's potential to be redeveloped as a valuable recreation resource bringing benefits to the local community and beyond, whilst safeguarding important natural assets and biodiversity’.

It is the practice of RTPI Presidents to visit the various regions of the UK to see current planning initiatives of particular interest during their term of office.

From left to right: Debbie Sorkin (Programme and Services, RTPI), Robert Upton (Secretary General RTPI), Clive Harridge (RTPI President), Hazel Bell (Chairperson, RTPI Irish Branch-Northern Section)