Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 5: Economic Development Strategy

1. Page 11

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 171 the needs of existing industry and potential investors, contributing positively to a competitive economic environment in the county. 5.5.3 Spatial Arrangement The strategy of economic development for Offaly should take into account the functional economic areas that are within the county. The Key Town of Tullamore and the large towns in the county, Birr, Edenderry and Portarlington, command their own catchment areas and will be suitable for larger scale enterprises. The open countryside is not uniform, with agriculture in the east of the county being different to the west and south. Tourism too varies throughout the county, with Tullamore, Birr, the Slieve Bloom Mountains, River Shannon and Clonmacnoise monastic site in the west being the main draws for tourists. The east of the county has greater potential for energy development and has closer transport links to Dublin and to the ports/airports. Tullamore and Surrounding Area Tullamore, a Key Town in the RSES (2019) must function as a driver of economic growth to complement the Regional Growth Centre of Athlone. It has a role as a major employment, retail and services centre with key assets being its existing jobs to resident workers’ ratio, excellent quality of life and future strategic development sites known as ‘Strategic Employment Zones’. The further development of the med-tech cluster on the IDA business park in Srah provides opportunity to drive development within the town. The need for complementary third level outreach facilities in Tullamore should be examined, particularly with regard to support for the Midland Regional Hospital and where appropriate, its continued development as a Teaching / University Hospital, together with potential for linkages to existing and new med-tech businesses and research facilities. Desirable economic investment for Tullamore would be in the form of green jobs and green technologies, innovation, digital technologies, circular bioeconomy, food and beverage (in particular due to its distilling heritage), advanced manufacturing, tourism, recreation and amenity and high quality town centre retail development.1 East of the county The economy of East Offaly was traditionally dependent on agriculture and peat production, however given this area’s proximity to the Dublin Metropolitan Area, a trend of commuting emerged over previous Development Plan periods. It is considered that the reservation of substantial lands for Enterprise and Employment, Industrial and Warehousing, Business / Technology Park and other employment uses within this area is appropriate and will assist in generating local employment, reducing commuter patterns and contributing to the sustainable development of this area. The Council recognises the contribution that the beneficial after use of cutaway peatlands and those lands in Bord na Móna ownership could play in providing employment opportunities within this part of County Offaly. There is potential for research and development and a higher order element associated with renewable energy in this part of the county. 1 Chapter 4 of the RSES: Section on Core Region Key Towns, Tullamore

2. Page 12

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 172 ‘West and South’ of the county The economy of West and South Offaly has traditionally been and continues to be heavily reliant on the primary sectors including agriculture, quarrying and tourism based on key asset such as the River Shannon, Lough Boora Discovery Park, Clonmacnoise monastic site, Birr Heritage Town and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Birr, Ferbane, Banagher and Kilcormac towns have particular roles in service provision for their wider rural hinterlands. The Council also acknowledges the important role in which the ceased peatlands in ownership of Bord na Móna could play in providing alternative uses and employment and subsequently in increasing the future economic growth of this area within the county. The Council also recognises that there are leveraging opportunities in big data and data analytics from Irish Low Frequency Array (I-LOFAR), which is the Birr-based Irish station in a European wide network of radio telescopes used to observe the universe at low frequencies, and in this regard the Council recognises Birr as a technology hub. 5.6 Sector-Focused Approach The Council recognises the value of existing employers in the county and will encourage and facilitate the maintenance of existing employment in the county. This will be achieved through facilitating a healthy environment for business networking and promotion and through the considered application of planning policies. The Council will also seek to promote new employment opportunities in traditional and emerging sectors. 5.6.1 Traditional Sectors Foreign-Direct Investment The Council recognises the importance of ensuring that there are adequate serviced lands throughout the county that would attract and maintain foreign direct investment. In Offaly there are a number of state-supported companies and the Council recognises the importance of these companies and acknowledge that their presence and experience in the county is crucial in attracting similar large-scale employers. In settlements throughout Offaly there are serviced sites suitable for large-scale employers and turn-key and greenfield sites available for prospective developers. Offaly County Council maintain a database of suitable sites and will engage with employment agencies and potential investors in order to identify sites for particular investment. In collaboration with the IDA, the Council will endeavour to expand on this database to identify suitably sized land banks and business premises at suitable locations in Tullamore in order to attract foreign direct investment. Start-Ups Many new employment creation opportunities are with start-up companies particularly in the technology sector. These companies are not necessarily land-use intensive and Offaly County Council consider that there is sufficient zoned land and attractive premises within our towns in particular towns that can accommodate this type of business. Where the Council can be pro-active in encouraging such start-ups is by ensuring that our urban centres are healthy and vibrant and that telecommunication infrastructure providers continue to invest in broadband throughout Offaly. Incubation units for new businesses are already a feature of our urban centres in County Offaly and

3. Page 13

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 173 the Council will work with the relevant employment agencies to ensure that appropriate business education and networking programmes are put in place to increase the support and opportunities for these new businesses in their early years and as they grow. Home Based Employment Home-based employment activity assists in dispersing enterprise activity and sustaining smaller settlements within the county. The economic benefits associated with the location of ‘start-up businesses’ within the home is recognised. The Council recognises that as businesses grow and activity intensifies to the level where additional employees, beyond the homeowner and immediate family, that they will need to relocate to more suitable premises within commercial areas of the county’s settlements. It is important that this is communicated to prospective business owners at the outset. Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) The Council acknowledges that the development of small-scale projects with long-term employment potential are important in sustaining both urban and rural settlements in County Offaly. The Council will work closely with the relevant agencies to actively promote and encourage the development of SME’s throughout the county. The Council further encourages such development within its towns and villages in particular. The Council, however, takes a proactive and flexible approach on a case-by-case basis in the identification and location of employment activity, where appropriate. Tourism The Council recognises that the tourism sector is emerging as key economic driver for the county. The county possesses a rich array of natural, built and cultural heritage including Clonmacnoise monastic site, ‘Birr Castle, Gardens and Science Centre’, Slieve Bloom Mountains, Lough Boora Discovery Park, and the River Shannon. Birr was choosen as a ‘Destination Town’ under the Government’s ‘Destination Towns’ initiative launched in 2019 by the National Tourism Development Authority. The purpose of the funding, as issued through Fáilte Ireland, is to boost the attractiveness and tourism appeal of the town. The funding will assist in measures to sustain and improve the quality of the tourist experience in the town, a benefit of which is to increase visitor numbers and also to protect and increase direct employment in tourism related businesses in the town and wider area. The Council also recognises that the Grand Canal Greenway is a valuable recreational and amenity route used by walkers and cyclists, key infrastructure to link many of the tourism and recreational sites in the county and the wider region. The Grand Canal Greenway has been serviced with free public Wi-Fi which is an innovative use of digital technology and infrastructure to deliver real, tangible benefits for local communities and visitors alike. The Council recognises the importance of continuing to extend and link in the form of a network, greenways and peatways in the interests of sustainable mobility, activity tourism, transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society, strengthening rural economies and job creation. Offaly possesses a wealth of natural resources, unique heritage and a well-developed network of market towns and villages that could be promoted at international, national and local level for increased tourism potential and create positive economic opportunities locally.

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 174 Tourism is dealt with separately in Chapter 6 Tourism and Recreational Development. 5.6.2 Emerging Sectors Remote Working / Co-Working Spaces Offaly’s central location, good connectivity and excellent quality of life make it a great place to live and work. From most parts of the county, cities like Limerick, Galway and Dublin are just an hour’s drive away. The Council recognises the need for remote working in the interests of flexible work arrangements, be it from home or from a designated hub / co-working space. Remote working reduces the need for commuting and accordingly contributes to lower carbon output. Offaly’s co-working hubs are ideal for remote workers (working one or more days away from the main office) and for those setting up or growing their own business. Examples of co-working hubs in County Offaly include ‘the Junction Business Innovation Centre’ in Tullamore (which includes hot desks, office space, business training and mentoring, and facilities for people to develop ideas and business), ‘e-hive co-working hub’ in Edenderry (which include hot desks, meeting room and canteen facilities). Also ‘stream creative suite’ in Birr, which uses big data from I-LOFAR Radio Telescope to deliver Regional STREAM Potential, where research and education meet business, all linked with the common theme of big data (and which includes hot desks, I.T. training room and meeting rooms). Portarlington Enterprise Centre on the Laois side of Portarlington provides remote working space for the wider Portarlington catchment. Figure 5.5 E-hive Co-Working Hub in Edenderry

5. Page 15

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 175 Figure 5.6 I-LOFAR Array at Birr Castle Gardens Artisan Foods Offaly has a long and strong tradition of producing high quality locally produced foods from cheeses and chocolate to organic beef. There is increasing demand for training, product development and funding for equipment. The area of artisan food is ever expanding and has potential to develop into food trails. Ferbane Food Campus is a state-of-the-art food product development and training facility, promoting smart specialisation and clustering of the food sector. It is the first timeshare production facility of its kind to be developed in the midlands. Its purpose is to give food entrepreneurs the opportunity to use a state-of-the-art kitchen, training facility and incubator units to develop their product without the prohibitive cost of maintaining their own commercial kitchen. It is operated by Ferbane Business and Technology Park Ltd which is a not-for-profit, voluntary group, whose objective is to support the creation of jobs in Ferbane and in the local region by providing infrastructure and supports to encourage business start-ups. Ferbane Food Campus was awarded national winner in the ‘Community Business Enterprise Initiatives’ category in the annual Pride of Place Awards in 2016. Medtech (Medical Technology) The synergy that exists between the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, a teaching/ university hospital, and the medtech sector is emerging as a key economic driver for Tullamore. The Council recognises and supports the strong linkages within the local economy between the hospital and the emerging med-tech sector, in which the hospital provides a springboard for further linkages to existing and new med-tech businesses and research facilities. According to the Irish Medtech Association, the medtech sector in Ireland is recognised as one of the five global emerging hubs. Green Energy Whilst Offaly has a long history of energy production related predominantly to the commercial exploitation of peatlands, national environmental policies are dictating the wind down of traditional fossil fuel powered stations and a diversification of our energy production towards green energy such

6. Page 16

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 176 as wind, solar and bioenergy. Offaly County Council recognises the potential economic benefit of a transition from fossil fuel based energy production through to investment in renewable energy, the promotion of the green enterprise sector and the creation of green collar jobs; all components of a local ‘smart green economy’. The Rhode Green Energy Park (GEP) is strategically located on the outskirts of Rhode, just 7 km from the M6 Dublin to Galway motorway. The business park has been established on the site of a former ESB Power Station and occupies approximately 5.3 ha with 13 serviced sites. The area has a strong heritage in energy production and is already home to a number of consented renewable energy generation proposals and facilities in the shape of wind, solar and flywheel battery storage. With the significant development of the business park infrastructure(s) in place and various energy related infrastructure and prospective developments nearby, Offaly County Council has identified the potential for a Green Energy Park at this location which can be a national exemplar of the transition from a historical dependency on fossil fuels to sustainable energy and energy innovation. Figure 5.7 Location of Rhode Green Energy Park Strategic Opportunities Offaly County Council has commissioned RPS Consultants to prepare an ‘Opportunity Assessment Report’ for Rhode GEP which has identified three strategic opportunity areas; 1. Energy decarbonisation/ innovation hub built around renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen gas and electricity system integration.

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 177 2. Eco-Industrial Park model whereby large-scale energy intensive employment – for example in data centres, agri-food, horticulture, bio-economy – develops around the electricity and heat resources available. 3. Educational/ Innovation/ Centre of Learning for renewables and electricity grid: to improve awareness within the community of how the energy transition is happening, for collaboration with stakeholders across the Midlands Region and to create partnerships with University and Third Level Institutions. These strategic opportunities offer considerable potential to; • develop hybrid renewable energy facilities in co-location with industries and enterprise within the Business Park and renewable energy developments in the surrounding rural area; and • provide mutual benefits and efficiencies for both energy producers and users by sharing outputs and by-products of their processes in a reliable, sustainable and cost competitive fashion and at the same time export renewable energy to the national grid to help transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient society.

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 178 Guiding Future Development of the Rhode Green Energy Park In order to maximise the potential of the Rhode GEP, the following principles should apply to the future planning of the Rhode Green Energy Park, in order to realise its potential.

9. Page 19

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 179 Table 5.3: Guiding Principles for the Rhode GEP 1. Integration/ Interconnectivity of units/ enterprises Rather than conceiving each proposal as a stand-alone unit, developers should plan for future integration with other facilities in the park, following an eco-park model. This means interconnection of electricity, a local heat network, and physical connections for transfer of other materials (circular economy co-operation). This translates as a services corridor concept within the park. This can take into account potential for future connection of external services and utilities. 2. Shared Approach – Wastewater, SUDS, offices/meeting room A more coherent and efficient park will develop if some aspects are shared; for example, a central sustainable drainage pond will avoid each plot needing its own system, a central wastewater treatment plant is preferable to several smaller units. A shared hub for office space and meeting rooms will help create co-operation and synergy between tenant companies. Offaly County Council can take a lead in this regard. 3. Design Approach/ Coherence The attractiveness and coherence of the park will benefit from a specific design guide to inform the approach on individual plots. Accordingly, it is an objective of this Plan to prepare a Design Statement for the Rhode Green Energy Park showing the developers the preferred approach to materials, colours, boundary treatment, signage etc. for individual units and sites in the Park. Until this Design Statement is prepared, developers shall as a minimum comply with the requirements of DMS-73. Individual developments will still have freedom meet their own design requirements but following overarching guidance. 4. Community Integration – Recreation, Connections and Green Infrastructure Provision The Park forms part of an informal walking loop popular with the local community. This can be strengthened and expanded, for example with connections to Midland Cycling Destination - Offaly routes in the vicinity, connections to Croghan Hill and connections with potential walking and cycling routes in nearby bogs post rehabilitation. Access to the existing walking loops in the Park should be protected during construction work where possible. It is an objective of this Plan to prepare a Green Infrastructure Masterplan for the Rhode Green Energy Park to advise developers on how to retain and enhance existing green infrastructure and to provide new green infrastructure within and around the Rhode Green Energy Park. Until this Statement is prepared, developers shall as a minimum comply with the requirements contained in DMS-72. 5. Sustainable Design Approach As part of the energy transition, the park should be developed as an exemplar of sustainability, using for instance low-carbon materials, encouraging sustainable transport, incorporating biodiversity gain, reducing impacts from lighting, and so on. It is an objective of this Plan for the Council to prepare an Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Adaptation Design Statement for the Park. Until this Statement is prepared, developers shall as a minimum comply with the requirements contained DMS-74 in Chapter 13 of this Plan in this regard. One avenue for developers to consider in this regard is to implement a sustainability standard such as CEEQUAL (for park infrastructure) or a community approach under BREEAM or LEED. 6. Technology/ WiFi zone As a landmark, pioneering energy efficient, low carbon centre of industry, the Rhode Green Energy Park would benefit from a Wi-Fi zone to facilitate collaboration spaces in the park and any academic / research ties that the park will develop. 7. Future Expansion/ Phased Growth The Council recognises that while the core area of the Rhode GEP provides several opportunities and already has operational energy facilities, some future proposals such as large scale renewable energy projects or data centres may require larger land banks adjacent to the site or in the general area. In this regard, there exists large tracts of flat peatland and transitional marginal land within

10. Page 20

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    Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 5 Economic Development Strategy Page 180 the general area of the GEP which may be capable of accommodating such complimentary developments subject to proper planning and environmental considerations and the design ethos and coherence of the park being respected. The layout should be planned to enable future connections to adjacent land. The possible need to expand infrastructure such as the electricity substation and wastewater treatment installation should also be borne in mind. Appropriate and Inappropriate Uses within the Rhode Green Energy Park Table 5.4 below which is referred to in ENTO-19 outlines appropriate uses that will be considered and inappropriate uses that will not be considered by the Planning Authority within the Rhode GEP. It should be noted that the uses identified appropriate and inappropriate in Objective ENTO-19 relating to the Rhode GEP take precedence over the acceptability or otherwise of uses which apply to ‘Industrial and Warehousing’ as contained in Table 12.1 Land Use Zoning Matrix in Chapter 12 Land Use Zoning Objectives. Table 5.4: Appropriate and Inappropriate Uses within the Rhode Green Energy Park Uses considered appropriate for the Rhode Green Energy Park Uses not considered appropriate for the Rhode Green Energy Park 1. Low Carbon Peaking Plant 2. Hydrogen Electrolyser and Storage 3. Data Centre 4. Geothermal Heat Pumps 5. Steam Reformation Plant 6. Anerobic Digester (Biogas) 7. Biofuel Production 8. Horticulture/Agrifood (Greenhouses) 9. Research and Development 10. Other uses which in the opinion of the Planning Authority are in keeping with and complementary to the strategic opportunities outlined in Section 5.6.2. 1. Batching plants 2. Fuel Depots 3. Heavy Vehicle Depots 4. Light or heavy industry not related to Green Energy or Green Innovation 5. Warehousing not related to Green Energy or Green Innovation 6. Logistics 7. Abbatoir 8. Retail wholesale outlets 9. Boarding Kennels 10. Mart/Co-operatives 11. Scrap yards 12. Service Stations 13. Veterinary surgeries 14. Other uses which in the opinion of the Planning Authority are in not in keeping with and complementary to the strategic opportunities outlined in Section 5.6.2. Necessary Infrastructure Realising the potential of Rhode GEP will require further development of enabling infrastructure provided directly from developers and from national and European funding programs. Table 5.5 below lists a range of new infrastructure and upgrades to existing infrastructure that will be required in this regard.

Source Offaly County Council: Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 5: Economic Development Strategy (2021–2027) · 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.