RMLA work for and on behalf of Local Authorities across the Country in the preparation of a range of forward planning documents.
Spatial, Strategic & Economic Plan Making.
RMLA staff have produced documentation for inclusion in statutory Development Plans, including Building Height Strategies and Retail Strategies for Local Authorities to help identify qualitative improvements, the demand for new floorspace and preferred locations for retail floorspace and have managed and prepared statutory Local Area Plans on behalf of Local Authorities. Our staff have also managed and produced a range of other non-statutory plans and strategies including long-term spatial and economic plans and are at the forefront of delivering plans in line with the Town Centre First (TCF) Policy Approach.
In addition to the extensive experience our Team have in the area of plan making and our understanding of the specific procedural and administrative requirements when preparing such document, we also bring our expertise in the areas of economic, business case and regeneration funding advice to the projects we work on. In this regard, our staff have also provided strategic economic input into Masterplans and large complex Framework Plans on behalf of Local Authorities. Our staff have also worked with Local Authorities in preparing comprehensive strategic submissions on national policy including to the National Planning Framework.
The extensive experience of our staff in the areas of spatial, strategic and economic plan making means RMLA are positioned to manage large multi-disciplinary teams to set timelines, often statutory, in the delivery of such plans while working closely with the Local Authority to ensure all requirements are fully met. RMLA manage all aspects of the process ranging from establishing the team, putting in place the programme, engaging with prescribed bodies, organising, attending and running a range of public consultation events, undertaking targeted engagements, developing shared visions, drafting the plans including identifying opportunity sites where relevant, presenting to Elected Members and finalising plans for adoption.
In all our forward planning work RMLA consider delivery from the outset, preparing plans that are structured and whose content allow for them to be leveraged in support of funding applications for the projects/opportunities identified within them. This unique value add is made possible not just due to the expertise of our staff but from their experience of successfully navigating projects from plans which they produced through the securing of funding and subsequently the Public Spending Code Gates, to working on the delivery of those projects on the ground on behalf of the Local Authority.
As a Team we are constantly seeking to advance our continuous professional development and learn from best practice to ensure that the plans we produce do not just ‘tick a box’ but that they are innovative. In this regard, our staff have produced plans which led the way in terms of the consideration of sustainability and the need to move towards carbon neutrality as part of the plan making process, with projects subsequently successfully securing c. €18m in funding for low carbon project implementation. Our staff have also championed a new perspective in terms of the role of the natural environment in plan making and the transition to an environmentally sustainable economy, specifically addressing the issue of Climate Adaptation.
The RMLA Team are also passionate about consultation, with our staff embracing the many advancements in the area over the past 20 years. Our staff are amongst the few who have worked with video specialists to support the production of plans with the aim of encouraging community understanding and buy-in to their implementation and delivery. Recently RMLA worked with specialists on the production of a video to support the adoption and implementation of the Tullow TCF Plan, the production of which was an interactive experience that sought to ensure the community was again included in the process.
RMLA are passionate about planning the future of our cities, towns and settlements. We not only understand but embrace the opportunities and challenges the plan making process presents and are ready to work with Local Authorities to plan for a sustainable future.