Buncrana Report
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Strategic Strengths and Future Strategic Direction of Buncrana, County Donegal A Donegal County Council Commissioned Study August 2020 Cover Image: © Matthew Clifford of CE Óige Foróige Club, Buncrana ii The information and opinions expressed in this document have been compiled by the authors from sources believed to be reliable and in good faith. However, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to their accuracy, completeness or correctness. All opinions contained in this document constitute the authors judgement as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice. iii Acknowledgements The ICLRD would like to thank Donegal County Council for their assistance, advice and guidance throughout the course of this study. We also convey our sincerest thanks to the numerous interviewees and focus group attendees who were consulted during the course of this research; the views and opinions expressed contributed significantly to this work. The research team takes this opportunity to thank the ICLRD partners for their support during this study, and Justin Gleeson of the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) for his assistance in the mapping of various datasets. iv Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Purpose of this Report ................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 The North West City Region: Positioning Buncrana .................................................................... 8 1.3 Report Methodology .................................................................................................................. 10 1.4 This Report.................................................................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER 2: BUNCRANA - THROUGH THE LENS OF POLICY ANALYSIS AND LITERATURE REVIEW .... 14 2.1 Overcoming Peripherality and Maximising Potential ............................................................... 14 2.2 City Regions: Strengthening Functional Relations .................................................................... 15 2.3 Adopting a Place-Based Approach to Development ................................................................. 15 2.4 Promoting Resilience and Vibrancy ........................................................................................... 16 2.5 Harnessing the Local Geography – Place-based Development in Coastal Towns .................... 17 2.6 The Policy Context – Supranational Influences and Frameworks ............................................ 18 2.7 National and Regional Policy ..................................................................................................... 19 2.8 County and Sub-County Policies, Plans and Initiatives ............................................................. 22 2.9 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 23 CHAPTER 3: UNDERSTANDING BUNCRANA - SETTING THE BASELINE ............................................... 25 3.1 Population Change ..................................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Age Profile .................................................................................................................................. 30 3.3 Diversity ...................................................................................................................................... 31 3.4 Household Composition ............................................................................................................. 33 3.5 Fuel Consumption ...................................................................................................................... 34 3.6 Composition of the Labour Force and Occupations .................................................................. 35 3.7 Modes of Travel to Work .......................................................................................................... 39 3.8 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................. 39 CHAPTER 4: BUNCRANA – PLACE STANDARD PERCEPTIONS .............................................................. 40 4.1 Perceptions of Local Stakeholders ............................................................................................. 41 4.1.1 Change over Time ................................................................................................................ 45 4.1.2 Cluster Analysis ................................................................................................................... 46 4.2 Business Community Perspectives ............................................................................................ 47 4.3 Perceptions of the Buncrana Diaspora ...................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 5: BUNCRANA - A TOWN IN TRANSITION ............................................................................ 52 v 5.1 Mobility and Accessibility .................................................................................................... 54 5.1.1 Current Situation/the baseline .................................................................................... 55 5.1.2 Current Issues - including opportunities and challenges ............................................ 59 5.1.3 Stakeholder Perspectives .................................................................................................... 60 5.1.4 The Potential ................................................................................................................ 63 5.2 Economy ..................................................................................................................................... 67 5.2.1 Current Situation/the Baseline ........................................................................................... 69 5.2.2 Current Issues – including opportunities and challenges ................................................... 72 5.2.3 Stakeholder Perspectives .................................................................................................... 73 5.2.4 The Potential ....................................................................................................................... 77 5.3 Community Well-being ........................................................................................................ 83 5.3.1 Current Situation/the Baseline ........................................................................................... 83 5.3.2 Current Issues - including opportunities and challenges ............................................ 84 5.3.3 Stakeholder Perspectives .................................................................................................... 85 5.3.4 The Potential ................................................................................................................ 89 5.4 Environment ............................................................................................................................... 92 5.4.1 Current Situation/the Baseline .................................................................................... 92 5.4.2 Current Issues - including opportunities and challenges ............................................ 99 5.4.3 Stakeholder Perspectives ........................................................................................... 100 5.4.4 The Potential .............................................................................................................. 102 5.5 Governance (Community Engagement and Participation) ..................................................... 104 5.5.1 Current Situation/the Baseline ......................................................................................... 104 5.5.2 Current Issues - including opportunities and challenges ................................................. 105 5.5.3 Stakeholder Perspectives .................................................................................................. 106 5.5.4 The Potential ..................................................................................................................... 109 CHAPTER 6: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ........................................................................................... 111 6.1 CASE 1: YOUGHAL, Co. Cork ..................................................................................................... 111 6.1.1 A historic town: cycles of growth and decline .................................................................. 111 6.1.2 Heritage: the emergence of a new industry ..................................................................... 112 6.1.3 Contemporary Plan: staying on the heritage path .......................................................... 116 6.1.4 Future Visions and Projects ............................................................................................... 117 6.1.5 Remaining Challenges ....................................................................................................... 117 6.2 CASE 2: NEWCASTLE,