Regional strategy (RSES) · Eastern and Midland Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2019–2031
The regional strategy for the Eastern and Midland Region, including the Dublin Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan.
Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly · June 2019 · 244 pages
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- REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES: Water Supply RPO 10.1: Local authorities shall include proposals in development plans to ensure the efficient and sustainable use and development of water resources and water services infrastructure in order to manage and conserve water resources in a manner that supports a healthy society, economic development requirements and a cleaner environment. RPO 10.2: EMRA supports the delivery of the strategic water services projects set out in Table 10.1, subject to appropriate environmental assessment and the planning process. RPO 10.3: The Regional Assembly and local authorities shall liaise and cooperate with Irish Water to ensure the delivery of Irish Water’s Investments and other relevant investment works programme of Irish Water that will provide infrastructure to increase capacity to service settlements in accordance with the settlement strategy of the RSES and local authority core strategies, and provide for long term solutions for waste water treatment for the Region. RPO 10.4: Support Irish Water and the relevant local authorities in the Region to reduce leakage, minimising demand for capital investment. RPO 10.5: Work closely with Irish Water to revise the Draft Investment Plan (2020-2024) and subsequent investment plans to align the supply of water services with the settlement strategy and objectives of the EMRA Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. RPO 10.6 Delivery and phasing of services shall be subject to the required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes and shall avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of the Natura 2000 network. RPO 10.7: Local authority core strategies shall demonstrate compliance with DHPLG Water Services Guidelines for local authorities and demonstrate phased infrastructure – led growth that is commensurate with the carrying capacity of water services and prevent adverse impacts on the integrity of water dependent habitats and species within the Natura 2000 network. RPO 10.8: Encourage the development of a new rural settlement investment approach, coordinating Irish Water, local authority, developer and community led solutions to ensuring that sustainable water services solutions are progressively implemented. RPO 10.9: Local authorities and Irish Water should work together to examine significant raw water sources which may be made redundant by the Water Supply Project for the Eastern and Midlands Region with a view to reserving and protecting them for future back up or ‘windfall’ type economic development opportunities where high water use is required. 221Infrastructure
- Urban Waste Water Treatment The Greater Dublin Drainage Project aims to provide drainage infrastructure to support the continued development of the Greater Dublin Area. The project aims to provide long term sustainable wastewater drainage and treatment. The elimination of untreated discharges from settlements in the short term, while planning strategically for longterm growth and taking account of the requirements of the Urban WW Directive should underpin the approach to waste water treatment in the Region. As with the approach to water supply, EMRA supports the development of a new rural settlement investment approach, coordinating Irish Water, local authority, developer and community led solutions to ensure that sustainable water services solutions are progressively implemented in the Region. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES: Waste Water Treatment RPO 10.10: Support Irish Water and the relevant local authorities in the Region to eliminate untreated discharges from settlements in the short term, while planning strategically for long term growth in tandem with Project Ireland 2040 and in increasing compliance with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive from 39% today to 90% by the end of 2021, to 99% by 2027 and to 100% by 2040. RPO 10.11: EMRA supports the delivery of the waste water infrastructure set out in Table 10.2, subject to appropriate environmental assessment and the planning process. RPO 10.12: Development plans shall support strategic wastewater treatment infrastructure investment and provide for the separation of foul and surface water networks to accommodate the future growth of the Region. RPO 10.13: EMRA shall support appropriate options for the extraction of energy and other resources from sewerage sludge in the Region. RPO 10.14: EMRA supports the servicing of rural villages (serviced sites) to provide an alternative to one-off housing in the countryside, in line with RPO 4.78. Table 10.2: Waste Water Infrastructure The Greater Dublin Drainage Project The Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant Project The Athlone Main Drainage Project The Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme 222 Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy
- Surface Water 77 https://www.susdrain.org/delivering-suds/using-suds/background/sustainable-drainage.html) Approaches to manage surface water that take account of water quantity (flooding), water quality (pollution), biodiversity (wildlife and plants) and amenity are collectively referred to as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). SuDS mimic nature and typically manage rainfall close to where it falls thereby reducing the risk of fluvial and pluvial flooding and can be regarded as a sequence of management practices, control structures and strategies designed to efficiently and sustainably drain surface water, while minimising pollution and managing the impact on water quality of local water bodies77. Flood mitigation measures also seek to mitigate adverse potential impacts of climate change such as sea level rise, more intense rainfall with wetter winters and warmer summers. SuDS can play a role in reducing and managing runoff from new developments to surface water drainage systems, reducing the impact of such developments on flood risk downstream, as well as improving water quality and contributing to local amenity. The incorporation of the principle of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs) in all public and private developments in urban areas is recommended as is the need for diversion of storm water from combined sewers where possible in order to overcome challenges in relation to management of surface water and its separation from foul sewage. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES: Surface Water RPO 10.15: Support the relevant local authorities (and Irish Water where relevant) in the Region to improve storm water infrastructure to improve sustainable drainage and reduce the risk of flooding in the urban environment and in the development and provision at a local level of Sustainable Urban Drainage solutions. RPO 10.16: Implement policies contained in the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS), including SuDS. RPO 10.17: Implement the specific recommendations of the GDSDS in relation to Climate Change Regional Drainage Policies for all relevant developments within the Region. RPO 10.18: Local authorities shall ensure adequate surface water drainage systems are in place which meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and the associated River Basin Management Plans. GUIDING PRINCIPLES The following Guiding Principles for SuDs shall be incorporated into development plans and LAPs: • Include policies and actions to encourage the integration of ‘soft’ measures including SuDs, green space, Green Infrastructure and permeable surfaces in the design of drainage and sustainable water management of existing and future developments. • Identify areas where SuDS will or may be required to be incorporated. • Include objectives requiring the use of SuDS in public and private developments in urban areas, both within developments and within the public realm to minimise and limit the extent of hard surfacing and paving and require the use of sustainable drainage techniques for new development or for extensions to existing developments, in order to reduce the potential impact of existing and predicted flooding risks. • Take opportunities to enhance biodiversity and amenity and to ensure the protection of environmentally sensitive sites and habitats, including where flood risk management measures are planned. Plans and projects that have the potential to negatively impact on Natura 2000 sites should be subject to the requirements of the Habitats Directive. • Encourage the use of Green Roofs where expansive roofs are proposed such as industrial, apartment, civic, commercial, leisure and educational buildings, and non-porous surfacing to create safe places. • Seek to reduce the extent of hard surfacing and paving as well as requiring the use of sustainable drainage techniques. Where possible, consideration should be given to measures that have benefits for both WFD and flood risk management objectives, such as natural water retention measures, and also for biodiversity and potentially other objectives. 223Infrastructure
- 10.3 Energy A secure and resilient supply of energy is critical to a well-functioning region, being relied upon for heating, cooling, and to fuel transport, power industry, and generate electricity. With projected increases in population and economic growth, the demand for energy is set to increase in the coming years. In the context of a move towards a more energy-efficient society and an increase in renewable sources of energy, there is a need to set a policy approach which will address an increased demand for indigenous resources and increased security of supply. Overreliance on non-indigenous supplies of energy is still a major issue for the Region. To meet our energy targets, we need to better leverage natural resources to increase our share of renewable energy. There is an established tradition of energy production in the Midland counties by state agencies, however national environmental policies are dictating the wind down of traditional fossil fuel powered stations, such as peat fired power plants in these counties. (Refer to Chapter 7 Environment and Climate in relation to renewable energy). The main energy networks serving the Region are electricity and gas. Having regard to projected population growth and economic growth in the Region it is important that the existing electricity and gas networks can be upgraded to provide appropriate capacity to facilitate development of the Region. Improving energy efficiency is vital in order to reduce energy consumption while improving economic growth. The roll-out of Smart Grids to support Smart Cities development is supported to advance this sector. Increased connectivity with other grids is also needed and projects such as the North South interconnector are of great importance for the Region. See relevant policy supports in relation to Smart technologies in Chapter 6 Economy and Employment and Chapter 7 Environment and Climate. The diversification of our energy production systems away from fossil fuels and towards green energy such as wind, wave, solar and biomass, together with smart energy systems and the conversion of the built environment into both generator/consumer of energy and the electrification of transport fleets will require the progressive and strategic development of a different form of energy grid. The development of onshore and offshore renewable energy is critically dependent on the development of enabling infrastructure including grid facilities to bring the energy ashore and connect to major sources of energy demand. It is also necessary to ensure more geographically focused renewables investment to minimise the amount of additional grid investment required, for example through co-location of renewables and associated grid connections. The Dublin Region is the major load centre on the Irish electricity transmission system. Approximately one third of total demand is located here, similarly the Eastern Region is a major load centre on the Irish transmission system. The main urban demand centres are composed of a mix of residential, commercial and industrial demand, which is expected to grow up to 2025 and beyond. Developing the grid in the Region will enable the transmission system to safely accommodate more diverse power flows from renewable generation and also to facilitate future growth in electricity demand. These developments will strengthen the grid for all electricity users, and in doing so will improve the security and quality of supply. This is particularly important if the Region is to attract high technology industries that depend on a reliable, high quality, electricity supply. CASE STUDY: CODEMA Codema is Dublin’s Energy Agency, providing advice and support for the four local authorities in the Dublin Region in ensuring their own sustainable energy use. Codema is also engaging with EU and SEAI funded energy programmes to promote innovation in the region. An increasingly important role is to increase energy awareness among citizens and energy stakeholders, thus providing a comprehensive local and regional service for energy and climate change. Examples of Codema’s work include Climate Change action planning, district heating system planning, energy performance contracting, management of European projects, energy saving behavioural campaigns, and detailed energy reviews. 224 Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy
- Future Electricity and Gas Supply and Demand Support for the development of a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity and the development of enhanced electricity networks as well as new transmission infrastructure projects that might be brought forward in the lifetime of this plan under EirGrid’s (2017) Grid Development Strategy will serve the existing and future needs of the Region and strengthen all-island energy infrastructure and interconnection capacity. GUIDING PRINCIPLES Local authority development plans shall facilitate the provision of energy networks in principle based on the following guiding principles and considerations: • The development is required in order to facilitate the provision or retention of significant economic or social infrastructure. • The route proposed has been identified with due consideration for social, environmental and cultural impacts and address issues of climate resilience, biodiversity, impact on soils and water quality. • The design is such that it will achieve least environmental impact. • Where impacts are inevitable mitigation features have been included. • Where it can be shown that the proposed development is consistent with international best practice with regard to materials and technologies and that it will ensure a safe, secure, reliable, economic and efficient high-quality network. • In considering facilities of this nature that traverse a number of counties or that traverse one county in order to serve another, planning authorities should consider the proposal in light of the criteria outlined above. It is important that planning authorities are engaged in early consultation and discussion with the relevant Transmission System Operator. • Corridors for energy transmission or pipelines should avoid creating sterile lands proximate to key public transport corridors, particularly rail routes, and in built up urban areas. • Regard for any National or Regional Landscape/ Seascape Character Assessment. 225Infrastructure
- The following Regional Policy Objectives are outlined to ensure the development of the energy networks in a safe and secure way to meet projected demand levels, to meet Government Policy, to ensure a long-term, sustainable and competitive energy future for Ireland and enable energy service providers to deliver their statutory function. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES: Energy Infrastructure RPO 10.19: Support roll-out of the Smart Grids and Smart Cities Action Plan enabling new connections, grid balancing, energy management and micro grid development. RPO 10.20: Support and facilitate the development of enhanced electricity and gas supplies, and associated networks, to serve the existing and future needs of the Region and facilitate new transmission infrastructure projects that might be brought forward in the lifetime of this Strategy. This Includes the delivery of the necessary integration of transmission network requirements to facilitate linkages of renewable energy proposals to the electricity and gas transmission grid in a sustainable and timely manner subject to appropriate environmental assessment and the planning process. RPO 10.21: Support an Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) as a key priority for Ireland. RPO 10.22: Support the reinforcement and strengthening of the electricity transmission and distribution network to facilitate planned growth and transmission/ distribution of a renewable energy focused generation across the major demand centres to support an island population of 8 million people, including: • Facilitating interconnection to Europe, particularly the ‘Celtic Interconnector’ to France and further interconnection to Europe/the UK in the longer term • Facilitating interconnection to Northern Ireland, particularly the ‘North-South Interconnector and further co-operation with relevant departments in Northern Ireland to enhance interconnection across the island in the longer term • Facilitating transboundary networks into and through the Region and between all adjacent Regions to ensure the RSES can be delivered in a sustainable and timely manner and that capacity is available at local, regional and national scale to meet future needs • Facilitate the delivery of the necessary integration of transmission network requirements to allow linkages of renewable energy proposals to the electricity transmission grid in a sustainable and timely manner • support the safeguarding of strategic energy corridors from encroachment by other developments that could compromise the delivery of energy networks. RPO 10.23: Support EirGrid’s Implementation Plan 2017 – 2022 and Transmission Development Plan (TDP) 2016 and any subsequent plans prepared during the lifetime of the RSES that facilitate the timely delivery of major investment projects subject to appropriate environmental assessment and the outcome of the planning process, in particular: • Support reinforcement of the Greater Dublin Area between Dunstown and Woodland 400 kV substations to increase the capacity of the often congested and highly loaded Dublin transmission network to enable the transmission system to safely accommodate more diverse power flows and also facilitate future load growth in the area • Support the installation of additional transformer capacity and increased circuit capacity to meet Dublin demand growth to strengthen the network for all electricity users and improve the security and quality of supply • Support the Laois-Kilkenny Reinforcement Project to strengthen the network in large parts of the Midlands and provide additional capacity for potential demand growth in the wider region and strengthen the Region’s transmission network by improving security and quality of supply and ensuring there is the potential for demand growth. RPO 10.24: Support the sustainable development of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy resources in accordance with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources ‘Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan’ and any successor thereof including any associated domestic and international grid connection enhancements. 226 Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy
- 10.4 Waste Management Waste Management Policy for the Region is contained in the Eastern and Midlands Region Waste Management Plan 2015 – 2021. The overall vision of the Regional Waste Management Plan is to rethink the approach taken towards managing waste and that waste should be seen as a valuable material resource. The Plan, through this section and Chapter 7 Environment & Climate, also supports a move towards achieving a circular economy which is essential if the Region is to make better use of resources and become more resource efficient. Waste is defined as anything that is discarded. A circular economy is one where materials are retained in use at their highest value for as long as possible and are then re-used or recycled, leaving a minimum of residual waste. This Strategy supports the move to a more circular economy as this will save resources, increase resource efficiency, and help to reduce carbon emissions. The successful implementation of circular economy principles will help to reduce the volume of waste that the Region produces and has to manage and will assist in delivering the resource efficiency ambition of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Local authorities should achieve waste reduction, increases in material re-use and recycling, and reductions in waste going for disposal. This can be achieved by complying with the strategic objectives, targets and goals set out in the Eastern – Midlands Region Waste Management Plan 2015 – 2021 and any subsequent waste management plans and promoting a more circular economy that improves resource efficiency and innovation to keep products and materials at their highest use for as long as possible. Waste minimisation and waste avoidance can be encouraged through the reuse of materials and using fewer resources in the production and distribution of products. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES: Waste Management RPO 10.25: Development plans shall identify how waste will be reduced, in line with the principles of the circular economy, facilitating the use of materials at their highest value for as long as possible and how remaining quantums of waste will be managed and shall promote the inclusion in developments of adequate and easily accessible storage space that supports the separate collection of dry recyclables and food and shall take account of the requirements of the Eastern and Midlands Region Waste Management Plan. 227Infrastructure
- 11 All Island Cohesion 11.1 Introduction The Strategy recognises the strong links between our Region and Northern Ireland and also the links with the Southern and Northern and Western Regions. With regard to Northern Ireland and notwithstanding the presence of an international border and the future uncertainty surrounding that border in light of the United Kingdom’s proposed departure from the European Union, the Regional Assembly recognises the need to work together for mutual advantage in areas such as economic development and promotion, co-ordination of social and physical infrastructure provision and environmental management. In preparing the Strategy, the Regional Assembly have engaged in collaboration with local authorities and Government agencies in Northern Ireland. Implementation of the RSES in tandem with the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) for Northern Ireland will require collaborative work which will be supported by the Framework for Co-operation on Spatial Strategies between Ireland and Northern Ireland. 228 Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy
- 11.2 Collaboration with Northern Ireland in Support of an All Island Approach In the context of ongoing North-South cooperation across a wide range of policy areas, there are three key areas of practical co-operation between relevant departments and local authorities in Ireland and Northern Ireland that will both support and be supported by the implementation of both the NPF and the RSES. These relate to economic development, investment in infrastructure and environmental management. Dublin – Belfast Economic Corridor The Dublin – Belfast Economic Corridor, as the largest economic agglomeration on the island of Ireland, is identified in this Strategy as a regional growth enabler. The Corridor comprises a nationally important spine connecting the two largest settlements on the island of Ireland via the regional centres of Drogheda, Dundalk and Newry. The Corridor is underpinned by a strong presence of transport infrastructure connecting Dublin and Belfast. The regional centres of Drogheda and Dundalk have the potential to form part of a sustainable network of centres of scale, including Newry, connected by public transport within the Region and within the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor. The location of Dundalk and Drogheda provides for enhanced cross-border interactions which if promoted can help to realise the growth potential of Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry as an important cross-border network for regional development. This Strategy supports a drive in the linkage between Dundalk and Newry to strengthen a cross border synergy in services and functions between these towns, to ensure that drivers and policy are complimentary and not competing and for these two towns to continue an approach to shared services and interlinked growth. The Corridor is also the national entry point to the island through its airports and ports with three major airports, Dublin Airport, Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport, and significant ports in Belfast and Dublin, with complimentary ports along the Corridor. This needs to be supported through targeted investment in transport infrastructure and services in connecting major urban centres and international gateways, complementing and maintaining its function as part of the EU TEN-T core network, that sees All-Ireland linkages to Cork, whilst the Dublin- Belfast Economic corridor also provides separate linkages onto the Dublin-Rosslare Corridor, see Figure 11.1. 229All Ireland Cohesion
- Figure 11.1: TEN – T Core Network (North Sea – Mediterranean). Source: ec.europa.eu The Dublin- Belfast Economic Corridor has the capacity to provide the only potential paired city growth pole on the Island of scale - reaching a European benchmark 5 million population target to compete with similar city regions in the EU. The imperative to counteract BREXIT with a proactive spatial economic policy adds to the international significance of the Corridor, see also Chapter 6 Economy and Employment. The Strategy promotes the strategic function of the Dublin to Belfast Economic Corridor as a driver for regional economic development within the EMRA area. Investment in Transport, Energy and Communications Infrastructure This strategy supports the co-operation with relevant departments in Northern Ireland to provide for enhanced transport connectivity between Ireland and Northern Ireland, to include crossborder road and rail, cycling and walking routes, as well as blueways, greenways and peatways. The need for a new interconnector between the electricity grids of Northern Ireland and Ireland has been identified by the Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive as a project of common interest. Future enhancement of energy security and resilience to support a population of 8 million people will be supported through progression of further north-south interconnection of electricity grids. The South-North gas pipeline, enhanced East- West interconnection between the island, wider UK and European gas networks and ongoing work to harmonise gas transmission arrangements on the island support meeting EU requirements for gas market integration. These objectives are supported in the Regional Policy Objectives (RPOs) included in this Strategy, see also Chapter 10 Infrastructure. In the information age, telecommunications networks play a crucial role in enabling social and economic activity. This RSES supports actions to strengthen communications links to develop a stable, innovative and secure digital communications and services infrastructure on an all-island basis in co-operation with relevant departments in Northern Ireland. This includes, subject to appropriate environmental assessment and the outcome of the planning process, support for further enhancement of links between the North American continent and the island of Ireland and Europe, direct access to international backbone data systems and the roll-out of appropriate public policy and investment interventions such as the National Broadband Plan. 230 Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy
Source Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly: Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2019–2031 (June 2019) · 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.