Participatory planning in Northern Ireland: the 'learning community' approach.
This article introduces an approach towards enabling citizenship called the 'learning community'. The 'learning community' tries to draw the community into a strategic planning process that is empowering, inclusive, builds a sense of community and is sustainable. It is also ongoing, reflective and collaborative. It aims to link into the development of a new institutional tier in Northern Ireland, in which communities, politicians and professionals can develop partnerships in regional level planning.