Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027

1. Page 131

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 123 advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, public procurement and other regulations affecting business. The core supports provided by Westmeath Local Enterprise Office include: • Financial Assistance • Provision of Business Information and Advice • Business Training • Encouraging Enterprise Development in County Westmeath The LEO has also assisted businesses with trade show costs, website development, new product development and research, specialised mentoring, marketing, recruitment, re-location, advice on expansion, networking and sales development. Each year, approximately 750 people avail of training courses on a range of business topics. 5.11 The Role of the County Development Plan This co-ordinated approach to economic development within the Council allows for greater consistency and a plan-led, sustainable approach in assisting the future economic growth of the County. This Plan is primarily focussed on spatial planning and the LECP incorporates priorities and actions on economic development. The Plan sets out a number of key functions which is important in promoting the economic growth of the County, including in particular; • Linking the economic and spatial dimensions of the Plan by aligning economic growth with the Settlement Hierarchy focusing on key employment locations as drivers for growth and recognising the critical role of rural places in the economic development of the County. • Providing a sufficient quantum of appropriately zoned and serviced lands to facilitate enterprise opportunities and employment creation. • Ensuring that existing and planned infrastructure (including water services, public transportation and telecommunications) is maximised in the identification of zoning and servicing of lands. • Identification of key industry and business sectors supported by policy objectives to accommodate their anticipated needs, where appropriate. • Ensuring positive placemaking through the development of a network of attractive and sustainable towns, villages and rural areas throughout the County for people to live, work and leisure within. • Promoting the creation of clusters within sectors, maximising associated economies of scale. • Futureproofing by way of a flexible policy framework supporting for example smart specialisation. 5.12 Key Stakeholders in the Economic growth of Westmeath Stakeholders include: DBEI, EMRA, Westmeath County Council, LEO, the enterprise agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA etc), the Regional Skills Forum, tourism bodies, private sector ‘enterprise champions’, and others.

2. Page 132

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 124 5.13 Economic Development Strategy (EDS) The overall aim of this Economic Development Strategy (EDS) is to provide for smart, sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic growth within the County. The purpose of the EDS is to advance the County’s existing economic profile, by way of demonstrating and maximising on the County’s assets and competitive advantages in terms of its strategic central location within Ireland, infrastructural provisions in-situ and availability of a skilled and educated workforce within the County and region as a whole. This EDS has afforded due cognisance to recent economic, demographic and employment trends within the County and Region as well as the three main principles of the RSES in terms of Economic Opportunity, Climate Action and Healthy Placemaking. It is not intended that this EDS be a single entity in outlining the County’s overall economic development strategy, but rather is an overall guide which informs and assists in collaborating all facets concerning the economic growth of the County, where possible. Westmeath’s Economic Development Strategy is Structured in Broad Terms around Six Guiding Principles as follows: 5.13.1 Location of Employment (Guiding Principle 1) The identification of appropriate locations for employment uses within Westmeath is principally determined by the principles of proper planning and sustainable development, which is a core component of the economic strategy for the County. It is also guided by the County’s Settlement Hierarchy and is consistent with the NPF and RSES. The NPF identifies that the central location of the Midlands region (including Westmeath) can be leveraged to enable significant strategic investment to a greater extent than at present, supported by a sustainable pattern of population growth, with a focus on strategic national, employment and infrastructure development, quality of life and a strengthening of the urban cores of principal settlements within the County. 1. Location of Employment 2. Availability of Land & Infrastructure 3. Skills & Innovation (Smart Economy) 4. Promoting Economic Development & Local Enterprise 5. Transition to a Low Carbon Economy (The Green Economy) 6. Quality of Life

3. Page 133

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 125 The optimum location for intensive employment uses within the County has been identified on lands which are appropriately zoned and serviced; brownfield sites/regeneration lands and areas where economic clustering can be delivered and/or where new clustering opportunities exist. 5.13.2 Strategic Regional Location and Status within the Hierarchy Westmeath’s core strategy and settlement hierarchy provides a quantitative vision for the overall spatial development of the County over the plan period, with Athlone Regional Growth Centre identified as the primary economic driver for the region and surrounding areas, supported by Mullingar (County Town/Key Town) and the County’s Self-Sustaining Growth Towns, Self-Sustaining Towns and Rural Places.

4. Page 134

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 126 Location of Employment - Economic Development Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 5.1 Maximise the sustainable economic potential of Westmeath, and its nationally strategic central location through sustainable means, being the County’s unique strengths and its advantageous position within the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly. CPO 5.2 Facilitate the economic development of Westmeath to create a viable and favourable economic environment for business and enterprise whilst delivering sustainable jobs, employment opportunity and an enriched standard of living for everyone, both within the County and beyond. CPO 5.3 Facilitate and support the continuation of balanced population and employment growth, with a focus on strengthening the County’s urban structure in accordance with the County’s settlement hierarchy. CPO 5.4 Collaborate with key agencies in the identification, scope, development and promoting of sites as potential enterprise landing spaces throughout the County. CPO 5.5 Ensure that there is a sufficient quantum of zoned lands to facilitate a range of enterprise across the County in line with the Settlement Hierarchy. CPO 5.6 Support economic development at locations that maximise existing infrastructural provision, particularly in relation to locating high employee generating enterprise and industry proximate to high capacity public transport networks and links. CPO 5.7 Identify locations for strategic employment development within Athlone and Mullingar as part of any future Urban Area Plan/Local Area Plan and support the economic development of the remaining settlements of the County in line with the relevant settlement plan for their area. CPO 5.8 Promote quality employment and residential developments in proximity to each other in order to reduce the need to travel and ensure that suitable local accommodation is available to meet the needs of workers in the County. CPO 5.9 Support existing successful clusters in Westmeath, such as those in the ICT, manufacturing and agri-food sectors, and promote new and emerging clustering opportunities across all economic sectors within the County. CPO 5.10 Accommodate valid propositions for enterprise development that may emerge for which there are strong locational or asset-based drivers that do not apply to the same extent elsewhere.

5. Page 135

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 127 5.13.3 Athlone (Tier 1 – Regional Growth Centre) Athlone’s strategic location and scale of population, employment and services has an influence which extends over two regions (EMRA and NWRA). Athlone has a high-level of self-sustaining employment and services that excels its role as an economic driver for the region and its wider catchment. Its resilient employment base includes existing economic clusters of indigenous and international companies in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, research and development, medical devices, ICT and software development sectors. Athlone’s economic base also performs strongly in attracting and sustaining Foreign Direct Investment. Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) and Athlone Business and Technology Park are important focal points for the development and strengthening of industry and higher education links in research and development (R&D). This has increased the attractiveness of Athlone as a location for talent, innovation and investment. It is recognised that there is further potential to build links with industry to develop a pipeline of employment focussed skills of specialised, high-tech industries for entry into the workforce. A Joint Urban Area Plan between Westmeath County Council and Roscommon County Council is necessary to ensure that Athlone can continue to have the capacity to grow sustainably and to secure investment as the key regional centre in the Midlands. Athlone Regional Growth Centre Economic Development Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 5.11 Provide for, as part of any future Joint Urban Area Plan (UAP) for Athlone, the development of Athlone as an attractive, vibrant and highly accessible Regional Centre and economic driver for the Region. CPO 5.12 Promote Athlone as a key location for regional economic development supporting the provision of increased employment through the expansion of the existing enterprise ecosystem in Athlone and smart specialisation and support the provision of physical infrastructure and zoned lands to realise the delivery of strategic employment lands in central accessible locations. CPO 5.13 Support the role of Athlone Institute of Technology as a center of excellence for education and in achieving its status as a Technological University. CPO 5.14 Support the development of a cross sectoral approach to promote Athlone as a key tourism destination in the Midlands, building on Fáilte Ireland’s “Hidden Heartlands” brand and the “Shannon Tourism Masterplan”, to develop the recreation and amenity potential of waterways including the River Shannon and Lough Ree and the development of a greenway network including the Galway to Dublin Cycleway.

6. Page 136

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 128 CPO 5.15 Support the development of Joint Economic, Transport and Retail Plans in collaboration with Roscommon County Council and all other relevant agencies, to facilitate the growth of Athlone as a regional economic driver 5.13.4 Mullingar (Tier 2 –Key Town (RSES) and County Town) Mullingar (being the County town and a designated Key Town) and its strategic central location within the County is a strong economic driver and the capacity to act as a regional driver and complement Athlone, being a designated Regional Growth Centre. It has potential to capitalise upon and augment the existing high ratio of jobs to resident workers within the town, subject to the requisite investment in employment creation, services, amenities and sustainable transport. The RSES identifies that the economic role of Mullingar can be supported through realising the potential of the existing IDA presence and property, advance development of high-quality enterprise and employment zones including existing business parks; and support and promotion within sectors such as engineering and ICT, consumer products, financial services, shared services (multi-lingual), R&D, robotics and advanced manufacturing. Mullingar’s potential for tourism and eventing is also supported. A Local Area Plan for Mullingar is necessary to ensure that Mullingar can continue to have the capacity to grow sustainably and to secure investment as the key town in the Midlands. Mullingar Key Town Economic Development Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 5.16 Provide for, as part of any future Local Area Plan (LAP) for Mullingar, the development of Mullingar as an attractive, vibrant and highly accessible Key Town and economic base for the Region. CPO 5.17 Support Mullingar’s role as an important employment hub by promoting economic development and clustering of related enterprises. Continue to build resilience within Mullingar’s enterprise base, to allow businesses to withstand new challenges and realise sustained growth and employment creation for the longer-term. CPO 5.18 Support Mullingar’s role as a tourism hub having regard to its accessibility to key tourist destinations in the Region including proximity to natural amenities and recreational opportunities including the Galway to Dublin Greenway. CPO 5.19 Promote the plan led development and regeneration of publicly owned land banks in Mullingar for employment, education, community, cultural and recreational opportunities and to support the economic development and regeneration of the town centre.

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 129 CPO 5.20 Support the development and expansion of the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar, including any necessary supporting infrastructure. 5.13.5 Castlepollard (Tier 3 – Self-Sustaining Growth Town) Castlepollard is a Self-Sustaining Growth Town and an important driver for the local economy of north Westmeath and its bordering counties. Opportunity exists in building upon its established economic base, in particular the strong manufacturing, retail and agricultural sectors, promoting its role as a tourism base for north Westmeath and securing benefits from spin-offs given its proximity to Mullingar (Key town). 5.13.6 Kilbeggan (Tier 3 – Self-Sustaining Growth Town) Kilbeggan town is strategically located on the M6 Dublin-Galway motorway which is recognised as a major inter-urban transport route. It has capacity within existing Business Parks and enterprise and employment zoned lands to accommodate future economic growth. Kilbeggan is relatively selfsufficient and contained in terms of employment, commercial and social facilities. There are a significant number of employers in the town located in the existing enterprise and employment sites. The Kilbeggan Distillery and racecourse are important to the local economy as are its handful of large national and international employers. 5.13.7 Moate (Tier 3 – Self-Sustaining Growth Town) Moate town is located within close proximity to the M6 Dublin-Galway motorway which is recognised as a major inter-urban transport route. Moate has capacity within existing Business Parks and enterprise and employment zoned lands to accommodate future economic growth and to secure benefits through spin-offs arising from its proximity to Athlone. This is reflected in a large proportion of the population commutes to Athlone on a daily basis. 5.13.8 Kinnegad (Tier 3 – Self-Sustaining Town) Kinnegad, due to its proximity to Dublin experienced high levels of population growth in the 1990s. The provision of future economic opportunities has a key role to play in reversing commuting trends through increasing the ratio of jobs to resident workers. Self-Sustaining Growth Towns - Economic Development Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 5.21 Seek to encourage investment in self-sustaining towns by identifying and establishing new economic roles and functions and enhancement of local infrastructure and amenities; facilitating amenities and services catch-up, jobs and/or improved sustainable transport links to surrounding settlements.

8. Page 138

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 130 CPO 5.22 Support the proportionate economic growth of and appropriately designed development in self-sustaining towns that will contribute to their regeneration and renewal. CPO 5.23 Seek to target investment and location of new business in the core areas of the County’s settlements through sustainable targeted measures that address vacancy, encourage economic development and deliver sustainable reuse and regeneration outcomes. CPO 5.24 Promote development that encourages more jobs and activity within existing settlements throughout the County. 5.13.9 Rural Places: Towns, Villages and the Countryside Westmeath’s rural towns, villages and the open countryside are vital to sustaining the County’s wider rural hinterland, providing sustainable rural employment including local services provision, appropriate scale commercial enterprises, indigenous industry and micro-enterprise. Self-Sustaining Towns Economic Development Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 5.25 Promote commensurate population and employment growth in the designated Self- Sustaining towns, providing for natural increases and to become more economically self-sustaining, in line with the quality and capacity of public transport, services and infrastructure available. CPO 5.26 Seek to support the sustainability of remaining towns and villages, by supporting appropriately scaled economic development and services together with the enhancement of local infrastructure and amenities and improved sustainable transport links. CPO 5.27 Support the proportionate economic growth of and appropriately designed development in rural towns and villages that will contribute to their regeneration and renewal. CPO 5.28 Support the regeneration of the core areas of the County’s settlements through sustainable targeted measures that address vacancy, encourage economic development and deliver sustainable reuse and regeneration outcomes. CPO 5.29 The Council will favourably consider proposals for enterprise and employment uses on their merits in rural locations and where their specific location offers amenity, environmental and economic advantage. Such enterprises or considered industrial projects, new or expanded, may sometimes require sites outside settlements because

9. Page 139

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   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 131 of their size or other specific site requirements. Such projects will be assessed taking account of: • The contribution of the proposed development to the county’s economy; • The contribution of the proposed development to the county’s environment and the principles of sustainable development; • Assessment of any potential environmental effects; • The economic viability and availability of alternative sites; and • National planning policy. It will be the responsibility of the developer to explore all environmental impacts, both local and of wider consequence. The Council will consider not only the immediate needs and benefits, but the wider long-term environmental effects of the proposal. 5.13.10 Availability of Land and Supporting Infrastructure (Guiding Principle 2) A successful and sustainable local economy is dependent upon the existence of supporting infrastructure that is of high quality and has sufficient capacity. This is particularly relevant for the provision of public transport, water and waste water services, broadband, international connectivity and energy supply. Westmeath will engage with service providers to ensure that the required infrastructure is provided in appropriate locations identified for enterprise and employment growth. It is acknowledged that some enterprise and employment uses may not always be appropriately located on Enterprise and Employment zoned lands. In this regard, some new enterprise and employment projects may require sites outside settlements because of their size, type or specific site requirements. Availability of Land and Supporting Infrastructure Economic Development Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 5.30 Support value proposition in the potential delivery of ‘remote working hubs’ and enterprise landing space for the Midlands Region. CPO 5.31 Engage with key stakeholders and assist in leveraging opportunities in big data and data analytics, where appropriate. CPO 5.32 Support and facilitate delivery of the National Broadband Plan as a means of developing further opportunities for enterprise, employment, education, innovation and skills development for those who live and work in rural areas throughout Westmeath, where appropriate.

10. Page 140

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    ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 132 CPO 5.33 Liaise and engage with all relevant public service providers to ensure that zoned lands for economic development purposes are serviced in a timely fashion to facilitate opportunities for employment and enterprise creation. CPO 5.34 Zone appropriately sized land banks for enterprise & employment development within the Joint Urban Area Plan for Athlone and the Mullingar Local Area Plan and support the development of FDI/IDA appropriate business premises within the respective plans. 5.13.11 Skills & Innovation and The Smart Economy (Guiding Principle 3) This Economic Development Strategy (EDS) recognises that partnership and collaboration between business, local government and enabling agencies is at the heart of enabling a vibrant economy and sustainable economic growth. National and regional policy highlights the need to develop networks between education, research, enabling agencies and business. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector encompasses software, IT services, electronics and hardware, and communications services. The sector has a manufacturing component for semi-conductors, computer hardware, microelectronics and telecommunications equipment and devices, and a strong focus on research and development. The sector has been recognised as being of national economic importance for a number of years, with national frameworks pursuing policies to attract leading multinational companies, while a strong indigenous software industry has developed in association. In the future, there will be opportunities to build on the existing enterprise base and develop strengths in emerging digital segments and in the strategic growth area of analytics and big data. This will require a range of actions including steps to develop and attract suitable human capital and facilitation of appropriate technological infrastructure. The Midland Regional Enterprise Plan (REP) plan highlights that the manufacturing sector is particularly important in Westmeath and is a driver of innovation and technological advancements and is an important employer accounting for 11.6% of employment within Westmeath, which transcends across a broad range of skills levels and generates additional indirect jobs throughout the economy. The role of AIT in education, research, innovation and enterprise programmes and the Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) facility (located in Mullingar) along with other large manufacturing industry is recognition that County Westmeath has the potential to develop as a centre of excellence for the development and adoption of advanced manufacturing processes and technologies within Ireland. The development of a new ‘Midlands Technology Campus’ on an AIT site has the potential to support knowledge intensive enterprise and industry in the region, building skills and capabilities in companies, providing a dynamic industry focussed R&D environment, industry access to specialised

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