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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- Figure 67: North West Metropolitan City Region STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE NORTH WEST CITY REGION The strategic vision for the North West City Region Metropolitan Area, incorporating the Letterkenny Regional Growth Centre is: THE NORTH WEST CITY REGION METROPOLITAN AREA, WHICH INCLUDES THE LETTERKENNY REGIONAL GROWTH CENTRE WILL BE CONNECTED, VIBRANT, RESILIENT AND INCLUSIVE. This vision centres on managing spatial change and improving people’s quality of life. Ultimately, this is about creating a good quality place to live, work and socialise via processes of place-based leadership and place-making. To achieve this vision, there is a recognised need to work collectively and in an interdisciplinary manner. HOW WILL THIS BE ACHIEVED? Delivering this vision requires collaborative leadership and working with partners across the private, public and third-level sectors. The achievement of this strategic vision shall be made possible through the new collaborative structures that have been co-designed by both Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council, which place a strong emphasis on the principles of place-based leadership, namely: g the North West Strategic Growth Partnership involving senior Central Government Officials, both North and South, and g the North West Strategic Growth Partnership involving senior Central Government Officials, both North and South. In addition, it will be important to build upon those positive working relationships that have been nurtured through the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and the Higher and Further Education bodies to facilitate delivery and capitalisation of the key objectives of their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).Northern & Western Regional Assembly 281 9 All Island Cohesion
- KEY STRATEGIC OUTCOMES This Strategic Planning Framework is centred on four key strategic outcomes – closely aligned with the national strategic outcomes and priorities of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the eight strategic aims of the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) 2035. Those outcomes are: g Building Inclusive and Compact Places g Investing in Connected and Accessible Places g Planning for a Vibrant Economy and Nurturing Communities g Creating Resilient Places and Low-Carbon Infrastructure. Under this framework, new developments will, to the greatest extent possible, contribute towards the creation of high-quality places across the North West City Region, taking account of Place-making Principles. Under the principles of place-making, development proposals should be based upon a design-led and participative process and should seek to deliver on the six qualities of place – namely, distinctive, safe and pleasant, welcoming, adaptable, resource-efficient and easy to move around and beyond. The following objectives shall form the framework for this and shall guide the development of plans, strategies and programmes at a local level. The NWRA will monitor the implementation of the framework and further details are provided in Section 10. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVE RPO 9.1 Build Inclusive and Compact Places by: a) Planning for Inclusive Communities through regional cooperation and collaboration, to support the wider economic and social development agendas of the region and integrating health and wellbeing outcomes across all activities, ensuring that spaces are made available for community use. b) Accommodating Growth and Delivering Housing through compact growth where housing opportunities are close to schools, community facilities, health facilities, shopping, and employment; Prioritising the (re-)use of existing underutilised land and buildings, and other infill opportunities. c) Accessing Quality Services by maximising the use of transport and digital infrastructure to ensure people can access quality education and health services, building on the quality health and education infrastructure that exists on a cross-border basis and building more shared services and nurturing greater collaboration between actors and agencies in the co-design of new services. d) Valuing Cultural Heritage by creating appealing places through attractive and imaginative building design, street layout, civic space and public realm design; Developing new offerings in support of existing ventures in the tourism sector, such as greenways, walking trails and other inter-urban connections, based on the wealth of natural and cultural heritage assets and providing links to the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 282 9 All Island Cohesion
- RPO 9.2 Invest in Accessible and Connected Places through: a) Donegal County Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council and transport providers working together to deliver programmed and future investment for strategic internal and external transport improvements. This to include consideration of cross-border connectivity – with a particular emphasis on provision of high-quality TEN-T routes, maximising the level of accessibility to the urban core for all sectors of the community and all abilities, with a focus upon supporting a modal shift to walking, cycling, public transport, whilst embracing disruptive technologies to augment the shift to electric vehicles and other modes of transport. b) Encouraging active travel with a clear focus on place building and connectivity and promoting active mobility through soft measures including information and awareness-raising campaigns to complement hard investments in routes and support activities, including activitybased recreation resources. c) Strengthening Digital Infrastructure by supporting the expansion and investment in third-level education and leveraging cross-border knowledge networks to strengthen access to skills and talents that support a digital economy, nurtures entrepreneurship, anticipates and responds to the demand for innovative services that are socially inclusive, attractive and supportive of the local workforce, and contributes to quality public realm. RPO 9.3 Planning for a vibrant economy through: a) Fostering Enterprise and Innovation by identifying the critical linkages between place-making and business investment, utilising the North West Strategic Growth Partnership in realising the economic potential of the region in priority areas ensuring they are supported by our third level institutes and our R&D institutions of excellence and that further spaces are developed to nurture and catalyse the region’s most innovative entrepreneurs with the area’s strong network of experienced business leaders and cutting edge research and development institutions. b) Nurturing the rural economy through protecting and promoting the sense of place and culture and the quality, character and distinctiveness of the rural landscape, whilst facilitating the appropriately-scaled development of rural enterprise initiatives, including the appropriate development of tourism, delivering business start-up programmes and development support to rural communities experiencing economic disadvantage, whilst also meeting appropriate rural housing need having due regard to all material considerations.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 283 9 All Island Cohesion
- RPO 9.4 Create Resilient Places and Low-Carbon Infrastructure by: a) Managing Natural Resources through adhering to the principles of the circular economy, monitor air quality through the use of smart technologies, with the overall aim of improving air quality and to protect local ecosystems through the management of our natural capital b) Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy through a presumption against development in areas vulnerable to flooding and rising sea levels, continuing to assess the probability of risk from all sources of flooding, and working with relevant stakeholders in both the assessment and delivery of any mitigation responses required; Furthermore, pursue the generation of renewable energies and their local applications through, for example, green infrastructure planning, innovative design solutions, the promotion of energy-efficient buildings and homes c) Diversifying Energy Resources by promoting and facilitating the development of the wider North West region as a Centre of Excellence for renewable energy and innovation and establishing a sustainable energy strategy for the City Region that pursues continued investment in the resilience and security of electricity networks and infrastructure, and the development of a diverse energy portfolio, harnesses the expertise of technological research and training among the region’s institutions of higher education, growing the development of a skilled workforce in all aspects of energy generation including linking employment opportunities in the emerging renewable energy field to workers displaced from other economic sectors. LETTERKENNY REGIONAL GROWTH CENTRE Letterkenny is one of the three key urban centres of the North West City Region. Section 3.7 of this RSES, provides a Regional Growth Centre Strategic Plan for Letterkenny, which gives further detail in respect of some of the key objectives to be delivered. Local plans and strategies shall present an opportunity for further detail to be provided. DUBLIN – BELFAST ECONOMIC CORRIDOR This economic corridor traverses County Louth, which is within the EMRA area. It is the largest economic agglomeration on the island of Ireland and is identified in their RSES 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. Drogheda and Dundalk are identified as a Regional Growth Centres in the National Planning Framework, as are Athlone, Sligo and Letterkenny. The Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor and the Regional Growth Centres of Drogheda and Dundalk have a significant reach into the Central Border Counties, including into South Monaghan, and East Cavan, particularly influencing towns such as Carrickmacross, and Kingscourt within the NWRA area.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 284 9 All Island Cohesion
- THE CENTRAL BORDER REGION Project Ireland 2040 sets out a clear strategy to develop strong urban centres in the North West and the North East. Within the Central Border Region, it confirms it will be crucial that County Towns and economic drivers such as Monaghan Town and Cavan Town continue to expand seamless cross border links, and these will be aided by the upgrade of the N2 / A5 in the case of Monaghan, and the N3 in the case of Cavan, including the bypassing of Virginia in South County Cavan. The N2/A5 present opportunities for appropriate development at strategic locations along these corridors. The central border area has the capacity to provide suitable alternative locations for larger employers in comparison to city areas where increasingly, issues like water supply, traffic congestion and lack of housing are acting as barriers to economic development, as well as offering a better quality of life with less drive time etc. There exists the innate opportunity to target such locations as alternatives to the Dublin area. In this area, the agri-food sector has taken advantage of natural resources and changing consumer demands, whilst enabling progressive increases in off-farm employment. This well-established food production and processing sector offer further development potential that is supported across the RSES. This strategy encourages and supports economic performance by building upon the local strengths to drive growth in employment within this sector. It will be necessary to ensure that appropriate production and processing activities are supported and promoted, ensuring that the potential for further sustainable development is realised. Many areas including but not limited to Cavan and Monaghan, Mid Ulster and Craigavon, have a longestablished reputation for engineered products produced to meet the exacting needs of an international client base. These range from precision engineering companies, to process control systems designers, to the latest in agricultural machinery and machine tools. These sectors have significant interlinked cross-border trading operations that need to be supported. Figure 68: ICBAN – Central Border RegionNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 285 9 All Island Cohesion
- There are several key strategic Cross Border Transport Corridors within the border region that require further investment, and these are identified as part of Growth Ambition 3 and worthy of mention here: g N2/A5 from Ardee to Derry g N3/A509 g N12/A3 Armagh to Monaghan g N16/A4 g N54/A3 Monaghan to Cavan g The East/West Link from Dundalk to Sligo g A29 Dungannon to County Monaghan The Irish Central Border Area Network provides a further platform for collaboration between local authorities north and south. The eight Member Councils of ICBAN are Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster and the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo. Further collaborative partnerships include: g Cavan County Council and the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council jointly manage the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark. g Monaghan County Council is part of the Cross- Border Forum of four councils (Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Mid Ulster District Council and Monaghan County Council). This forum has been collectively meeting and working to share environmental planning ideas and has developed a ‘Statement of Common Ground’ to develop consistency in this regard across the development plans of the four local authorities. Support for such platforms and collaborative initiatives are key to the success of our strategy.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 286 9 All Island Cohesion
- 9.3 Co-ordination of Investment in Infrastructure MOBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY The co-ordination of investments in infrastructure will provide economic, social and environmental benefits north and south and are supported within this RSES. This RSES has identified the importance of enhanced transport connectivity, to include crossborder road and rail, cycling and walking routes, as well as blueways, greenways and peatways. Connectivity through the ferry service across Lough Foyle, linking the Causeway Coast with North Donegal and the Wild Atlantic Way is also a significant and important service that is supported by the RSES. ENERGY The need for a new interconnector between the electricity grids of Northern Ireland and Ireland has been identified by the EU as a project of common interest and is supported in our RSES. Future enhancement of energy security and resilience to support a population of 8 million people will be supported through the progression of further north-south interconnection of electricity grids, including the resilience of the network within the Donegal/Tyrone sub-catchment area to facilitate future development opportunities is referenced within Growth Ambition 5. The gas network is also identified as an important piece of economic infrastructure within Growth Ambition 5. It reaches into the western part of the border region near Derry and Strabane. It has no presence in other border counties. There is a need to harness the opportunity that this infrastructure presents and to encourage, support and enable its extension to new areas within the cross-border region. Enhanced East-West interconnection between the island, wider UK and European gas networks and ongoing work to harmonise gas transmission arrangements on the island are supportive of meeting EU requirements for gas market integration and are supported in this strategy.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 287 9 All Island Cohesion
- DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE Growth Ambition 3 of this strategy, recognises that the communications network is responsible for saving lives, encouraging economic growth as well as providing citizens with access to work, entertainment and social media. Staying connected and competitive on a cross-border basis is key to economic success but equally important are the social and environmental benefits that it brings. Digital Infrastructure has the potential to be a gamechanger and presents significant economic, environmental, cultural and social opportunities for people on an all-island perspective. The Hibernia Atlantic Group connects locations in the North-West, including Coleraine, Letterkenny, Derry, and Strabane, extending onwards to many strategic locations including Omagh, Armagh, Monaghan and Drogheda through Project Kelvin. Other initiatives that have provided services in this region include the National Broadband Plan, and the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANS). 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 and to become a smart region. The enhancement of such links between the North American continent and the island of Ireland and Europe, provide access to international systems. The utilisation and extension of these and similar networks are to be supported, subject to other appropriate considerations including environmental considerations.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 288 9 All Island Cohesion
- TOURISM Tourism is a key area of opportunity for the crossborder area and extensive networks exist on an allisland basis that needs to be nurtured and grown to meet its potential. All-island tourism initiatives have been supported through relevant tourism agencies and Tourism Ireland. There are many established Cross Border flagships such as the Cavan Burren Geopark, which incorporates the Marble Arch Caves in Co. Fermanagh. Furthermore, there are current examplar’s of amenity projects being progressed, including The NorthWest Greenway Project between Derry and Buncrana, and the Ulster Canal Project from Cavan, via Monaghan to Counties Tyrone and Armagh. These projects have successfully secured a significant level of Interreg funding, and are notable for the involvement of Cross Border bodies such as Waterways Ireland. There is undoubtedly an opportunity to upscale existing tourism ventures across the region and to develop further attractions of national and international scale. This RSES would support such initiatives. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES RPO 9.5 To reinforce through the RSES the North West Regional Growth Partnership, through the continuation of growth in Letterkenny Regional Growth Centre and its wider hinterland, which includes the North West City Region, and align where possible spatial planning, including Bridgend, Muff and Killea Co. Donegal. RPO 9.6 To establish a Cross-Jurisdictional Working Group which collaborates on projects such as Blueways, Greenways, Walking/Hiking Trails/Peatways to foster improved local and regional links. RPO 9.7 The Assembly will work with Local Authorities and other stakeholders in both jurisdictions to identify further potential projects which could benefit cross border communities and in doing so create an inventory of priority projects to be advanced to feasibility studies, and beyond. RPO 9.8 To ensure the continuation and strengthening of cross-jurisdictional management of River Basin Management Plans and the implementation of the Water Framework Directive.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 289 9 All Island Cohesion
- CASE STUDY THE ULSTER CANAL Following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Waterways Ireland was charged with conducting appraisals and studies to take forward cross border projects, and if completed, to maintain and manage these amenities. In 2007, the North-South Ministerial Council approved the restoration of the Lough Erne to Clones section of the Ulster Canal and more recently, (2017), the Irish Government approved the restoration of the Shannon Erne waterway to Castle Saunderson. The funding commitment which attaches to this phase is included in the recently published National Development Plan 2018-2027. The Ulster Canal Project will assist in boosting the amenity and tourist offer in Cavan, Monaghan, North Armagh and East Tyrone. With the restoration of the waterway, opportunity and spin-off business dividend will deliver growth to towns and villages such as Belturbet, Clones, and Smithborough. The incremental steps in the Project are outlined below: g Overall Project, 93km in Length, 26 locks, restore the original waterway, which catered for narrow gauge vessels. The Canal opened in 1841 and closed in 1929. g Phase 1: Restoration of Lough Erne to Clones (13.5km), Planning Received and with an approximate cost of €46m. Planning Permission extends to 2023. 9km of new canal planned, alongside two marinas and two new road bridges. g Phase 2: Erne Navigation Extension (to Castle Saunderson): 2.5km stretch from Shannon Erne to Castle Saunderson is Co. Cavan, work on this project is nearing completion, costing €2.5m. g Phase 3: Ulster Canal Greenway. The 22km Cross Border project will connect Smithborough in Co. Monaghan with Middletown in Co. Armagh, the greenway will follow the towpath of the Ulster Canal where possible and funding of €5m has already been secured (through Interreg / SEUPB).Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 290 9 All Island Cohesion
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