Northern Ireland: The regional development strategy for Northern Ireland, Shaping our Future, is similar in intent to the Republic's national spatial strategy.
The main features of its planning guidelines are the consolidation of the Belfast Metropolitan Area (BMA) and its hinterland in the east; the development of the "major regional city" of Derry and its "associated sub-region in the north-west" (including Donegal); and protection of rural Northern Ireland.
In addition to the regional gateways of Belfast and Derry and the gateway town and seaport of Larne, the strategy identifies two other centres - Newry and Enniskillen - which have a "major inter-regional role", based largely on access.
On sea access, the strategy notes that Larne, Lishally and Warrenpoint ports have the potential to accommodate future growth and counterbalance the development of Belfast.
However, in a significant departure from Dublin's mistakes with urban sprawl, the Northern strategy includes a dedicated Belfast metropolitan area green belt designed to "protect rural areas under development pressure unrelated to the local community".
The green belt "will protect the setting of the city of Belfast and maintain a distinctive rural setting around towns and villages within the wider city region".
In the longer term, beyond 2015, as housing land and supply diminishes in the BMA, the strategy concedes there may be a need for additional development in the nearest towns. But it argues that a compact city complex can be maintained by retaining the green belt and promoting the nearest main towns as counter-magnets for growth.
In the ring of towns around Belfast, Antrim and Craigavon are identified as having the potential to accommodate a growing population. Both towns are major industrial centres and have "spare capacity", reflecting a proactive spend on infrastructure.
The strategy sees Derry developing as the hub for the north-west corner of Ireland with its catchment area extending into Co Donegal, and strengthening its role as the major business centre of a north-west development corridor taking in Limavady, Strabane and Letterkenny.
It is also planned to facilitate cross-Border tourism through projects such as the Shannon- Erne Waterway, the Kingfisher Cycle Trail and possibly the reopening of the Ulster Canal.
In a global context the strategy seeks to integrate land, sea and air transport with the trans-European networks, with priority given to the Northern Ireland- Britain-Benelux routes. It also seeks to enhance the Stranraer, Larne, Belfast, Dublin and Cork links to the Scottish and English motorway/rail networks.
Key transport corridors also include the Derry-Letterkenny route; Enniskillen to Sligo; Derry to Monaghan; and Belfast to Dundalk.
The regional strategy was formally launched last December 4th.
Shaping Our Future is at
www.drdni.gov.uk/ shapingourfuture/pdf/regional_ development_strategy.pdf