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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- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanFigure 19: Galway Metropolitan Area Boundary Figure 20: Galway Commuting CatchmentNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 51 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanVISION FOR MASP The MASP provides a strategic focus on the City and environs and sets out how it is envisaged the NPF will be implemented in the regional context of the RSES. The vision for Galway is that it will be a leading European city renowned for its quality of life, its history, its culture and its people. It is and will be a place that embraces modern technologies, high standards of education, competitive and sustainable enterprises. The challenges to the city’s development will be met by the integrated and timely provision of infrastructure much of which is included in this strategy. The prioritisation of identified projects is included within the MASP using the following notations: g Short Term (S) 0-6 years g Medium Term (M) 6-12 years g Long Term (L) 12-20 years All of the above will be managed in an environmentally sensitive manner, retaining and protecting the valuable natural assets that are within and surrounding the MASP area, and that contribute to making it the place that is known worldwide. Galway City has an extensive reach (See Figure 20) and is located at a pivotal location along the Atlantic Economic Corridor, from where the influence of Ireland’s southern cities (Cork and Limerick) extends northwards to the Regional Growth Centres of Sligo and Letterkenny in the North West City Region context. It is home to existing internationally recognised world-class clusters in Medical Devices and ICT. It is becoming a major technology hub, particularly around internet and collaborative working technologies. Galway City is home to 9 of the top 10 ICT companies. All of this is supported through third-level institutions embedded within the city, providing for a highly educated and vibrant workforce.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 52 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanSTRATEGIC GROWTH AREAS POPULATION AND HOUSING Galway Metropolitan Area has a considerable land capacity that can significantly contribute to meeting the housing demands based on population targets set out in the NPF and the RSES. The targets are that: 1. The population of Galway MASP to grow by 27,500 to 2026 and by a further 14,500 to 2031 with the population of the city and suburbs accommodating 23,000 to 2026 and a further 12,000 to 2031. 2. Deliver at least half (50%) of all new homes that are targeted within the MASP to be within the existing built-up footprint. The policy framework is to meet this projected demand through promoting the development of sustainable high-quality neighbourhoods, sustainable densities incorporating high design standards and key urban design principles. The Strategy is to provide for integration of housing with transportation infrastructure fostering sustainable transport patterns. This provides for a co-ordinated approach with investment and the delivery of essential infrastructure, services and community facilities. It also must promote a range of house types, sizes and tenures suitable for households with different income levels or those who may have specific requirements. A number of strategic locations have been identified that present the opportunity and capacity to deliver the necessary quantum of housing to facilitate targeted growth, subject to the adequate provision of services. These locations are summarised below and are shown on Figure 21. g Consolidation of the existing neighbourhoods of Knocknacarra, Rahoon, Castlegar and Roscam. g Development of Regeneration Lands at Ceannt Station Quarter, Inner Harbour and Headford Road. g Ardaun. g Murrough. g Baile Chláir, Bearna, Oranmore and Briarhill. Figure 21: Galway – Residential, Industry, RegenerationNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 53 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanREGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVE RPO 3.6.2 The Assembly supports the proposition that 50% of new homes for the population targets will be constructed within the existing city development envelope, 40% of these shall be located on infill and/or brownfield sites.4 CONSOLIDATION OF EXISTING NEIGHBOURHOODS - KNOCKNACARRA, RAHOON, CASTLEGAR AND ROSCAM This is a tenet of compact growth and will have general application throughout the city. Alternative arrangements may pertain to Architectural Conservation Areas and areas with high incidences of protected structures. The existing neighbourhoods of Knocknacarra, Rahoon, Castlegar and Roscam have the potential to develop c.170ha of residentially zoned land suitable for higher density development. The future development plans for the city will prioritise the staged release of serviced lands to meet the population targets referenced above. 4 The baseline for the measurement of this objective is the CSO boundary for Galway and its suburbs as defined in the NPF (footnote 17) REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVE RPO 3.6.3 (a) The Assembly supports the preparation of a Building Heights Study, a strategy to guide future sustainable development which takes into account the historic, cultural and infrastructure features of the city. In developing this strategy, areas of high density will target residential density of 50 units/ha. The default rate for other areas will generally be 35 units/ha. (b) The preparation of a Building Heights Study shall take into account all material considerations including but not limited to, the historic cultural and infrastructure features of the city, urban design, architectural quality, place-making, regeneration and public transport provisions. It shall also take account of the economic, social and environmental issues that need to be addressed so that quality living is delivered. The study should be cognisant of the need to deliver compact growth and density of residential development may be one metric but the quantum of commercial, social and cultural floor space should also be a consideration.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 54 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanARDAUN To the east of the City, Ardaun can accommodate up to 25% of the residential growth anticipated for the city. Ardaun is a highly accessible location and is well placed to link though sustainable transport modes with the City Centre and key employment areas such as Parkmore, Ballybrit, Mervue and strategic IDA sites at Oranmore and Athenry. Ardaun provides opportunities for high-density residential development structured and coordinated with essential services and community facilities. It has currently a Local Area Plan which sets out a framework for development and is a designated Major Urban Housing Delivery Site under Rebuilding Ireland. It also has potential for a high level of connectivity, to the National Motorway Network and close to the mainline station at Oranmore (Garraun). The Ardaun area comprises 2 main development phases. Phase 1 which is the lands south of the M6/ N6 including 29 hectares of residentially zoned lands and 20 hectares of urban village centre zoned lands which will have significant residential content. Phase 2 is the lands to the north of the M6/N6 comprises 61 hectares of residentially zoned lands. In the longer term, it is envisaged that Ardaun will develop eastwards. Table 5: Galway City – Land Bank Capacity LAND CAPACITY - LANDS AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING APPROXIMATE LAND AREA City Residential zoned lands – high density 172 ha Regeneration Lands – min 30% residential content 10 ha Ardaun LAP Phase 1 49 ha Ardaun LAP Phase 2 61 ha Murrough LAP (one-third mixed-use) 11 ha Eyre Square East Quarter 2 ha Baile Chláir 7 ha Bearna 14 ha Oranmore 33 ha MURROUGH The LAP lands at Murrough, although primarily designated for recreation and amenity purposes, will also sustain mixed-uses including residential uses. The total area of these lands is 34ha, onethird of which will be reserved for residential and other uses (11ha). BAILE CHLAIR Baile Chlair is located to the north-east of the metropolitan area, within Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe (County Galway Gaeltacht). It supports many local shops, commercial/business units, hotel accommodation and significant residential accommodation. The village remains a desirable residential location benefiting from its accessibility to commute to work in the larger urban centres of Galway City and Tuam, as well as the industrial area of Parkmore. Recent infrastructure investment include drainage works to alleviate flooding, a new bridge, secondary school and a new wastewater treatment plant, which have provided additional capacity to meet the current and future needs. The development of the village requires ongoing careful management whilst recognising its natural, built and cultural heritage assets. The implementation of the GTS will be influential in ensuring the sustainable development of the town. BEARNA Bearna is located to the west of the Metropolitan Area, at the gateway to the Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe (County Galway Gaeltacht). It has experienced significant growth in and surrounding the village and is serviced through the Mutton Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. Its location favours future growth that should have a focus that includes the consolidation of built-up areas of the village and the provision of supporting community infrastructure and services that are easily accessible by walking, cycling or public transport. The built, archaeological and cultural heritage of Bearna are important assets that should be conserved appropriately, including the Pier Road Architectural Conservation Area. While there is currently circa 14ha of residential phase 1 lands identified in the Bearna Local Area Plan that can accommodate growth in the short/ medium term, there are additional lands available to facilitate further growth. The identification of suchNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 55 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Planlands shall be a matter for the statutory plan-making process and shall have regard to environmental considerations, including flood risk and climate change. ORANMORE Oranmore is located to the east of the Metropolitan Area and is serviced by the Galway-Dublin/Limerick rail service, with the rail terminus at Garraun serving it. It is also within proximity to the motorway which makes it a strategic location for residential development of scale. There are circa 33ha of lands identified for Residential Phase 1 use in the Oranmore LAP and additional residential lands shall need to be brought forward to supply future demand. There is potential for Oranmore to accommodate an increase in population allocation and it is serviced through the Mutton Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. That plant has in recent years been upgraded to ensure population growth can be achieved while at the same continuing to protect bathing water quality. The East Galway Main Drainage Scheme shall be a key enabler for the larger area of Oranmore and Ardaun to the north, which shall enable the strategic potential offered by the rail terminus at Garraun. STUDENT ACCOMMODATION It is important to specifically refer to the student population of the city as it comprises a significant quantum of the city population (over 24,000 students attend third-level colleges in the city) and there is a particular demand for student niche accommodation in the city to meet their needs. The objective of the MASP is to support the provision of purposebuilt student accommodation both on and offcampus at appropriate locations. Delivery of this type of accommodation can be met on a variety of mixed zoned sites and is beneficial in freeing up existing private housing stock within existing housing developments. This type of accommodation also has the potential to meet tourism accommodation demands outside term time.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 56 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanDEVELOPMENT OF REGENERATION LANDS CEANNT STATION QUARTER, INNER HARBOUR AND HEADFORD ROAD AREA Regeneration Lands at Ceannt Station Quarter (circa 6ha), Inner Harbour (circa 9ha) and Headford Road (circa 15ha) present opportunities to develop a significant quantum of residential development and importantly present scope for significant employment generation. The Ceannt Station and the Inner Harbour offer a sequential solution to the expansion of the city centre, linked with a transportation hub, reinforcing the prime role of the city centre in both the city, the Metropolitan Area and the wider region. The Headford Road area is also a key enabler for expansion of the city centre. It has considerable potential for the intensification and increased retail floorspace and commercial office type floorspace that can facilitate further employment opportunities. It also has the benefit of having a large publicly owned site with development potential (Dyke Road surface car park). Expanding the city-centre incorporating these Regeneration Lands not only responds to future commercial floorspace demand but it also can, with good design solutions, enhance the image of the city, its regional tourism function and allow for an expansion to a scale commensurate with that envisaged under the National Planning Framework and this RSES. There are also smaller city-centre sites at, for example, Nuns Island and Eyre Square East which can contribute to regeneration. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVE RPO 3.6.4 The Assembly support the regeneration and development of city centre sites at Galway Harbour, Ceannt Station and Headford Road (S/M). ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT LOCATIONS Galway city plays an important regional role in providing for a diverse range of economic activities, services and employment opportunities and has considerable potential for further development and capacity for new enterprises. The economic development strategy for the city is to focus on City Centre Regeneration and strategically located industrial /enterprise lands throughout the city. CITY CENTRE A primary objective of the MASP is to present a strong policy focus to preserve and enhance the city centre as the primary commercial area within the city supporting a range of retail, commercial, tourism, social and cultural activities. This together with protection and enhancement of the historic core and making improvements to the city centre public realm, will contribute to the vitality and vibrancy of the city centre and reinforce the positive image of the city as a place to live, work, visit and shop. The historic core captures the character of the city and its continued health is of the utmost importance. While there is scope for infill development and refurbishment of existing commercial space, the city centre is constrained being located in the historic core and cannot easily meet significant future commercial floorspace demand. The Regeneration Lands are ideally placed to meet these future demands. INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL LANDS Current land-use zoning is anticipated to meet the projected employment increase forecast within the MASP and at locations that are integrated with the strategy for sustainable transportation and coordinated with the settlement strategy. Outside of the city centre, the focus is to prioritise investment and expansion in high tech manufacturing, research and development at existing strategic key locations at Mervue, Parkmore, Briarhill, and Dangan. These areas have a strong FDI presence which is reflected in the manufacturing industries including the medical technologies sector and the internationally traded ICT services and software sectors.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 57 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanThese areas have the potential for additional employment opportunities with good opportunities for expansion through densification and reorganisation. There are also opportunities for growth in the general manufacturing and commercial/ trade sectors on these lands. In Knocknacarra/Rahoon, lands are available for a significant level of employment opportunities which will focus on the technology/office-based industries thereby providing potential employment close to this large residential neighbourhood linking land use and transport requirements sustainably. Development on these lands will complement the existing commercial/ community developments associated with the designated Knocknacarra district centre. There is also the capacity for job creation within Ardaun as part of a coordinated development strategy for this area. Significant land supply is also available on the IDA lands at Parkmore (38ha) and Oranmore (27ha) which have huge potential to accommodate future large scale employment. These lands also benefit from being easily accessible due to the improvement of the wider road network in the form of the M6 and M17/M18 motorways. The Galway Airport Site is also a key opportunity site in the ownership of Galway City and County Council with significant development potential. It is identified in the National Planning Framework as a growth enabler and the objective of this MASP is to unlock the potential of this part of the metropolitan area over the lifetime of this strategy. Options for its future use could emerge from a feasibility study. Proposals that emerge from this process will be further developed in due course and as part of a future development plan process. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVE RPO 3.6.5 Support the delivery of lands for employment uses at Knocknacurra/Rahoon, Mervue, Dangan, Parkmore, Briarhill, Airport and Oranmore. RPO 3.6.6 The Assembly supports the preparation of a masterplan for the Airport Site and developed lands (including associated lands) in its immediate hinterland (on both sides of the R339) for residential, community and employment uses. The preparation of the masterplan may be prepared on a phased basis if this is considered appropriate.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 58 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanRETAIL The retail strategy for the Metropolitan Area is to protect and enhance the city centre, designated as the most important shopping area in the city and county and to facilitate a mixed expansion of services including high order comparison retailing in conjunction with service retailing, cultural and entertainment facilities through appropriate and sensitive redevelopment, infill and the development of the Regeneration Lands. The strategy is also to designate District Centres on lands near the main areas of population and anticipated growth centres such as that at Knocknacarra, Doughiska, Westside and Ardaun to accommodate an appropriate range of retail, non- retail, community and leisure services. The scale and nature of these District Centres must be such that they will not threaten the prime function of the city centre core shopping area. Neighbourhood Centres are designated at several locations including Salthill, Ballinfoyle-Castlegar, Renmore. At these locations, there are opportunities for a mix of local services and community facilities including retailing of a basic, predominantly convenient nature that are so located to be easily accessible by the catchment they serve. At the lowest level of the hierarchy are small scale local shops in residential areas, they fulfil an important role in the provision of day to day convenience needs. It is considered appropriate that the MASP fully embraces this hierarchy and adopts it as being the roadmap for the future retail of its area.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 59 3 People and Places
- Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic PlanTOURISM Policies to promote and support tourism in the Metropolitan Area recognise the range of economic activities and employment opportunities associated with the tourism industry in the city. There is huge potential to develop tourism and extend bed nights as a gateway to the North and West Region with potential to further develop urban, culture/heritage/ food tourism. The location of the City midway along the Wild Atlantic Way is also an opportunity for expansion of the tourism product. The success of Galway as a festival City is a significant tourism product, sustaining services and ensuring year-round bed nights with the Galway Races, the Arts Festival, the Film Fleadh and SeaFest being significant revenue generators. The designation as European Capital of Culture 2020, will raise the profile of tourism in Galway and will give opportunities for the development of cultural infrastructure and enhance and diversify tourism in the MASP area. The unique environment of Galway City and County also plays an important tourism role. The extensive coastline, Lough Corrib, River Corrib, waterways and the city canal system are unique assets in the MASP area. Silverstrand and Salthill beaches which have blue flag beach status and Salthill promenade are part of a range of important coastal amenities within the city. Rinville Park and adjacent Galway Bay Sailing Club (just outside the MASP) play an important recreation and tourism role for Galway. MARINE SECTOR Galway has a strong maritime culture and tradition being located in an area with a long trading history. This is reflected in policy support for the sustainable growth of enterprise activities associated with the Marine Sector. Galway Harbour is ideally placed along the western seaboard to tap into emerging marine enterprises in particular, in the sustainable energy sector and offshore renewable energy. The harbour is an important facility serving the City and wider region. The proposals for redevelopment and extension of Galway Harbour includes for commercial quays, a deep water docking facility, fishing quays and provision of marina and waterbased sports facilities. Improvement of harbour facilities is of strategic importance and has the potential to contribute significantly to the economy of both the City and the region, increasing connectivity and contributing to the tourism, enterprise and offshore energy sectors. There is also considerable scope for marine diversification into new applications for health, medicine and technology. Marine research at the Marine Institute in Oranmore, linked with the environmental, marine and energy research at the Ryan Institute NUIG, are key players in the future growth of this sector in the Northern and Western Region. The Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) in NUIG and Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC) in GMIT also play an important role. There are also significant amenity benefits within the marine sector with a range of beaches, open spaces and walkways offering tourism and leisure opportunities and enhancing health and well being. Biodiversity and environmental benefits are significant also, with high-quality bathing waters, and a rich and diverse range of habitats and species reflected by the presence Galway Bay Special Area of Conservation and the Inner Galway Bay Special Protection Area.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 60 3 People and Places
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