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<p>The ICLRD has played a key role in supporting processes of strategic spatial planning and sustainable regional development. This work has included analysis of the role and potential of the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="National Planning Framework (opens in a new tab)" href="http://npf.ie/" target="_blank">National Planning Framework</a> and it's the predecessor, the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="National Spatial Strategy (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.irishspatialstrategy.ie/" target="_blank">National Spatial Strategy</a> as strategic policy tools and their implementation at regional and local scales. The ICLRD has developed particular expertise with regard to planning for 'functional territories' - regional spaces or catchment areas that cross political-administrative boundaries and the cross-border dimension of planning for border region and island of Ireland as transboundary functional entities, linking the National Planning Framework and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Regional Development Strategy (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/rds2035.pdf" target="_blank">Regional Development Strategy</a> for Northern Ireland. </p>
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<p>In its strategic sense, the term spatial planning refers not only to formal processes of planning regulation but also to integrated strategies and frameworks which seek to coordinate the spatial dimensions of sectoral policies. </p>
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<p>Publications and reports emerging from this work are available from the links below:</p>
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<ul><li><a href="http://www.irishgeography.ie/index.php/irishgeography/article/view/1400">Emergent Cross-Border Functional Geographies on the Island of Ireland: pre- and post-Brexit (Irish Geography 2019)</a></li><li><a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/2016/10/03/paper-13-applying-functional-territories-concept-jun16-final/">Applying the Functional Territories Concept: Planning Beyond Borders (No. 13)&nbsp;(2016)</a></li><li><a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/2010/12/06/delineating-functional-territories-across-the-island-of-ireland-an-initial-scoping/">Delineating Functional Territories Across The Island of Ireland: An Initial Scoping&nbsp;(2010)</a></li><li><a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/2011/09/06/the-basel-metropolitan-area-three-borders-one-metropolitan-area/">The Basel Metropolitan Area: Three Borders – One Metropolitan Area (2011)</a><br><a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/2011/09/06/regional-planning-in-the-boston-metropolitan-area-2/">Regional Planning in the Boston Metropolitan Area (2011)</a></li><li><a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/2011/09/11/briefing-paper-no-5-evidence-informed-spatial-planning-a-boston-metro-perspective/">Evidence-Informed Spatial Planning: A Boston Metro Perspective&nbsp;(2010)</a></li><li><a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/2011/09/11/linking-spatial-planning-with-public-briefing-paper-no-2-investment-perspectives-from-the-island-of-ireland/">Linking Spatial Planning with Public Investment: Perspectives from the Island of Ireland&nbsp;(2009)</a></li><li><a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/2011/09/11/briefing-paper-no-1-good-planning-key-to-future-success/">Good Planning: Key to Future Success&nbsp;(2009)</a></li></ul>
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<p>ICLRD Leads: <a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/research-forum/dr-cormac-walsh/">Cormac Walsh, </a>John Driscoll, Caroline Creamer, Karen Keaveney, Nick Finio, <a href="http://dev.iclrd.org/iclrd2/research-forum/prof-jim-walsh/">Jim Walsh</a>,</p>
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