Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework

Superseded Replaced by National Planning Framework: First Revision. It is kept because plans made while it was in force refer to it.

1. Page 11

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   The best way for our country to address the changes that we will continue to face, is to plan for that change. 9Project Ireland 2040 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

2. Page 12

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   1.1 Setting out the Vision The National Planning Framework (NPF) is the Government’s high-level strategic plan for shaping the future growth and development of our country out to the year 2040. It is a framework to guide public and private investment, to create and promote opportunities for our people, and to protect and enhance our environment - from our villages to our cities, and everything around and in between. By 2040 there will be roughly an extra one million people living in our country1. This population growth will require hundreds of thousands of new jobs and new homes. If we fail to plan for this growth and for the demands it will place on our built and natural environment, as well as on our social and economic fabric, then we will certainly fail in our responsibility to future generations of Irish men and Irish women. That responsibility is to ensure their prosperity and happiness in an ever changing world. Given both the scale of the challenge and the time horizon involved, it is by necessity a framework; it cannot determine every detail now, as to do so would limit our flexibility to adapt as circumstances change, as well as our ambition in the face of such change. As a framework document it sets in train a process by which more detailed planning documents must follow: spatial planning, infrastructure planning, social and economic planning. It also outlines certain principles that these plans will have to follow, for example around sustainability, creativity and community. Too often in the past our policies and actions have sought to elevate one idea over another; they have even in some instances pitted one area against the other. Our ambition is to create a single vision, a shared set of goals for every community across the country. These goals are expressed in this Framework as National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs). They are our shared successes which we believe this plan will deliver. The Vision 10Project Ireland 2040 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

3. Page 13

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   1.2 Making the Vision a Reality We set about achieving our vision by: developing a new region-focused strategy for managing growth; linking this to a new 10-year investment plan, the Project Ireland 2040 National Development Plan 2018-2027; using state lands for certain strategic purposes; supporting this with strengthened, more environmentally focused planning at local level; and backing the framework up in law with an Independent Office of the Planning Regulator. A New Strategy for Managing Growth From an administrative and planning point of view, Ireland is divided in to three regions: the Northern and Western, Southern, and Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly areas. We need to manage more balanced growth between these three regions because at the moment Dublin, and to a lesser extent the wider Eastern and Midland area, has witnessed an overconcentration of population, homes and jobs. We cannot let this continue unchecked and so our aim is to see a roughly 50:50 distribution of growth between the Eastern and Midland region, and the Southern and Northern and Western regions, with 75% of the growth to be outside of Dublin and its suburbs. More balanced growth also means more concentrated growth. We have five cities in Ireland today in terms of population size (>50,000 people): Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. In our plan we are targeting these five cities for 50% of overall national growth between them, with Ireland’s large and smaller towns, villages and rural areas accommodating the other 50% of growth. Of course, our five cities are not evenly distributed across our three regions. The Northern and Western region, as well as part of the Midlands, are located beyond the hinterland of cities. As such, Sligo and Athlone fulfil regional roles to a greater extent than elsewhere. Furthermore, our close relationship with Northern Ireland must be taken into account by recognising the key links between Letterkenny and Derry, and Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry. A major new policy emphasis on renewing and developing existing settlements will be required, rather than continual expansion and sprawl of cities and towns out into the countryside, at the expense of town centres and smaller villages. The target is for at least 40% of all new housing to be delivered within the existing builtup areas of cities, towns and villages on infill and/or brownfield sites. The rest of our homes will continue to be delivered at the edge of settlements and in rural areas. 11Project Ireland 2040 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

4. Page 14

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   A New 10-year National Development Plan The National Planning Framework is published together with a 10-year national investment plan as one vision – Project Ireland 2040, meaning that implementation of the Framework will be fully supported by the Government’s investment strategy for public capital investment and investment by the State sector in general. This investment is outlined in the companion document, the National Development Plan (NDP), and details key projects that will make our plans a reality. As part of this investment, a dedicated €3 Billion Regeneration and Development Fund will be put in place to drive and support the aims of the National Planning Framework, for both urban and rural areas. The Regeneration and Development Fund will support the key principles of strategic growth and renewal across our communities. This will be a competitive fund, whereby regional and local authorities and other agencies may bid to leverage public investment. Two separate rural and urban strands will operate within one overall Fund, meaning places like Newcastle West will not be competing for funding with Limerick City, to give one example. Using State Lands for Strategic Purposes The State, through local authorities, Government Departments and agencies and State companies, owns key parts of our cities and towns. The development of these lands will play a vital role in re-imagining and reshaping those urban areas, providing the homes, places of work and recreation that we need. In the context of the overall management of the development potential of State lands to support implementation of the National Planning Framework, a new national Regeneration and Development Agency will be established to work with local authorities, public bodies and the business community, harnessing public lands as catalysts to stimulate regeneration and wider investment. Strengthened and more Environmentally Focused Planning at Local Level The future planning and development of our communities at local level will be refocused to tackle Ireland’s higher than average carbon-intensity per capita2 and enable a national transition to a competitive low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050, through harnessing our country’s prodigious renewable energy potential. We will introduce more strategic and co-ordinated planning of our cities and large towns across local authority boundaries, including statutorily backed Metropolitan Area Strategic Plans in the five cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. A new streamlined and integrated planning process will be introduced to more effectively manage our marine areas and land-sea interface to double the economic value we gain from our ocean wealth by 2030, and by more beyond that. Backed by Legislation and an Independent Office of the Planning Regulator The National Planning Framework will be given full legislative support within the planning system, including regular review and update, to reflect changing circumstances and make adjustments where necessary. For each of the three regions, the Regional Assemblies will prepare their own strategy in accordance with the Framework set by the NPF. These will be completed by early 2019 and will be known as Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies. County and City Development Plan review cycles will then fall in to line with their respective regional strategies, ensuring that the shared vision is carried through to the local planning level. The planning legislation underpinning the National Planning Framework will also lead to the creation of a new independent Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR), which will be responsible for monitoring implementation of the NPF. 12Project Ireland 2040 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

5. Page 15

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   National Planning Framework and its National Strategic Outcomes and Priorities of the National Development Plan National Strategic Outcomes 6. High-Quality International Connectivity 8. Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society 10. Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services 9. Sustainable Management of Water, Waste and other Environmental Resources 5. A Strong Economy supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills 4. Sustainable Mobility 1. Compact Growth 2. Enhanced Regional Accessibility 3. Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities 7. Enhanced Amenity and Heritage Housing and Sustainable Urban Development Rural Development Environmentally Sustainable Public Transport Airports and Ports Water Infrastructure National Road Network Enterprise, Skills and Innovation Capacity Culture, Heritage and Sport Climate Action Education, Health and Childcare 2 1 3 8 5 7 10 9 4 6 Strategic Investment PrioritiesProject Ireland 2040 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework 13

6. Page 16

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   1.3 Shared Goals – Our National Strategic Outcomes Our ambition is to create a single vision, a shared set of goals for every community across the country. These goals are expressed in this Framework as National Strategic Outcomes. They are the shared benefits which we believe this plan will deliver if implemented according to the objectives above. Compact Growth Carefully managing the sustainable growth of compact cities, towns and villages will add value and create more attractive places in which people can live and work. All our urban settlements contain many potential development areas, centrally located and frequently publicly owned, that are suitable and capable of re-use to provide housing, jobs, amenities and services, but which need a streamlined and co-ordinated approach to their development, with investment in enabling infrastructure and supporting amenities, to realise their potential. Activating these strategic areas and achieving effective density and consolidation, rather than more sprawl of urban development, is a top priority. Enhanced Regional Accessibility A co-priority is to enhance accessibility between key urban centres of population and their regions. This means ensuring that all regions and urban areas in the country have a high degree of accessibility to Dublin, as well as to each other. Not every route has to look east and so accessibility and connectivity between places like Cork and Limerick, to give one example, and through the Atlantic Economic Corridor to Galway as well as access to the North-West is essential. Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities Rural areas play a key role in defining our identity, in driving our economy and our highquality environment and must be a major part of our country’s strategic development to 2040. In addition to the natural resource and food sector potential as traditional pillars of the rural economy, improved connectivity, broadband and rural economic development opportunities are emerging which offer the potential to ensure our countryside remains and strengthens as a living and working community. Sustainable Mobility In line with Ireland’s Climate Change mitigation plan, we need to progressively electrify our mobility systems moving away from polluting and carbon intensive propulsion systems to new technologies such as electric vehicles and introduction of electric and hybrid traction systems for public transport fleets, such that by 2040 our cities and towns will enjoy a cleaner, quieter environment free of combustion engine driven transport systems. A Strong Economy, supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills This will depend on creating places that can foster enterprise and innovation and attract investment and talent. It can be achieved by building regional economic drivers and by supporting opportunities to diversify and strengthen the rural economy, to leverage the potential of places. Delivering this outcome will require the coordination of growth and place making with investment in world class infrastructure, including digital connectivity, and in skills and talent to support economic competiveness and enterprise growth. High-Quality International Connectivity This is crucial for overall international competitiveness and addressing opportunities and challenges from Brexit through investment in our ports and airports in line with sectoral priorities already defined through National Ports Policy and National Aviation Policy and signature projects such as the second runway for Dublin Airport and the Port of Cork - Ringaskiddy Redevelopment. 14Project Ireland 2040 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

7. Page 17

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   Enhanced Amenities and Heritage This will ensure that our cities, towns and villages are attractive and can offer a good quality of life. It will require investment in well-designed public realm, which includes public spaces, parks and streets, as well as recreational infrastructure. It also includes amenities in rural areas, such as national and forest parks, activity-based tourism and trails such as greenways, blueways and peatways. This is linked to and must integrate with our built, cultural and natural heritage, which has intrinsic value in defining the character of urban and rural areas and adding to their attractiveness and sense of place. Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society The National Climate Policy Position establishes the national objective of achieving transition to a competitive, low carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. This objective will shape investment choices over the coming decades in line with the National Mitigation Plan and the National Adaptation Framework. New energy systems and transmission grids will be necessary for a more distributed, renewables-focused energy generation system, harnessing both the considerable on-shore and off-shore potential from energy sources such as wind, wave and solar and connecting the richest sources of that energy to the major sources of demand. Sustainable Management of Water, Waste and other Environmental Resources Ireland has abundant natural and environmental resources such as our water sources that are critical to our environmental and economic wellbeing into the future. Conserving and enhancing the quality of these resources will also become more important in a crowded and competitive world as well as our capacity to create beneficial uses from products previously considered as waste, creating circular economic benefits. Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services Good access to a range of quality education and health services, relative to the scale of a region, city, town, neighbourhood or community is a defining characteristic of attractive, successful and competitive places. Compact, smart growth in urban areas and strong and stable rural communities will enable the enhanced and effective provision of a range of accessible services. 15Project I reland 2 0 40 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

8. Page 18

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   1.4 What Happens If We Do Nothing? The report of an Expert Group that reviewed the NSS in 20143 clearly advised that: “While Dublin is at the forefront of international competition for mobile, inward investment, the potential of other locations must be harnessed; As the expertise that is needed to compete successfully internationally, together with supporting services and the increasingly important cultural offering, tends to concentrate in major urban centres, each part of Ireland needs to provide the opportunity for focused development; Without this focus and concentration, the wider area may suffer potentially irreversible decline, and failure to optimise regional performance will result in unsustainable pressures on Dublin, with national performance suffering as a result, The need for greater locational focus is matched by major resource constraints, which means that priority must be given to investments which produce the greatest cultural, economic, environmental or social benefits”. Learning from the Past – the 2002 National Spatial Strategy The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) was published in 2002 as a 20-year spatial plan to guide and direct future development and investment. Much of the focus on the document was on which cities and towns were designated as ‘gateways’ or ‘hubs’ to drive growth and build scale in their surrounding regions and localities. This gave rise to a perception of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ that undermined the objectives that the NSS was seeking to achieve. The NSS was further weakened by proposals regarding decentralisation of the public service in 2004 that had little regard to the Strategy set out and effectively signalled limited adherence at government level, which had subsequent knock-on effects elsewhere. National investment didn’t follow the plan, and so it was difficult for Government policy to follow it also. The NSS was not a statutory plan with legislative backing and while it did influence the 2007-2013 National Development Plan, the subsequent economic crisis from 2008 onwards substantially undermined Ireland’s economic capacity to implement the NSS. While Dublin is at the forefront of international competition for mobile, inward investment, the potential of other locations must be harnessed 16Project Ireland 2040 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

9. Page 19

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   The analysis of the Expert Group is supported by examination of current development trends and work undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) for the NPF in projecting likely future development scenarios to 2040. This suggests that there will be:Greater distance between where people live and where people work, notwithstanding changes in technology, as many businesses are increasingly drawn to create the employment opportunities of the future in close proximity in urban areas.n ongoing shi[ in population and jobs towards the east and to the counties around Dublin in particular. degraded environment with, the loss of farmland and habitat to predominantly greenfield development and increased risk of groundwater pollution.Stagnation of inner city and older suburban areas, with missed opportunities for the utilisation of existing infrastructure and services.Further decline of rural areas and towns remote from large urban centres of population.uplication of new investment in services and infrastructure in rapidly growing areas. € €Continuation of sprawling growth around but mainly outside our cities and larger towns.Social disadvantage and inequality perpetuated by geographic location.Haphazard approaches to planning for infrastructure and climate action, reacting to trends rather than preparing for a low/no carbon future. 17Project Ireland 2 0 4 0 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

10. Page 20

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    When economic output and stability are measured, Ireland is firmly within the top ten countries in the world, scoring highly in terms of gross domestic product or GDP per capita4, human development5, democracy6 and foreign direct investment7 (FDI). Ireland’s comparison ranking in areas such as quality of life8 and environmental performance9 is not quite as high, placing us just within the top twenty countries in the world. Dublin is ranked outside the top thirty cities in the world for liveability10. The ESRI11 projects that the population of Ireland will increase by around one million people or by 20% over 2016 levels, to almost 5.7 million people by 2040. The population aged over 65 will more than double to 1.3 million, or to 23% of the total, whilst those aged under 15 will decrease by around 10%, with numbers remaining at just below one million in 2040. This will give rise to a need for at least an additional half a million new homes by 2040. Demand for school places is set to increase to 2025 and for third-level education places to peak in the years immediately thereafter. The ESRI is also projecting an additional 660,000 jobs to 2040. In line with international trends, the ongoing shift to a knowledge economy and the growing role of services will continue to change the nature of work, sustaining demands for a more highly skilled and educated workforce. New ways of working, new trade partners and new relationships between producers and consumers will continue to transform the business landscape. Some Key Facts and FiguresWhen economic output and stability are measured, Ireland is firmly within the top ten countries in the world, scoring highly in terms of gross domestic product or GDP per capita4, human development5, democracy6 and foreign direct investment7 (FDI).Ireland’s comparison ranking in areas such as quality of life8 and environmental performance9 is not quite as high, placing us just within the top twenty countries in the world.Dublin is ranked outside the top thirty cities in the world for liveability10.The ESRI11 projects that the population of Ireland will increase by around one million people or by 20% over 2016 levels, to almost 5.7 million people by 2040.The population aged over 65 will more than double to 1.3 million, or to 23% of the total, whilst those aged under 15 will decrease by around 10%, with numbers remaining at just below one million in 2040.This will give rise to a need for at least an additional half a million new homes by 2040.Demand for school places is set to increase to 2025 and for third-level education places to peak in the years immediately thereafter.The ESRI is also projecting an additional 660,000 jobs to 2040. In line with international trends, the ongoing shift to a knowledge economy and the growing role of services will continue to change the nature of work, sustaining demands for a more highly skilled and educated workforce.New ways of working, new trade partners and new relationships between producers and consumers will continue to transform the business landscape. +20%TOP 10 TOP 20 +100% -10% H U M A N D E V EL O P M E N T D E M O C RA C Y GDP FDI 18Project Ireland 2040 | Building Ireland’s Future | National Planning Framework

Source Government of Ireland: Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (February 2018) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.