Regional strategy (RSES) · Northern and Western Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020–2032
The regional strategy for the Northern and Western Region, including the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan.
Northern and Western Regional Assembly · January 2020 · 320 pages
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- REGIONAL SPATIAL AND ECONOMIC STRATEGY 2020-20321Context 1
- Context 1.1 Background This RSES provides a high-level development framework for the Northern and Western Region that supports the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the relevant economic policies and objectives of Government. It provides a 12-year strategy to deliver the transformational change that is necessary to achieve the objectives and vision of the Assembly. The NWRA is well placed to ensure that the shared vision of the NPF is carried through to a local level, as it co-ordinates not only the physical planning process but also the Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs). In addition, each public body defined in the planning act is required to ensure that their respective strategies, plans and programmes are consistent with the objectives of this strategy, thus enabling alignment to be achieved. This strategy is about delivering effective regional development for the Northern and Western Region, encompassing Connacht and the Ulster Counties of Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan. Figure 1: Map of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly Area NORTHERN AND WESTERN REGION EASTERN AND MIDLAND REGION SOUTHERN REGION N O R T H E R N I R E L A N D DONEGAL LEITRIM SLIGO CAVAN MONAGHAN ROSCOMMON MAYO GALWAYRegional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 2 1
- SLIGO & ENVIRONS MAYO CAVAN-MONAGHAN ATHLONE & ENVIRONS GALWAY CITY & ENVIRONS DONEGAL-DERRY Effective regional development for all our communities is about understanding their catchments, their potential and enabling each of them. It is about embracing the spatial development opportunities specific to each of our sub-regions (See Figure 2). Many of the region’s key strategic assets, opportunities and challenges are identified in this strategy and policy responses are designed to ensure that people’s needs, such as access to housing, jobs, education, healthcare, recreation, ease of travel and overall well-being are met sustainably. The strategy is to connect the strengths of this incredible region and celebrate its unique sense of place. Figure 2: Map of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly Sub-RegionsNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 3 1 Context
- 1.2 Policy Context UN Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty. They recognise that ending poverty is interconnected with strategies that build economic sustainability and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection and job opportunities while tackling climate change and environmental protection. The key to success of one will often involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages countries to develop national responses to the SDGs and incorporate them into planning and policy. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has lead responsibility for promoting and overseeing national implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs. This is a whole-of-government initiative where all Ministers retain responsibility for implementing the individual SDGs relating to their functions. There is inherent synergy and policy alignment between the UN SDGs and the National Planning Framework. Figure 3: UN Sustainable Development GoalsRegional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 4 1 Context
- EUROPEAN GROWTH STRATEGY The Europe 2020 strategy is the EU’s agenda for growth and jobs for the current decade to 2020. It emphasises smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as a way to overcome the structural weaknesses in Europe’s economy, improve its competitiveness and productivity and underpin a sustainable social market economy. Smart Specialisation Strategies contribute to the Europe 2020 objectives and will enable safer, greener, cleaner and more responsive growth for the benefit of all. The NWRA has been incredibly successful in leveraging financial support from Europe and is also playing a pivotal role in influencing European policy post-2020. The NWRA has fulfilled the role of Managing Authority of the Border Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme since 1999, with structural funds to the value of over €4.5 bn being successfully declared to the European Commission. It is understood that the EU funding landscape is transforming post-2020, with financial instruments, blended investments and a focus on commercial return. Through the alignment of our Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy with the EU Growth Strategy, there are significant investment and knowledge acquisition opportunities for our region. The Post 2020 Strategy shall focus on 5 priorities (Formerly referred to as thematic objectives in Europe 2020). PO1 A Smarter Europe, through innovation, digitisation, economic transformation and support to small and medium-sized businesses. PO2 A Greener, carbon-free Europe, implementing the Paris Agreement and investing in energy transition, renewables and the fight against climate change. PO3 A more Connected Europe, with strategic transport and digital networks. PO4 A more Social Europe, delivering on the European Pillar of Social Rights and supporting quality employment, education, skills, social inclusion and equal access to healthcare. PO5 A Europe closer to citizens supporting locallyled development strategies and sustainable urban development across the EU. It is anticipated that the majority of the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund investments will focus on the first two objectives.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 5 1 Context
- Figure 4: European Green Deal EU GREEN DEAL The EU Commission proposal that Europe become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 is the greatest challenge and opportunity of our time. To achieve this transformational change, the European Commission presented the European Green Deal (December 2019), the most ambitious package of measures that should enable European citizens and businesses to benefit from sustainable green transition. Measures accompanied with an initial roadmap of key policies range from ambitiously cutting emissions, to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, to preserving Europe’s natural environment. Supported by investments in green technologies, sustainable solutions and new businesses, the Green Deal can be a new EU growth strategy. Involvement and commitment of the public and all stakeholders is crucial to its success. Above all, the European Green Deal sets a path for a transition that is just and socially fair. It is designed in such a way as to leave no individual or region behind in the great transformation ahead. ALLOCATION OF FUNDING - A REGION IN TRANSITION The European Commission categorises regions based on their GDP per head of population (per capita) compared to the EU average. g Less developed regions - where GDP per inhabitant was less than 75 % of the EU average; g Transition regions - where GDP per inhabitant was between 75 % and 100 % of the EU average; and g More developed regions - where GDP per inhabitant was more than 100 % of the EU average. The GDP per capita within the Northern and Western Region has contracted and is between 75% and 100% of the EU average. As a consequence, the European Commission has reclassified the Northern and Western region of Ireland as a ‘Transition Region’. This means that for the Post 2020 (2021-2027) funding period, the region will move back from a “More Developed Region” to a “Transition Region”, highlighting that this regionRegional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 6 1 Context
- has not prospered economically compared to the more Developed Regions of Ireland and is a call to action by Government to positively discriminate in favour of this region. The implication of this movement within the context of European Structural Funds is that they provide “Positive Discrimination” towards regions that are not within the “More Developed” category, as they are designed to counter any imbalance among regions. This provides the Northern and Western Region greater opportunity through more flexible funding opportunities, better financing rates and greater funding levels Post 2020 to use EU Structural funds as a means to “Positively Discriminate” to help develop our Region, as a Smart, Inclusive, Green and Connected Region. PROJECT IRELAND 2040 The National Planning Framework (NPF) and the National Development Plan (NDP) are the two pillars of Project Ireland 2040, setting out a shared vision for coordinated planning and investment, linking national spatial development priorities and enhancement of our Infrastructure. Project Ireland 2040 is the government’s long-term overarching strategy to make Ireland a better country for all of us. It is about doing things differently. We have changed how we invest in public infrastructure in Ireland, moving away from the approach of the past which saw public investment spread too thinly and investment decisions which didn’t align with a clearly thought out and defined strategy. By 2040 it is estimated that there will be almost an additional million people living in Ireland. This population growth will require hundreds of thousands of new jobs and new homes. This region has a targeted population growth to more than 1 million people, 180,000 more than in 2016, and an employment uplift of 115,000 is targeted to bring the total in employment to approximately 450,000. Project Ireland 2040 is committed to the delivery of the NPF as a blueprint for spatial planning in Ireland to 2040, with the National Development Plan supporting the delivery of the Ten National Strategic Outcomes of the NPF out to 2027. The National Strategic Outcomes (NSO) are the tools which the NPF will use to deliver its goals. 1. 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. Activating centrally located development areas and achieving effective density and consolidation is a top priority. 2 . ENHANCED REGIONAL ACCESSIBILITY A co-priority is to enhance accessibility between key urban centres of population and their regions. This means ensuring that all parts of the region have a high degree of accessibility to Dublin, as well as to each other. 3. STRENGTHENED RURAL ECONOMIES AND COMMUNITIES Rural areas play a key role in defining our identity, in driving our economy and our high- quality environment and must be a major part of our country’s strategic development. 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. 4. 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. TEN NATIONAL STRATEGIC OUTCOMESNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 7 1 Context
- 5. 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, enabling our cities and towns to enjoy a cleaner, quieter environment. 6. 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 placemaking with investment in world-class infrastructure, including digital connectivity, and in skills and talent to support economic competitiveness and enterprise growth. 7. 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 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. 8. TRANSITION TO LOW CARBON AND CLIMATE RESILIENT SOCIETY The National Climate Policy Po s i t i o n e s t a b l i s h e s t h e national objective of achieving a transition to a competitive, low carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. This objective will shape investment choices over the coming decades. 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. 9. SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER, WASTE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES The abundant natural and environmental resources such as our water sources are critical to our environmental and economic well- being into the future. Conserving and enhancing the quality of these resources will 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. 10. 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. TEN NATIONAL STRATEGIC OUTCOMES (Continued)Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 8 1 Context
- NORTHERN AND WESTERN REGIONAL ASSEMBLY AREA EASTERN AND MIDLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY AREA SOUTHERN REGIONAL ASSEMBLY AREA -0.5% GALWAY SLIGO ATHLONE LETTERKENNY LIMERICK CORK WATERFORD DUBLIN DROGHEDA DUNDALK NEWRY BELFAST DERRY/ LONDONDERRY N O R T H E R N I R E L A N D 1.3 NPF: RSES In terms of spatial planning, Ireland is divided into three regions: The Northern and Western; the Southern; and the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly areas. It is the role of the Regional Assemblies to provide leadership and to identify regional development objectives and coordinating initiatives that support the delivery and implementation of national planning and economic policy. This is primarily achieved through the preparation and implementation of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) that are bespoke to the region and provide a focus around the various National Policy Objectives and National Strategic Outcomes of the NPF. The Regional Policy Objectives (RPO) contained within this document are synonymous with regional development objectives. WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN REGION It has to be recognised that some strategic alternatives have already been considered and decided upon as part of the higher-level planning already undertaken for the NPF. These higher-level decisions have set the framework for the RSES to follow and the RSES has been fully informed by the environmental assessments that have been undertaken in the development of this strategy. Figure 5: Ireland’s Regions and CitiesNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 9 1 Context
- The key issue addressed in the NPF for the three regions is where best to plan for our growing population and employment. It provides for: g Ireland’s Three Regions: Targeting a level of growth in the Northern and Western and Southern regions combined, to at least equal that of the Eastern and Midland region. g Ireland’s Cities: By 2040, 50% of new homes are to be located within the 5 Cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. g Compact Growth: 40% of future housing development is set to be within the existing footprint of built-up areas, making better use of underutilised land and buildings, including infill and brownfield properties. It will use the footprints established in 2016 census as a baseline for measurement purposes. g Ireland’s Rural Fabric: Reversing town/village and rural decline, by encouraging new roles and functions for buildings, streets and sites. g Ireland’s Capital: Supporting the future growth and success of Dublin as Ireland’s leading global city of scale. Our five cities are not evenly distributed across our three regions and the Northern and Western Region is recognised as having a weak urban structure, with Galway being the only city within our region. However, it is acknowledged that Sligo, Letterkenny and Athlone fulfil city-like roles to a greater extent than elsewhere and that they perform as regional drivers that have the potential to grow as centres of scale. For this region, a regional differentiator is our proximity to Northern Ireland and the opportunity presented through the development of the North West City Region, focused on Derry City, Letterkenny and Strabane. Furthermore, there are several key towns and other locations across the region that present regionally significant opportunities for growth that needs to be identified and unlocked. STRATEGIC PLANS FOR METROPOLITAN AREAS AND REGIONAL GROWTH CENTRES All five cities in Ireland incorporate more than one local authority area, with the metropolitan area of Dublin covering all or part of the area of seven local authorities. The multiplicity of plans addressing the individual and specific requirements of local authorities makes co-ordination of strategic development challenging and as a consequence strategic plans for the five metropolitan areas are provided within the three RSESs. As part of this RSES, a co-ordinated Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) is prepared for Galway Metropolitan area and it provides a framework for development plans and investment prioritisation over the plan period. In the same way that the NPF requires Metropolitan Area Strategic Plans to be prepared for each of the five cities, a strategic plan that responds to the lead role of each of the Regional Growth Centres is also provided within this RSES. These consolidated plans will address a high-level strategic approach to the future of each centre. Athlone is a Regional Growth Centre that straddles both this region and the Eastern and Midlands Region. Their respective strategies have sought to bring consistency within the Regional Objectives that will inform the development of the town.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 10 1 Context
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