Regional strategy (RSES) · Southern Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region
The regional strategy for the Southern Region, including the Cork, Limerick–Shannon and Waterford metropolitan area strategic plans.
Southern Regional Assembly · January 2020 · 382 pages
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- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES291 Economic Resilience and Clusters It is an objective to develop, deepen and enhance the economic resilience of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area through creating a vibrant and diversified enterprise base, with strong, healthy, connected Clusters drawing on Eolas Comhroinnte Obair le cheile / Shared Knowledge Working Together (ECOLC / SKWT) to assist in bringing disruptive technologies and innovations to national and global markets. Limerick Shannon MASP Policy Objective 11 Investment in the creation of ‘place’, access to talent and the presence of an innovative and smart economy are key factors to realising the potential of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area. Together with improvements in existing sectors such as retail and tourism will play an important role in creating a stronger economy. Limerick City and Shannon are Ireland’s most connected fulcrum; the Metropolitan Area is the only location in Ireland with access to all other regional urban centres within 2 hours and within 90 minutes of Dublin. The continued growth of Shannon International Airport, Shannon Foynes Port and third level education facilities is essential for future growth based on leveraging national and international connectivity, higher education capacity and quality of life to secure strategic investment. The diversification of industry and the development of clusters will increase economic resilience and reduce overall risk. By developing industrial clusters, benefits such as lower production costs, increased innovation among related businesses and increased colocation of similar and supporting businesses can be realised. Working together, companies can be more innovative, create more jobs and register more international trademarks and patents than they would alone. The EU Cluster Portal8 provides tools and information on key European initiatives, actions and events for clusters with the aim of creating more world-class clusters across the EU. There are positive examples of clusters in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area. The IASC recently became the first Irish member of the European Aerospace Cluster Partnership (EACP). Firms within the cluster can co-operate on a European level to identify new projects, funding sources and development opportunities. The National Sports Business Cluster will leverage elite sporting facilities established at UL’s sports campus and LIT’s Sportslab (Europe’s leading strength and conditioning centre) in Thurles in addition to thirty sport-related companies currently operating in Limerick and its catchment. 8.0 | Employment and Enterprise 8.1 | Introduction 8.2 | Economic Resilience and Clusters 8. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/policy/cluster_en
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES292 8.3 | A Smart Metropolitan Area and Strengths in Attracting FDI The Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area is an important information and communications technology (ICT) hub for FDI. Acting as a cornerstone for the burgeoning IDA AI Island strategy, companies such as Analog Devices, Jaguar Landrover, Dell/EMC, General Motors (GM) and J&J are drawing on the talented pool of graduates and researchers being developed by UL, LIT, SFI research centres, incubators, Enterprise Ireland/IDA Technology Centres and community enterprise centres. The HEIs that serve the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area are responsive to the upskilling needs of industry. This collaboration has led to the development of an innovative portfolio of Skillnet-funded higher diplomas in software engineering, data analytics, middleware, embedded systems and security. UL is home to the world’s first industry driven national postgraduate MSc in Artificial Intelligence. Limerick City and County Council was the first local authority to establish an innovation company, Innovate Limerick, which acts as the delivery mechanism for key Limerick 2030 projects. Innovate Limerick has attracted Troy International Film Studios to Limerick City and developed the Innovation Hub and ENGINE, which provides office solutions for start-up and accelerating businesses. Limerick City and County Council has been very innovative in attracting FDI. Limerick’s Digital Strategy will enable the development of a smart, sustainable, city and region where digital technologies improve quality of life, empower communities and enable economic growth. The Strategy will support development of Smart Homes and Smart Buildings and set the foundation for Smart Limerick, where data, automation and artificial intelligence will fuel the knowledge and digital economies and lead to better services and improved quality of life for all. The Limerick Digital District comprises connected infrastructure that traverses the city, equipping key actors with the capabilities to regenerate and accelerate Limerick’s transition to becoming Ireland’s first digital city. The Digital District is the backbone on which the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area can implement and develop novel technologies, build a sustainable knowledge base and engage citizens in digital transformation, while minimising the risk of digital inequalities. The foundation constituents of the Digital District will include the Digital R&D Hub at Park Point, and the Digital Quarter in Georgian Limerick. The Digital District will support compact sustainable growth in the Limerick region, transforming a vacant development into an 8,625m² landmark R&D/educational/business incubation space with future plans to develop and transform Limerick City’s Georgian Neighbourhood. Ireland’s First Digital City
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES293 8.4 | Employment Distribution The delivery of business and enterprise potential is dependent on understanding and identifying the main economic drivers and removing obstacles. The Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area meets these key elements as a business location of choice. The Limerick Shannon MASP identifies strategic employment locations within the metropolitan area. However, achieving NPF growth targets will require consideration of new locations and initiatives by each local authority. Additional locations may become available and this MASP recognises the need for flexibility to accommodate future growth opportunities that may emerge during the lifetime of the MASP. In particular, it is recognised that a new Northside Business Campus could be identified and developed. Future growth proposals should be consistent and integrate with the Limerick Shannon MASPs aim of revitalising and reinvigorating Limerick City for higher-density living and high-density, high-value jobs. Future growth in employment will place additional resource demands on the local economy. As an open Limerick has recently become a “Lighthouse Smart City” as part of the EU Research and Innovation funding programme, Horizon 2020. Lighthouse cities develop, and tests integrated innovative solutions at district scale and act as exemplars across Europe. The +CityxChange (positive city exchange) is a smart city project. Limerick City along with partner cities will work together to develop through citizen engagement a series of demonstration projects on how to become smart positive energy cities. This MASP supports the establishment of Limerick as a “Smart Lighthouse City” as proposed under the CityxChange project The focus in Limerick will be on the development of a new “community grid” , the use of smart meters, innovation in new energy sources (including hydrokinetic energy) and storage, to create a ‘Positive Energy District’ in Limerick city centre. Starting with the Gardens International building and ENGINE training and workspace provided by Innovate Limerick. A Positive Energy District contributes more energy than it consumes. Limerick’s demonstration project will be centred in the Georgian Innovation District in the city centre (Georgian/ Newtown Pery areas). Jaguar Landover will locate their new research and development centre in Shannon, leading to the creation of 150 new jobs. The Shannon facility will play an important role in realising the company’s vision for electric and automated driving vehicles. New technologies will be developed at the test facility to support electrification and self-driving features including the next generation of electrical architecture as well as advanced driver assistance systems. This is an ideal opportunity to make Shannon a globally recognised centre of excellence for current and future software engineering talent and recognising Shannon as a centre for R&D for autonomous vehicles. The MASP supports transformative projects which provide strategic opportunities for the region such as the development of a Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) testbed in Shannon. A Smart Metropolitan Area and Strengths in Attracting FDI a. It is an objective to seek investment and improve quality in high speed, high capacity digital infrastructure and to seek access for all to digital infrastructure in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area subject to the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process. b. It is an objective to seek investment in the initiatives of Local authority Digital Strategies and investment in initiatives to deliver a greener, more innovative and smarter city and metropolitan area. c. It is an objective to deliver high capacity ICT infrastructure and high-speed broadband so peripheral locations can interact more successfully with larger urban centres and the metropolitan area. d. It is an objective to seek investment in the sustainable development of initiatives of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland in strengthening enterprise assets, fostering competitive locations and conditions for enterprise growth in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area. e. It is an objective to implement and develop novel technologies, build a sustainable knowledge base and engage citizens in digital transformation, while minimising the risk of digital inequalities in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area. In this regard it is an objective to support the Limerick Digital District and to accelerate Limerick’s transition to becoming Ireland’s first digital city Limerick Shannon MASP Policy Objective 12
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES294 market economy at the innovation edge, where new technologies and business models continuously evolve at a rapid pace, it is difficult to specify jobs targets for every type of economic activity and location in the Limerick Shannon MASP. However, as a functional economic area, certain assumptions can be made. The NPF, used a ratio of 1.6 between the population growth targets and employment growth. Applying a similar ratio to the population growth targets for the metropolitan area can provide an indication of additional jobs in the Limerick Shannon MASP. Therefore with a projected increase in the population of 30,134 (2026) and 45,132 (2031), additional jobs to 2026 would be in the order of at least 19,000 and additional jobs to 2031 at least 28,200. The recent economic revival in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area has been generally concentrated on financial service companies, such as Northern Trust, and high-end manufacturing and research, such as Regeneron and Jaguar’s new autonomous vehicle research centre. These types of sectors place different infrastructural requirements on the local economy. Table 2 lists the main employment centres. Modern service companies require high quality office space in areas that offer a good quality of life and reliable public transport. The completed Gardens International Centre, the Opera Centre and the planned Cleeves development have the capacity to add 7,000 additional jobs. There is also existing capacity in Ballysimon (c54.6 hectares), Clondrinagh (c 27.7 hectares) and Annacotty (c37.5 hectares). The MASP supports further plans for development of central sites for continued employment growth, which should also add to the core regeneration of Limerick City. The proposed development of the Dock Road provides significant potential. Concentrations of employment outside the city centre area are predominantly at locations in Shannon, Castletroy and Raheen. The MASP area has capacity for expansion of scale at these primary locations. These strategic locations offer the capacity to cater for companies that require greenfield or brownfield sites, access to an international airport, and third level graduates. Name/Type Employment Numbers/ Status Description Capacity Higher Education Institutes 3,000+ 25,000+ students with 6,300 graduates per annum. Strong synergies with extended region and local businesses. UL is recognised for the employability of its students. CONFIRM, based at UL, is a new research centre that develops future smart manufacturing technologies. LIT has strong industry connections and is internationally recognised for its industry focused “Active Learning” courses. Large capacity for growth at UL including the proposed South Clare Economic Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) and a City Centre Campus. Recent expansion of LIT campus to Coonagh with potential for further growth. Shannon Free Zone (SFZ) 8,500+ 160+ companies Largest agglomeration of American companies outside Dublin. Plans to develop SFZ as part of a Mid-West hightech ecosystem. An established industrial base in the technology and automotive sectors, with Jaguar recently planning for a research centre in autonomous driving. Supportive start-up environment with Propeller and Gateway Hub Innovation Centre. 195 hectares Table 3 | Strategic Employment Locations
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES295 Name/Type Employment Numbers/ Status Description Capacity Public Hospitals 3500+ Hospitals within the MASP group include UHL, the Maternity Hospital and St. Johns. It caters to a regional population of up to half a million people. New Accident and Emergency department recently opened, with plans approved for a new 60 bed unit. Plans for expansion including relocation of Maternity Hospital. National Technological Park 3000+ 80+ companies Large graduate pool from UL. Opportunity for industry collaborations. Supportive environment for start-up companies including the Nexus Innovation Centre. 71 hectares Raheen 3000+ 50+ companies Located 3 miles from City Centre, offering brownfield and greenfield sites. 57.5 hectares Garden’s International Centre 900+ The newly completed Garden’s International Centre offers state of the art office space, with the first tenants in place in Q2 2019. It is the first completed part of the Limerick 2030 plan. 700 staff Opera Centre Funding Secured High quality city centre office space. Easy access to graduate pool, international connectivity and a vibrant city centre location. 3,500 staff Cleeves Site In development Cleeve’s is an iconic 10 acre site, located on the northern bank of the Shannon River, just off the city centre. The site is suitable for a mix of uses including education, tourism and commercial space. 3,000 staff 4 hectares Dock Road In development The Limerick Docklands Framework Strategy aims to grow existing commercial activity at SFPC’s 23 hectare Ted Russell Docks, and also provide for the major development of non-core activities along a further 49 acre site. 113.2 hectares Northside Business Campus In development A new business park on the north of the city accessible by public transport, will be developed on the basis of strong links between, and synergies with, LIT and various employment agencies, and will build on the regeneration progress in Moyross.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES296 Strategic Employment Locations a. It is an objective to support the sustainable development of identified and future Strategic Employment Locations and to ensure the delivery of associated infrastructural requirements subject to the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process. b. It is an objective to seek investment to deliver a Connected and Autonomous (CAV) R&D testbed and smart infrastructure in Shannon and a smart city demonstrator in Limerick. c. It is an objective to support the development of the Limerick Docklands Strategy within the context of both commercial and potential future residential development. Limerick Shannon MASP Policy Objective 13 Shannon Free-Zone (SFZ) is 243 hectares in area with more than 7,000 employees in over 100 companies and is home to the largest cluster of American companies in Ireland outside of Dublin. The site is part owned by Shannon Commercial Properties and part privately owned and consists of greenfield and brownfield lands. There is considerable potential for development within this existing zoned landbank for the long-term growth of the Limerick Shannon MASP and surrounding region. It is important to ensure that a range of property solutions are available for different business life stages and that adequate investment in the utilities infrastructure is provided. The following are key priorities for SFZ: • Shannon Group is transforming the SFZ to create the environment for a high-tech eco-system in the Mid-West. Given the success of Phase 1 of the redevelopment, it is now necessary to fast track the continued regeneration of SFZ. • The SFZ Masterplan, currently under development, will provide a detailed development framework strategy for the undeveloped landbank at SFZ East and the brownfield regeneration of SFZ West. The Masterplan will ensure that the land use potential of the lands is maximised and future development takes place in a co-ordinated manner. • Shannon can be at the forefront of a global mobility revolution. It has an established industrial base in the technology & automotive sectors, including global market-leading firms with ambitious investment plans, a plethora of expert SMEs and depth of research expertise. The RSES supports the future development of the automotive and mobility sector in Shannon. • Investment in the sustainable development of the CAV sector in Shannon including the development of a testbed for this transformative technology which can be a key enabler for decarbonising our transport sector. • Cross-agency cooperation in the promotion and development of the IASC cluster • Investment in the utilities infrastructure is necessary to ensure the continued regeneration of the SFZ. Much of the utilities date back to the 1950’s and requires upgrading. Upgrades to the electricity network, the water and wastewater network is necessary to ensure that the economic potential of the SFZ can be achieved. • Westpark which has 2,500-3,000 jobs on a modern campus and which has plans for expansion. 8.4.1 | Shannon Free-Zone
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES297 In common with other higher education institutes, UL is a key economic driver in the Mid-West Region. An opportunity for the development of a South Clare Economic Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) has emerged at UL on a large scale strategic site zoned as a University Zone. The proposal which is being developed by the University in conjunction with Clare County Council, prior to consideration by the Government, reflects the strategic economic role of the UL which is located in both Clare and Limerick. The establishment of a SDZ at this strategic location will be a catalyst for the further economic and social development of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area and the wider region. It will establish a zone of substantial scale and strategic importance, advancing the region by creating a prime global site for International investment with the potential to generate 3,500 jobs. Investment by industry will involve collaboration with the University in a new model of learning delivered by industry-partnered academies directed at attracting the best multinational employers with a guaranteed recruitment feed. The zone will create the potential for world-class learning, research and development. Based on the existing zoning in the Clare County Development Plan, the proposed South Clare Economic SDZ is planned to become Europe’s first 21st Century University town and gown environment, merging education, enterprise and employment, modelled on the very best of modern on-campus living. It will be a model of sustainable urban living, education and enterprise, building on the standards of the existing campus. The development of the proposed SDZ will also allow for the redevelopment and integration of the Errina Canal to link the nearby villages of Clonlara, O’Briensbridge and Castleconnell, and provide a direct inland waterway connection between Limerick City and Belfast to reopen the historic all-island inland waterways system. The envisaged re-opening of the canal will significantly boost economic activity in these villages, as has been the experience in each settlement on the route of the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell canal project. The proximity to Ireland’s first hydroelectric power station at Ardnacrusha will provide a direct feed of green energy to the zone. The impact of the zone on the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area would also be significant as the site’s enterprise population focus would be on an international scale with partnerships with Europe, the United States and Asia. Local settlements in the Metropolitan Area would also benefit from the appropriate place-making infrastructure of the zone that will enhance its attractiveness to residents from overseas. The site will be accessible through a new link from the planned LNDR linking the zone directly to Shannon International Airport and onto the cities of Dublin, Cork and Galway via motorway. This is a potential project of scale from a European perspective. From a national perspective this is an exemplar project enabling an early win to the balanced regional development strategy set out in the National Planning Framework. At local level, the economic resurgence effect of this development will be highly significant for Limerick City and will complement the Limerick 2030 plan. 8.4.2 | South Clare Economic Strategic Development Zone South Clare Economic / UL proposed Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) It is an objective of the RSES to support an application for the designation and subsequent development of the lands zoned as University in the Clare County Development Plan 2017-2023 as an Economic Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), subject to the provisions of the Planning Act and all environmental considerations. Limerick Shannon MASP Policy Objective 14
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES298 8.5 | Shannon International Airport The second largest airport in Ireland with a capacity of 4.5 million passengers annually, Shannon International Airport is a strategic national asset. It serves a catchment area beyond the Mid-West and is experiencing significant growth. The Airport has the longest runway in the country allowing it to cater for fully-laden flights to Asia and South America and is the only airport in the country operating with no flight time restrictions. Research by the ESRI shows that foreign firm’s value airport access above access to motorways. Access to airports is particularly important for high tech FDI and knowledge intensive firms, key drivers for economic development. The importance of Shannon International Airport is also evident in the fact that over 40% of US FDI companies are within the airport’s catchment area. The IASC is a significant part of the aviation industry and the Limerick Shannon MASP recognises and supports the role of IASC as a significant opportunity to be a truly global player in the aerospace industry. The MASP supports the continued sustainable development and investment in the airports surrounding land bank, zoned in the Shannon Town LAP to act as a catalyst for economic growth in the Region. Shannon International Airport and the Shannon Free Zone are home to the IASC, the largest aerospace cluster in Ireland. IASC is home to over 60 companies and employs over 2,600 people in Shannon. The worldwide aircraft fleet is expected to double in the next 20 years, and there is a unique opportunity for Ireland to become a global leader in aerospace and aviation services sector, with Shannon at the heart of this endeavour. Shannon Group has secured planning permission to build a wide body aircraft paint hangar at Shannon International Airport. This is in accordance with the National Aviation Policy to “encourage the development of the IASC (IASC) at Shannon”. This will be the first new widebody hangar constructed at an Irish airport in over 20 years and is the kind of expansion that was envisaged for IASC to grow a globally recognised and internationally competitive aviation industry cluster in and around the airport campus. The Limerick Shannon MASP recognises and supports the role of IASC as a significant opportunity to become a truly global player in the aerospace industry. The MASP supports the development of the IASC cluster at Shannon as recognised in National Aviation Policy and aims to ensure that cross-agency cooperation will continue to develop IASC at Shannon to meet industry demand. Multi-agency collaboration is required to improve and develop the infrastructure to support the development of the IASC cluster. Further development of maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) related infrastructure would be important to support the future development of the IASC cluster and the spin off industries in the MASP and wider region. International Aviation Services Centre (IASC)
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES299 8.6 | Shannon Foynes Port As Ireland’s second largest port in terms of total throughput/trade handled and access to deep-water resources, Shannon Foynes Port is designated as a Tier 1 Port of National Significance. This means that the port must continue to play a key role, both regionally and nationally, in meeting the external trading requirements of the Irish economy and that the continued successful commercial development of the Port represents a key policy objective. While outside the MASP area the Port is of strategic importance to the Limerick – Shannon MASP. The MASP supports the continued development of Shannon Foynes Port and recognises the significant opportunities for the Region and Ireland due to its deep waters. The MASP supports and promotes the inclusion of Shannon Foynes Port onto the EU core network corridor as it brings significant investment opportunities in the form of FDI potential and as well as supporting enhanced connectivity with Ireland’s European partners. The N69 route to Foynes does not meet the standards of reliability and connectivity required to serve a port to support foreign and indigenous investment, nor to maximise tourism potential. The delivery of the Foynes to Limerick Road Improvement Scheme is a key infrastructural project. Connectivity to the motorway network will be critical to increasing the Ports economic impacts in the future. Reinstatement of the Limerick to Foynes rail line, linking Ireland’s deepest port to the national rail network is a key priority for Shannon Foynes Port. The MASP supports this ambition, as it will enhance Shannon Foynes Port as key future growth enabler. Enhancing connectivity from Shannon International Airport to drive economic development along the entire west coast of Ireland, the Region and the Midlands is a priority for the Limerick Shannon MASP. It is imperative that the connections from Shannon are maintained and improved. Year-round connectivity to transatlantic and European hubs will be vital to support both business and tourism. While passenger numbers reached nearly 1.9 million in 2018, existing infrastructure at Shannon has the capacity to deal with 4.5 million passengers without additional investment. Nearly 95% of Irish air traffic growth in the last five years goes through Dublin Airport, putting greater pressure on the capital’s airport. It is important to note that Shannon International Airport can immediately relieve the congestion in Dublin Airport. Shannon International Airport a. The Limerick Shannon MASP recognises Shannon International Airport as a national and infrastructural driver of economic, social and tourism growth. It is an objective to develop and enhance the strategic role of Shannon International Airport and to advocate for a policy environment that supports a regional distribution of air traffic and for a greater regional focus by national agencies. b. It is an objective, subject to the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process, to supports the utilisation of the existing investment in Shannon International Airport and its surrounding land bank to act as a catalyst for economic growth in the region. c. The Limerick Shannon MASP recognises and supports the role of IASC as a significant opportunity for the Mid-West Region to become a global player in the aerospace industry. It is an objective to develop the IASC cluster at Shannon as recognised in National Aviation Policy and to work to ensure that cross-agency cooperation will continue to develop the IASC to meet industry demand. Limerick Shannon MASP Policy Objective 15
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES300 Shannon Foynes Port a. It is an objective, subject to the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process, including SEA and AA as appropriate, to support the continued expansion of Shannon Foynes Port and to recognise the significant opportunities for the Southern Region and Ireland by virtue of its deep waters. b. It is an objective to support and promote the inclusion of Shannon Foynes Port onto the EU core network corridor as it would bring significant investment opportunities to the region in the form of FDI potential and as well as supporting enhanced external connectivity with Ireland’s European partners. c. It is an objective to support the reinstatement of the Limerick to Foynes rail line and the delivery of the Foynes to Limerick Road Improvement Scheme. d. It is an objective to safeguard and maintain Foynes Island as a vital port asset and to support the provision of natural deep water berthage on the island. Limerick Shannon MASP Policy Objective 16 8.7 | Retail Shopping habits and retail are subject to continuous change. Furthermore, a lack of population density, the growth of suburban shopping centres and the significant growth in online shopping are contributing to low levels of footfall within the city centre. With the loss of retail activity, urban centres lose attractiveness, vitality and liveability. Retail plays a central role in placemaking and creating attractive liveable environments, enabling strong mixeduse urban cores and facilitating regeneration. Retail and the city centre experience must be reshaped and adapted to this changed circumstance. This will require improvements to access, enhanced sustainable transport connectivity and a significantly improved customer experience of visiting Limerick City Centre and Shannon Town Centre. The Retail Strategy for the Mid-West Region 2010-16 highlighted that Limerick City Centre fell behind other Irish cities and no longer performed to its Tier 1 Status in the shopping hierarchy9 and that too much trade was lost to suburban locations. The Strategy sought to re-establish Limerick City Centre at the top of the regional hierarchy as the preferred location for new retail development. The need to regenerate Shannon town centre and improvements in the retail offer to create a sense of focus on arrival at the town centre is also a priority. The heart of retail activity in Limerick City focuses on the core area of Cruises Street, O’Connell Street, Roches Street, William Street and Henry Street -Arthur’s Quay is the only purpose-built shopping centre in the city centre. The transition to Irish Town and the Milk Market area offers a concentration of restaurants, bars and night clubs which represent the core of the night time economy. It is an objective to reposition Limerick City Centre at the top of the retail hierarchy by improving the range and quality of shopping on offer, enhanced customer experience of visiting the city centre. A contemporary shopping offer with leisure – food, drink and entertainment at the heart of the experience. This can be achieved by radically improving the city centre experience in the prime shopping area. The retailing business model is evolving in a digital direction. Therefore, retail should be at the centre of any digital strategies developed by local authorities. A city or town centre should attract consumers by offering a unique retail experience and to evolve in line with data about shopping preferences and behaviour. The MASP supports funding mechanisms to support traditional retailers in the transition to technology led, experiential retail models. 9. Colliers CRE, Retail Strategy for the Mid-West Region 2010 – 2016
Source Southern Regional Assembly: Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region (January 2020) · 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.