Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 2: Core Strategy

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 40 Figure 2.5 Settlement Hierarchy

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 41 Figure 2.6 Open Countryside Housing Policy Map

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 42 In assessing settlements in Offaly, several core factors have been considered, as presented in Table 2.4 below. Table 2.4: Summary of criteria utilised to develop the settlement hierarchy for Offaly 2021-2027 Data Indicator Description Rationale SCALE – Centres of scale which have the critical mass to drive growth Population (CSO 2016) Population resident within CSO defined settlement boundary Settlements with critical mass of population to drive county and regional development. % 10-year Growth rate (CSO 2006, 2016) % Growth rate between 2006- 2016 Growth rate will determine capacity for future growth. Towns that have experienced high growth rates may require additional investment in services, infrastructure and employment. NPF Designation Settlements designated for growth in the NPF include Dublin City and suburbs and Regional Growth Centres and Key Towns The NPF identifies a number of centres of scale, which have the potential to meet the critical mass to drive regional growth. These include the Key Town of Tullamore, the identification of which is based on the scale of the settlement’s population, growth rates and local ambition for sustainable compact growth including availability of serviced lands. Large town (as defined by NPF) Large towns defined by the NPF as >10,000 population and /or >2,500 jobs Large towns, as defined by the NPF, are eligible for funding under the URDF, supporting more compact and sustainable development. Tullamore, identified as a Key Town in the RSES, with a population of 14,607

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 43 (Census 2016), 8,259 jobs (Census 2016) and a jobs to resident worker ratio of 1.48. FUNCTION – Functional role and level of employment provision Functional Urban Area The total population within the ‘Functional Urban Area' (FUA) or 'hinterland' of a settlement, based on Electoral Divisions with at least 15% of the workforce within the principle urban core area (defined by the National Transport Authority methodology and derived from OECD definition). This is supplemented by AIRO mapping of FUAs for Dublin and large towns. The mapping of FUAs is useful in determining the commuter catchment or spread of the influence of that settlement. The size of the FUA, relative to the core, gives clear indications of the influence of urban centres over their surrounding hinterlands. Functional Urban Areas (FUA) mapping, provided by AIRO, have been used to inform the settlement hierarchy for Offaly. Commuter trips Journey times from home to place of work. Looking at commuter data for urban cores within the county and regionally, particularly commuter flows to Dublin, assists in identifying urban centres that are self-sufficient and those which are commuter focused, which in turn assists in formulating the settlement hierarchy for the county. For Offaly, apart from Tullamore, which is defined as a Key Town under the NPF, the remaining levels of the settlement hierarchy must be in line with the settlement typologies defined under the RSES, i.e. Self- Sustaining Growth Town, Self- Sustaining Town, Town, Village and Rural. Retail Hierarchy The Retail Hierarchy for Offaly is in line with the RSES and Settlement Hierarchy of the Core Strategy. Until such a time as a retail strategy for the Eastern and Midland Region is prepared as provided for under the RSES, the retail development strategy for Designated settlements provide a good retail mix as reflected in their position in the settlement hierarchy within the county and region.

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 44 the 2021-2027 Offaly County Development Plan will be informed by the provisions of the Retail Planning Guidelines 2012. Local Jobs Employment numbers within the CSO settlement boundary. Settlements with a critical mass of employment to drive regional development. Tullamore, identified as a Key Town in the NPF, has 8,259 jobs (Census 2016) and a jobs to resident worker ratio of 1.48. Jobs to resident workers ratio The number of jobs located in a settlement compared to the number of resident workers indicates the economic function of that settlement. The RSES notes that a ratio of 0.7 or above indicates a strong economic function. Designated settlements provide strong economic function for their residents and for their hinterlands. Analysis of jobs to resident workers’ ratio can assist in identifying commuter focused towns, which may require investment in local employment to further improve their economic function. Maximise proximity and connectivity between populations and locations for employment, retail, services and amenities. The formulation of the settlement hierarchy has also been cognisant that strong rural-urban interdependencies are a feature of the county and region, with positive correlations between rural economic performance and regional accessibility. HUMAN CAPITAL – Education, talent and skills attraction Higher Education Institutions Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) including Universities, Institutes of Technology and other publicly funded colleges. Economic growth is underpinned by access to skills and talent and linked to the proximity of Higher Education Institutes. Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore is a Teaching/University hospital for a number of institutions including University College Dublin and University of Limerick, acting as a strong economic driver for the

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 45 town and also providing a springboard for further linkages to existing and new med-tech businesses and research facilities. I-LOFAR - Irish Low Frequency Array (I-LOFAR), run by a consortium of Irish astrophysicists, computer engineers and data scientists, and lead by Trinity College Dublin, with partners from University College Dublin, Dublin City University, Athlone Institute of Technology, the National University of Ireland Galway, University College Cork, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and Armagh Observatory. Education Attainment Educational attainment levels of those population >15 years who have completed their education across the region. The progressive improvement in education attainment supports increased access to socio economic opportunity. HEALTHY PLACEMAKING – High quality public spaces and enhanced quality of life Community Facilities and Services Sustainable neighbourhoods require a range of community facilities, including schools, childcare, community centres, healthcare facilities, arts and culture, shops, and financial services such as credit unions and banks. Quality of life factors and placemaking are increasingly recognised as key to developing attractive places in which to invest, live, study, visit and work including access to amenities, facilities, arts, culture and heritage. The provision and extent of local services in a settlement will determine the appeal of that settlement to attract and retain a critical mass of population. Healthcare Highest level healthcare provision including Primary Care Health Centre and HSE Hospital. Access to healthcare services to support good quality of life. Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore provides an important health care function for the county and broader region. Primary Care Centres also deliver an important service for the residents of Offaly, including new

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 46 centres in Tullamore and Banagher, providing a single point of contact to the health system. Pobal HP Deprivation Index The Deprivation Index is based on three dimensions of affluence/disadvantage; demographic profile, social class composition and labour market situation and provides two statistical outputs; the Absolute Index (useful for comparing overtime) and the Relative Index Scores (providing a snapshot at a particular time). The Pobal HP Deprivation Index is the main measurement of affluence and disadvantage in Ireland. Areas with a relatively low score may require investment to improve access to social and economic opportunity and improve quality of life. Funding Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), supporting more compact and sustainable development. Leveraging of URDF funding to drive growth and improve quality of life in designated towns, including Tullamore, a Key Town, with a population of > 10,000 persons. Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), supporting job creation in rural areas, addressing de-population of rural communities and supporting improvements in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. The RRDF funding stream is applicable to the majority of settlements in Offaly, with all towns, apart from Tullamore, having populations below 10,000 persons. Town and Village Renewal scheme, the purpose of which is to revitalise towns and villages; improve the living and working environment of rural communities; and increase the potential for increased economic activity into the future. The scheme has a particular focus on towns and villages with populations less than 5,000 persons. The Town and Village Renewal scheme is an important funding stream for towns and villages in Offaly. ENTERPRISE ECOSYSTEM – Economic assets and enterprise clusters Economic Assets Higher Education Centres, Business Incubation and Innovation Centres, Technology Gateways and Research Centres, The location of strategic employment development and enterprise investment are influenced by the location of

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 47 IDA Business Parks and strategic employment development. economic assets upon which to build. A diverse local sectoral mix is a strong determinant for entrepreneurship, and therefore economic growth. Growth of an enterprise is positively affected by the size of employment in the same sector, for example, employment growth in high-tech Small - Medium Enterprises has been found to be much faster in clusters, but that the spatial scale over which the clustering benefit operates differs across sectors. Harnessing Offaly’s urban and rural based economic assets (for example, new Strategic Employment Zones for Tullamore), including natural assets (for example, peatlands), will assist in driving the economy forward and sustaining a critical mass of population in the main urban centres. CONNECTIVITY – Transport capacity, accessibility and trip profiles Public transport Proximity to high quality public transport (train and bus) Transport infrastructure influences people by determining the places in which they both live and work. Dispersed settlement patterns present challenges in relation to service provision, accessibility and rural isolation while compact settlements are more efficient in terms of provision of public transport, greenways and cycleways, which can enhance areas, contributing to liveable places. Access to transport infrastructure influences the location of housing and employment growth, with compact settlements more efficient in terms of maximising returns on transport investment. Rail and bus services / connections, greenway

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 48 infrastructure, and walking / cycling permeability within a settlement are key considerations. Mode Share % Mode share of work and education trips (Origin) by Active Travel (walk, cycle), Public Transport (Bus, train, DART, LUAS), Car (driver, passenger). Eastern and Midland Region averages: active travel (21%), Public transport (14%) and Car (56%). Measurement and monitoring of the mode share split will indicate progress on achieving a shift away from private car usage to more sustainable modes of transport. Mode share data indicates the extent of car dependency in a settlement. Places that are typified by poor connectivity and lower residential and employment densities are characterised by lower rates of walking and cycling and a significantly higher rate of private car travel than their denser counterparts. NATURAL CAPITAL – Environmental capacity, sensitivities and assets (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Sensitive sites and assets Environmentally designated sites (NHA, pNHA, SPA, SAC), Listed Habitats and other sensitive/heritage sites and assets. Integration of SEA/SFRA/AA supporting the development of Green Infrastructure networks and eco-system services approach. Resource management Waste, energy and extractive industries and pollution control licences. Indicates significant resource potential of renewable energy, circular economy and the bio economy. Water Quality Compliance with Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Water Bodies Status and Risk, Compliance with UWWTD and Discharge Licences. Indicates degree of water capacity and compliance with WFD /UWWTD. Flood Risk Flood Risk Summary of settlements from SEA Environmental Report. Includes Flood Zones, constraints and measures identified in the Flood Risk Management Plan along with Future development and flood risk assessment will need to consider and address flood risk at settlement level. Zoning maps for each settlement include a ‘Constrained Land Use’

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    Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy Page 49 assessment of climate change and adaptation measures. layer, informed by empirical data on past flood events and future risk associated with climate change. INFRASTRUCTURE – Enabling infrastructure to drive regional growth Infrastructure availability and capacity Wastewater treatment plant capacity; potable water supply; roads infrastructure (including footpaths and lighting); broadband. Indicates degree of infrastructure capacity to support the targeted growth of settlements. Source: Based on the Asset Based Approach set out in Appendix A of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly Table 2.5 Settlement Hierarchy Settlement Typology Function / policy response based on RSES Settlement Key Town A large economically active county town that provides employment for its surrounding area and with high quality transport links and the capacity to act as a growth driver to complement the Regional Growth Centre of Athlone. It has potential to accommodate commensurate levels of population and employment growth facilitated by its location on high quality public transport corridors and aligned with requisite investment in services, amenities and sustainable transport. It has undergone relatively sustainable levels of growth in recent decades, where the ratio of jobs to resident workforce has remained high due to a more sustainable balance of employment and population. It shall act as an economic driver and provide for strategic employment locations to improve its economic base by increasing the ratio of jobs to workers. It requires sustainable, compact, sequential growth and urban regeneration in the town centre by consolidating the built-up footprint through a focus on regeneration and development of identified key town centre infill / brownfield sites, and encouraging regeneration of underutilised, vacant and derelict town centre lands for mixed use including residential development to facilitate population growth. Tullamore

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