Planning for a bright future
As planning reform nears completion, URS offers a unique blend of experience for those seeking to engage with a changing system.
URS’ planning team in Belfast is looking forward to a challenging yet exciting time ahead as Northern Ireland’s planning system is reformed. Planning powers move from central government to local councils in April 2015 and planning specialists are preparing for the move.
Headquartered in San Francisco, URS has more than 50,000 employees in nearly 50 countries. The Belfast planners form part of a 170-strong planning team across the UK and Ireland. URS provides key disciplines including architecture, urban design, cost consulting, project management and all engineering services. Our clients have access to the range of skills and expertise of a global company, with the knowledge and responsiveness of a local business.
As an industry leader, URS delivers projects including:
• the Royal Victoria Hospital Critical Care Centre;
• the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre;
• High Speed Two (high-capacity, high-speed rail links between London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester); and
• Spaceport America, New Mexico (the world’s first commercial spaceport).
Our Belfast planning team is involved in a wide range of projects across all the sectors. Una Somerville, who recently joined the company, leads the team. She brings 27 years of planning expertise and is one of Northern Ireland’s leading planning professionals.
Una’s experience is unique in the planning world, having worked in both the private and public sectors at the highest level. Una has led significant projects of varying scales for a wide range of clients over the years, including government departments on major health care and education projects, private and public interests in regeneration schemes, and local communities in creating better places and spaces.
In her public sector work, she has helped shape Belfast and Northern Ireland’s skyline and environment whilst with Laganside Development Corporation and the Planning Appeals Commission.
The team includes Kieran Carlin who has delivered significant regeneration schemes for the Department for Social Development, Shauna Woods with a strong public consultation background, and Ian Turkington who has been achieving results in interdisciplinary working within the office, not least on major public realm schemes across Northern Ireland.
Our planners have an excellent track record in working with statutory decision-makers and stakeholders to help meet clients’ interests. A significant area of work has been in masterplanning and town centre regeneration schemes, including Ballymoney, Comber, Donaghadee, and Greenisland.
Full planning services include:
• expert witness at planning appeals and inquires;
• negotiation and advocacy;
• policy research;
• feasibility studies and site assessments;
• environmental impact assessments; and
• public consultation.
We look forward to continuing to deliver results for all our clients and take on commissions with both pleasure and commitment. It is never too early to engage planning consultants, not least in the context of a changing planning system. If you have any planning query you would like addressed, please contact Una.
URS, Beechill House
Beechill Road, Belfast, BT8 7RP
Tel: 028 9070 5111
Email: una.somerville-crudden@urs.com
Web: www.urs.com
