The theme of this paper is the preparation of a new region al plan for Northern Ireland, known as Shaping Our Future: a Region al Strategic Framework (RSF) and the public consultation exercise which underpinned its development. The paper attempts to provide a reflective con textualized account of the development of a ‘new’ model of participation an d its operation in practice. Arguably, the particular political circumstances in Northern Ireland provide an interesting case study of issues and tensions that connect to wider debates about the shaping of strategic planning policy and the growing demands for the development of participatory democracy.