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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- g Prepare a joint Local Area Plan with Roscommon to deliver an integrated framework for the future development of the urban area within 3 years of the adoption of this strategy. g Support the development of the N4 By-Pass of Carrick-on-Shannon. g Support the development of a regional multisports facility in the town. g Pursue the sustainable development of the new regionally significant opportunity site to the east of the Town and contiguous to the existing land use zoning envelope for use as a data centre or alternative regionally scaled employment use following a feasibility study. Access would potentially be from a National Primary Road (outside of reduced speed limit zone) and careful consideration of options is required. In terms of Power Supply, it is considered this site is well placed, given the proximity of Flagford (220kv) and represents a regionally significant opportunity, which by its nature would be appropriately located outside an urban area, but adjacent to existing strategic employment lands.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 131Key Towns 3 People and Places
- KEY TOWN: MONAGHAN Monaghan Town occupies a strategic border location along the Dublin to Letterkenny/ Derry City corridor, and adjacent to the Dublin/Belfast eastern economic corridor. KEY FUTURE PRIORITIES g Industry, Enterprise and employment lands in the North East of the town. These lands could be connected to the national road network and their development should be integrated with the population growth and are of strategic importance for future employment in the town. g Enterprise and employment lands to the west of the town have similar characteristics to those referred to above and their development should be similarly phased. g The development of the Ulster Canal Greenway, which provides a direct sustainable transport mode of regional benefit to healthy living and economic benefit through the development of the tourism offer. g Deliver 20% of projected growth through regeneration and renewal of a significant area of the town centre. There are four specific target areas within the town centre whereby regeneration and renewal will be pursued but there are several smaller town centre sites that could also potentially become available for redevelopment.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 132Key Towns 3 People and Places
- g Population growth within Monaghan shall be targeted at delivery of compact growth and also at the cohort of the population that have historically sought to build individual houses in the countryside. Thus, a mix of housing densities and plot ratio’s shall be targeted and consideration shall be given to the difficult drumlin topography of Monaghan Town. g Support sustainable travel including the provision of cycling, walking and smart travel initiatives set out in the Monaghan Land Use and Transportation Study.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 133Key Towns 3 People and Places
- KEY TOWN: ROSCOMMON Roscommon Town is the principal town and administrative centre of the county. It is a vibrant urban area with strong retail and commercial base, displaying strengths in the service sector in particular whilst also having an industrial sector which has the potential for significant further growth. The town is strategically located in terms of the Galway MASP and Regional Centres and has the potential to develop further and have a continued positive influence and impact on its hinterland and the overall county. Important and established residential, employment and service functions give the town a status that should be reinforced and extended, providing ongoing interaction with Athlone and its catchment. KEY FUTURE PRIORITIES g Deliver residential growth in a more compact form within the existing built-up core area, looking at the town centre and public transportation corridor capacity, existing vacancy and opportunities to utilise the built heritage opportunities within the town. This shall include the facilitation of 30% of projected growth on brownfield/infill sites in the town, through the identification of infill and regeneration opportunities that incorporate innovative design solutions, including the potential amalgamation of properties.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 134Key Towns 3 People and Places
- g Identify opportunities to benefit from investment in recent times in modern incubation and innovation infrastructure for ICT and related companies. This will build upon the success of a desk-incubation facility established in the town to facilitate entrepreneurial activity. Roscommon Town is ideally placed to benefit from further expansion opportunities of this nature, with potential to provide further knowledge-focused incubation units, in various forms, to accommodate enterprise start ups and growth. Roscommon Town has further potential in the area of ICT development, subject to adequate timely provision of high-speed broadband. g Pursue the development of interlinkages between third-level institutions and off-campus locations in Roscommon Town. g Pursue the delivery of infrastructure improvements on the transport network, particularly the upgrading of the N61 national route between the Regional Centre of Athlone and Boyle Town and also potential improvements in public transport linkages, both bus and rail, between main urban centres linked to Roscommon. g Ensure availability of suitably zoned and serviced land as an important resource for further employment generation, including through the further expansion of existing enterprises, and the attraction of new enterprises. The location of the existing industrially zoned lands includes the IDA Business and Technology Park. g Good regeneration opportunities exist on various blocks of land close to the town core, including in the vicinity of Circular Road. g Highly visible lands fronting onto the N60 (Racecourse Rd) approach to the town represents a redevelopment opportunity capable of facilitating new enterprises at an easily accessible and prominent location.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 135Key Towns 3 People and Places
- KEY TOWN: TUAM The town of Tuam is 33 kilometres from Galway City centre. The recent opening of the M17/M18 motorway has brought Tuam in direct connection with Ireland West Airport Knock (40 mins), Shannon Airport (1 hr) and Limerick (1hr 15 mins), further connection to the M6 via the M17 links the town to Dublin in 2hrs 20 mins. The motorway has also provided a bypass for traffic traversing the Strategic Atlantic Economic Corridor that links the main Urban Centres of scale within the region, namely Letterkenny/Derry, Sligo, and Galway. Unemployment within the town according to the 2016 census was 12% which is higher than the national average of 8%. Tuam has strong potential to accommodate the projected growth of 30%, the town is primed in terms of available zoned employment and residential lands. As well as being a centre of education, the town centre provides a focus for commercial development as well as a variety of existing shops, restaurants and services for the local population offering a good quality of life. The Town currently has an even split in the numbers of people employed in the main industries. Approximately 25% of those working are employed in manufacturing, 20% within commerce and 21% of the population identify themselves as being professional. Only 10% of the total population of Tuam and its environs are employed in traditional rural economies of agriculture, forestry or fishery. The main sites for development are at: g The Tuam Business Park and Enterprise Centre on the Weir Road. g The IDA Industrial Estate on the Dunmore Road. g The former sugar factory on the Ballygaddy Road at Airglooney. g Surrounding Steeltech Sheds premises on Galway Road. g Land North of N83 at Mountpotter.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 136Key Towns 3 People and Places
- KEY FUTURE PRIORITIES g To develop Tuam as the focus for future development in North Galway providing the infrastructure and services for its surrounding small towns/villages and rural lands. g Ensure existing businesses are supported in their continued growth in a planned and cohesive manner. g Promote Tuam as a destination for business, growing the economy to a scale appropriate to its strategic location capitalising on its enhanced connectivity and role as Support Town within the context of the Galway Metropolitan Area, Athlone and Sligo Regional Centres. g Address deficiencies in the existing pedestrian/ cycling network, promoting walking/cycling and broader Smarter Travel initiatives, along with reducing car dependency, are other key considerations. g Support the development of Tuam in a sensitive manner which conserves and protects the historic core, recognising the towns cultural and historic built environment as a valuable asset, whilst harnessing the economic, social and cultural value that it presents for current and future generations. g Capitalise on the compact urban form of Tuam town centre by encouraging greater connectivity for new development which promotes and encourages walking and cycling ensuring that principles of sustainable transportation along with practical design measures become central to the development of new neighbourhoods. g Support the provision of a sports facility including athletics track serving the town and its hinterland with associated recreational facilities, changing rooms and amenities as part of an integrated mixed-use sports development in an appropriate and sustainable location that is convenient to the town, transport networks and future public transport.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 137Key Towns 3 People and Places
- 3.9 Other Places of Strategic Potential It should be noted that a relatively large proportion of enterprises are located in a variety of towns, villages and rural areas that shall be addressed through individual County Development Plans and strategies. This strategy seeks to anticipate and plan for jobs growth and economic development of regional scale and it is accepted that several locations other than within the Cities, Regional Growth Centres and Key Towns exhibit specific characteristics that warrant specific focus where strategic development potential of a regional scale exists. There will also be scenarios where new and unexpected opportunities for enterprise development are likely to arise for particular locational reasons that do not arise elsewhere and these shall be addressed through the local development plan process and reviewed in any subsequent RSES, as provided for within the NPF. The following locations with strategic development potential of a regional scale have been identified as set out below. WESTPORT Westport’s large industrial base, its enterprise economy and the strength of Westport’s tourism industry, as well as its potential marine resources, enables it to be a regional driver within the context of the RSES. Westport provides important administrative, service, and economic roles and functions to its hinterland and has a reputation as being one of Ireland’s premier visitor destinations. There is the capacity to facilitate significant additional developments in both public and private commercial/industrial estates that are situated within the town and Westport Harbour presents opportunities to harness the maritime potential of the area. Rail connectivity is available from Westport to Dublin and the potential to provide rail connectivity to the south would further enhance connectivity to Ireland West Airport and its associated SDZ which is nearby and represents a value proposition for the region. The upgrading of the entirety of the N5 to a TEN-T ‘High-quality Road’ and the provision of relief roads to north and south of the town would enable the potential of the town and remove service barriers. The future strategic regional development potential of Westport is best achieved by building on the existing economic, commercial and social links with the nearby Key Town of Castlebar, links that will be further strengthened by the imminent upgrading of the N5, which will reduce the commuting time between both towns. From a regional perspective, this will provide urban places of scale located between the Galway Metropolitan Area to the south and the Sligo Regional Growth Centre to the north, thereby contributing to the consolidation of the AEC.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 138 3 People and Places
- ATHENRY Athenry has easy access to the mainline railway and motorway networks, providing easy access to Galway, Athlone, Limerick and Shannon. It has existing access to broadband infrastructure thus ensuring the town/IDA park is an attractive place for industry to invest. Athenry has the opportunity to provide appropriately zoned land with adequate infrastructural services to accommodate enterprise e.g. Economic Corridor from Oranmore to Athenry. Economic corridors particularly industrial corridors such as the Oranmore – Athenry Strategic corridor must be developed/promoted and serviced to high international standards to attract further Foreign Direct Investment and indigenous industries/ businesses, building on strategic location and infrastructure. This corridor should be promoted sustainably as a centre for major national and international enterprises in a manner that shall be further defined in local planning policies. VIRGINIA/CARRICKMACROSS Virginia and Carrickmacross perform important sub-regional functions for employment, housing and services, with Virginia as the hub for east Cavan and Carrickmacross for south Monaghan. They are the main economic drivers for wider highly populated catchments, where commuting out of the counties is an issue that needs to be addressed by providing employment and support services. Both towns are strongly positioned to attract businesses, that need access to the Belfast/Dublin corridor, available talent, quality of life and housing. The strategy for the development of our Rural and Urban areas is not intended as a one size fits all, nor is it intended as a complete suite of actions. Instead what has been determined, through the consultation engagement is that the strategy for our region shall consider how best to deliver for this region six distinct growth ambitions and those ambitions shall transcend both rural and urban areas, as appropriate. SDZ - IRELAND WEST AIRPORT KNOCK The presence of an airport in the region acts as a magnet to draw people and investment to the region, driving economic activity in the form of business and investment as well as tourism and travel. The Airport acts as an international gateway to the West of Ireland as well as the North, North West and Midlands areas. The Northern and Western Region is home to many world-leading multinationals, local companies with global success as well as yet untapped economic sectors. Together with the high-quality of life offered in the West and North West, the region has much to offer with the ability to expand and grow based on its resources. In this regard, the concept of the place-based approach which requires tapping into the inherent potential of the area is central to the future growth of the region. In terms of business and enterprise, investment in the creation of ‘place’ is important to realising regional potential and to position itself to attract skills/talent, to grow businesses and to embrace the creative and innovative economic activity.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 139 3 People and Places
- The National Planning Framework includes High- Quality International Connectivity as a National Strategic Outcome and recognises the crucial role that the provision of high-quality international connectivity has 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. The development of the EU TEN-T designation is desirable for international connectivity and integrated performance of road, rail and air. The reopening of the Western Rail Corridor would present an opportunity to provide integrated rail linkage to IWA Knock SDZ, thus providing rail linkage with other centres of population and to provide alternative sustainable travel opportunities to that of road based options. The regional and international connectivity provided by an airport significantly broadens the transport network capacity of a region, providing catalytic as well as direct, in-direct and induced economic and social benefits. In this regard, Ireland West Airport Knock plays a significant role as an economic driver for the region and has a major impact on the social and economic infrastructure of the surrounding area. The Planning scheme for IWAK Strategic Development Zone came into effect in October 2019 and it represents an opportunity to harness the potential of Ireland West Airport as an economic driver for the region. The SDZ offers a spatial planning approach to the future development and expansion of the airport and surrounding lands. The Strategic Development Zone at Ireland West Airport represents a shared outlook for the future economic development of the West/North West region and represents a significant gamechanger for the region and the Atlantic Economic Corridor. As we are currently entering a period of renewed growth in Ireland, Ireland West Airport is well placed to expand its share of economic development. The Planning Scheme and implementation framework of the SDZ will provide a clear blueprint for development offering certainty to potential applicants, developers or investors which is time-saving and in turn beneficial to economic development. The SDZ will also play an important role in the delivery and implementation of higher level infrastructure for the area. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES RPO 3.8.1 To promote and support the strategic role of IWA Knock SDZ as a significant regional economic driver and to promote the SDZ location as regional economic business and enterprise hub. RPO 3.8.2 To support and promote the implementation of the approved Planning Scheme for the designated SDZ at IWA Knock (including the mitigation measures of the statutory environmental assessment carried out for the planning scheme), which provides the framework for the expansion of the Airport in terms of its transport and business operations and as a new business and enterprise destination. RPO 3.8.3 To support the development of the SDZ in tandem with the required infrastructure for both the expansion of the Airport and in the delivery of the regional business and enterprise hub.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 140 3 People and Places
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