Ministerial Advisory Group. Architecture and the built environment for Northern Ireland
[edit] About
The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for Architecture and the Built Environment in Northern Ireland was established to advise the Minister for Communities on the implementation and development of the Architecture and the Built Environment policy (currently under review).
[edit] Objectives
- Identification and promotion of best practice in the design of urban and rural places through strategic advice into spatial policy making
- Identification and promotion of best design practice in landscape, urban, and building design, with particular reference to the climate crisis
- Identification and promotion of procurement models that recognise the qualitative value of good design
- Identification and promotion of best practice in design-review procedures to ensure design quality is ultimately delivered through individual design proposals
- Identification and promotion of civic stewardship as an integrated concept ensuring the sustained viability of well-designed spaces, places, and buildings.
- Promotion of design as a creative approach to place-making with widespread potential benefit for society.
This is done by providing independent, constructive, and expert advice on development proposals to facilitate the planning process and deliver results. The advisory group exisits to promote successful: cities, towns, villages, streets, communities, buildings, and landscapes.
MAG seeks to address the challenges in the built environment and facilitate efficient design and development through a variety of offers and facilitation approaches:
- free and impartial design advice from experienced professionals, including those in the fields of architecture, landscape, planning, transport and community engagement.
- independent advice to mediate and expedite the engagement between local authority planners and developers.
- a design review process that facilitates best outcomes quickly.
- educational outreach to schools and communities.
- best practice guides.
- annual conferences and regular seminars.
For further information visit the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for Architecture and the Built Environment in Northern Ireland website here. Or for an overview of its support to download the How MAG can help guide.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Advisory group.
- Building control Northern Ireland.
- Building Up Ireland: professional insights from the construction sector in 2023.
- Chartered builders and chartered construction managers receive official recognition in Northern Ireland public procurement.
- CIOB Ireland responds to Budget 2024.
- CIOB Ireland launches manifesto for 2024 General Election.
- CIOB Northern Ireland inspires next generation of construction talent
- Historic Environment Record of Northern Ireland.
- Improving the Safety of Single Carriageways in Northern Ireland.
- Northern Ireland closer to creating infrastructure advisory board.
- Northern Ireland planning policy.
- Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation SNIPEF.
- Skills strategy for Northern Ireland
Featured articles and news
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.
NBS launches industry guide for specification writing
Available for free and as immediate download.
Peter Barber’s work revives forgotten building types.
Insights of how to attract more young people to construction
Results from CIOB survey of 16-24 year olds and parents.
Focussing on the practical implementation of electrification.
Preston flood scheme completes primary school SuDS
Three primary schools benefit from SuDS schemes.