The Irish Planning Institute is pleased to announce details of the 2011 Irish Planning Institute Autumn Conference, which will take place on Friday, 21st October 2011 at the Gibson Hotel, the Point Village, Dublin 1 on the topic of ‘Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment’. This year’s Autumn Conference will build on the success of the 2009 IPI Autumn Conference by reviewing recent developments in legislation, policy and guidance concerning Appropriate Assessment of the impacts of plans and projects on Natura 2000 sites. The aim of the Conference is to provide attendees with practical solutions to the difficulties and challenges that arise in the undertaking of Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment. In addition, through panel discussion, the Conference will provide attendees with a forum for the exchange of views on the implications for spatial planning in Ireland of recent developments in environmental law and policy.

The planning system is typically where the areas of Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment are generally encountered by practitioners. Many projects, ranging from a single dwelling to a county development plan, will require one or both of these assessments. Whilst there has been much focus in recent times of the role of ecologists in these fields, it is apparent that planners (in their role as the competent authority) are usually the decision makers in relation to such issues. The purpose of this conference is to ensure all participants in the planning process (planning officers and local authority staff, planning consultants, Directors of Services, developers, ecologists, members of the public) understand the processes involved and their roles in AA and SEA.

The Conference will include talks from Local Authority Heritage Officers on how to screen for Appropriate Assessment and the opportunities afforded by Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment for spatial planning. Other speakers will look at how to assess impacts on site integrity and an overview of recent case law in the area. In addition, a panel discussion in which prominent planning professionals will discuss topical issues in a “Questions and Answers” format. Participants will be given the opportunity to submit questions to the panel in advance. For more details and for information on how to book, please see the IPI website.