Transport & Planning to 1972
In 1935, the Northern Ireland Government nationalized road transport services, establishing the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board to coordinate road and rail.
The Transport Act 1948 created the Transport Authority, taking over railway operations. The Ulster Transport Authority, established in 1958, took over the Great Northern Railway’s operation within Northern Ireland.
The Ulster Transport Authority’s duty was to ensure revenue sufficient for provision charges and to terminate rail services not likely to become economically viable within a reasonable period.
Numerous railway lines were permanently closed during this period.
In 1963, the Benson Report recommended reducing railway systems to passenger transport services on community lines, focusing on Portadown and the line to the border for a link to Dublin. The ‘Derry Road’ from Portadown to Derry was closed.
The Ulster Transport Authority was reorganized in 1966/67, replaced by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and its subsidiary companies.
Assistance through licensing of roadways was introduced, granting licenses to firms meeting specified standards. A company was established for passenger services, with provisions for private companies to operate some services with approval.
Northern Ireland Railways took over rail services, receiving financial assistance from the government.
In 1970, legislation established a subsidiary company of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company to take over Aldergrove Airport’s operation from the Board of Trade.
The Ministry of Development undertook significant construction of motorways and trunk roads in the 1960s, although expenditure remained significantly lower than the comparable UK expenditure per head.
The first planning and development legislation emerged in the 1931 Planning and Housing Act. However, the schemes under this act were not mandatory and went unconfirmed. In 1944, legislation required planning schemes for each county, although they remained ineffective as no planning schemes were implemented.
The New Towns (Northern Ireland) Act 1965 allowed for the creation of the Craigavon Development Commission. The government took responsibility for compensating under the Planning Acts in 1965.
The Amenity Lands Act in 1965 granted powers to protect areas of beauty and scientific interest, designating areas like the Lagan Valley and Mourne Mountains under this legislation.
Powers were provided to designate countryside as national parks and safeguard smaller areas of natural beauty and immunity, either through public ownership or negotiation with landowners.