Planner

Niamh

  • Name:

    Niamh Boyle

  • Gender:

    Female

  • Location:

    Belfast

  • Occupation:

    Planner, Development Planning Partnership (DPP)

  • Hobbies:

    Sport, Travelling, Eating out, teaching myself the guitar

  • School/College:
"Planners are important at all levels; from making policies to implementing them and ensuring the environment and surroundings are enhanced. We deal with a range of work from residential schemes, industrial developments, masterplanning to issues on climate change and flooding. Work as a planner is rarely dull!"
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Go to career

Did you always want to be a town planner?
No! When I was a child I wanted to be an Irish dancing teacher. But then, when I was about 14, we went on a school trip and we did a project on the regeneration of a village in Northern Ireland called Cushendall. It really caught my imagination and my interest in the built environment was really established then. I enjoy improving places and spaces.

What’s the most satisfying project you’ve worked on so far?
The one that was approved yesterday! It was to turn a retail storage unit near the city centre into 11 flats. I had to work with the conservation officer and the cycling officer because the building is in a conservation area and within the city centre so parking can be laxed. It’s particularly interesting when you work with other areas and colleagues on a project and when you get the document signed and can grant planning permission for a decent development, which will enhance the character of an area. 

It’s also really satisfying when you get thanked for your hard work. I’ve been working on a major planning application recently that was really urgent. It had to get decided within nine weeks to avoid a public inquiry (13 weeks to meet Government targets on major applications). I got it done and posted out last night and this morning there was an email waiting for me thanking me for my hard work. That was a great start to the day!

What makes a good planner?
Well, you need to be a good communicator because one day you’re dealing with the Director of a company and the next you are speaking with Mr Public. You need to know when you can use certain words and when to avoid the jargon. It is helpful if you are a relatively sociable person – friendly and approachable. Good time management skills also enable you to deal with the multitude of work. You also have to be determined, focused and enjoy a challenge because every day brings something new and exciting!!

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