INTRODUCTION

 The function of the Plan is to inform and The need for a Spatial and Economic  changes in the role of Shannon Group and Current Context with the consequent chang- drive the economic, social and physical de-  Recent development in has primarily Plan for Ennis up to 2040 has arisen es in regional perspectives, linkages and velopment of Ennis as an investment loca- been residential in nature and located as the Town and its Environs faces spheres of influence tion and place to live. around the fringe and in the environs of the specific economic, infrastructural, en-  the key assets and potential of the County Town.  There will be three distinct but integrated vironmental and physical challenges, including Tourism, Shannon Estuary, access elements in the form of an economic action to third level institutions and renewable en-  The Town Centre continues to face challeng- plan, a spatial implementation plan and a including transportation, demo- ergy es in terms of commercial vacancy, including marketing plan. on principal shopping streets, the public graphic and population change, retail  the Vision for Ennis as set out in the Clare realm, pedestrian amenity and connectivity  The economic action plan will identify spe- vitality and viability, availability of County Development Plan 2017-2023 with surrounding areas. cific actions to drive the enhancement of the modern office and employment ac- Engaging with stakeholders, undertaking urban economy of Ennis to 2040 and beyond. commodation, environmental con- design, economic and transportation analysis and  The Town Centre does, however, contain a developing initial strategic recommendations to number of locations that have the potential  The spatial implementation plan will provide siderations and Town Centre accessi- facilitate collaborative input from the community for development/redevelopment. a spatial expression to the economic activi- bility. fosters confidence, development and investment ties proposed and will be formulated to  A framework for the regeneration of the in the final Plan. It will have the potential to stimu- match investment opportunities with a plan Town Centre that will build momentum for The Plan has been commissioned in light of the late the economy, transform quality of life and for physical development, including develop- change has been progressed with the pro- recovery in the economy and the adoption of a enhance the environment. ment of the public realm and strategic sites new National Planning Framework (NPF) for Ire- duction of Plans for key areas including Par- which acknowledges the significant architec- nell Street and O’Connell Square, Barrack land to 2040 and a National Development Plan, tural, cultural and historic heritage of Ennis. 2018-2027 which sets out the investment priori- Projects Square and Old Barrack Street and the Lanes and Bow-Ways.  Finally, the marketing plan will advise on ties that will underpin the successful implementa- Partnerships tion of the NPF over a ten year period through a how best to attract investment for existing total investment estimated at €116 billion. The Spatial and Economic Plan commercial centres and how to attract local, national and international businesses and  The Spatial and Economic Plan will set the The production of the Spatial and Economic Plan THE people to avail of the new facilities and long-term economic plan for the County for Ennis is also timely in terms of: PLAN offerings in the Ennis and Environs Area. Town of Ennis to focus and agree on an eco-

 the production of the Regional Spatial and nomic future and spatial pattern to 2040. Economic Strategy for the Southern Regional  The Plan will set an economic framework to Assembly drive prosperity in line with a clear vision.

 the opening of the M18 to People

PROCESS TO DATE

Stakeholder Workshops are included as an The Preparation of the Economic and Stakeholder Consultation integral part of the project programme. Spatial Plan for Ennis to 2040 began  Stakeholder Engagement is an important el- ement in the overall process of producing  The engagement with the public and key in June 2018 and is being progressed the Plan. This approach provides a basis for a stakeholders help the Team to identify the as part of a pre-determined Work well-informed final Plan which includes in- next steps in the project and realise the po- Programme with a Draft due for pub- puts on foot of collaboration with the public. tential of the Town through local knowledge and expertise. lic display in January 2019.  It is vital to identify and gather the opinions of stakeholders who live and work in the ar-  Identifying a future vision for the Town aids A primary aim of the project is to en- ea as local knowledge is invaluable to the the preparation of the Plan and provides fo- gage with residents, workers and vis- depth of detail included in the Plan. cus for the effective development of the lo- cal economy and the creation of a quality itors to maximise the potential for  To encourage participation in the project place to live. Ennis to become a more attractive and to build positive momentum for its prep- aration, Public Information Sessions and place to live, work and visit.

GVA are appointed by Clare County Council to lead Evaluating Opportunities a multi—disciplinary team to undertake the prep- Today everyone will have the option to provide aration of an Economic and Spatial Plan for Ennis feedback which will be collected and inform deci- to 2040. sions around opportunities that could include:

As experts in the area of economic development  Growth sectors and spatial planning in Ireland, GVA, along with our partners, particularly those specialising in ur-  Urban improvement ban design, transport, the environment and herit-  Better mobility age have begun the process of gathering the infor- mation necessary to produce a plan for the sus-  Enhanced Public Realm tainable development of Ennis. “IF YOU PLAN CITIES FOR CARS AND TRAFFIC, The team are currently completing the research YOU GET CARS AND TRAFFIC. IF YOU PLAN FOR phase of the project with this public information PEOPLE AND PLACES, YOU GET PEOPLE AND event feeding into the next stage of evaluating op- PLACES” portunities. - FRED KENT, FOUNDER, PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES Image: First Stakeholder Workshop

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Stakeholder engagement involves The Approach Who is involved in the process: the introduction of key principles  Stakeholder Engagement is an important ele- The Team consists of members Clare County Council in the Economic Development ment in the overall process and occurs at differ- that shape and form the final output and Physical Development Directorates. Working with the expertise provided by ent levels in line with a project brief and pro- the Consultant Team, there is a collaborative effort to engage with organisations of the project. Feedback is generated gramme. through interaction with the public and groups with a keen interest in among other things the local economy, commu-  A ‘Steering Group’ and ‘Working Group’ has nity initiatives, public realm and physical development. and various bodies, such as Govern- been established consisting of the Project / Con- ment / State Agencies, Clare County sultant Team and local business people. Council, Ennis Chamber of Com-  The collaboration with the business sector en- LOCAL AUTHORITY ENNIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE merce, Clare Public Participation Net- sures frequent communication and sharing of work, Members of the Public and ideas and opinions openly and freely. other stakeholders as identified  Targeted Workshops are integral to the ap- The Council plays a pivotal role in producing plans and proach and offer the opportunity for partici- Consists of key business operating in the town whose co- throughout the process. strategies to encouraging positive outcomes for Ennis. operation is essential to the renewal area. pants to provide feedback in an organised and The type of engagement can take a number of pre-determined fashion. CLARE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION NETWORK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC forms but the purpose is to:  The Workshops range from roundtable discus-  Facilitate participation sions to more open formats consisting of back- ground material to initial proposal/conclusions.  Allow for opinions to be expressed  Public information sessions such as today are Allows for the voices of community and voluntary groups Residents, workers and visitors to Ennis who have an inter- in the County to be heard. est in the future development of the town.  Gather comments and ideas important to ensure the general public are both informed and participate in the process. CONSULTANT TEAM

 Public displays of drafts of the project as ideas and solutions will also allow for increased public participation (e.g. Draft Plan Stage). Community Engagement Brand / Identity Partners  It is important to establish a strong Brand and Providing specialist expertise throughout the various aspects of the physical, social and economic environment of Identity for Ennis to be competitive on a local, Ennis - Spatial Planning, Economic Development, Transport, Urban Design, Heritage, Community and Engagement. regional, national and International basis. Please share your ideas with us today.

STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP 1

The first Stakeholder Workshop took Economic Development Community Need to improve the quality and range of housing place at the Temple Gate Hotel in En- Ennis needs to take advantage of tourism in the Town and its connections to the Wild Atlantic provision in Ennis. Cultural facilities should also be nis on the 4th September 2018. The Key Findings Way. The level of tourism can expand through enhanced as they contribute to diversity and attendees at the workshop were in- developments to improve visitor accommoda- make the Town more attractive to live and work in. vited from a ‘targeted’ list of stake- tion and facilities. This would boost the local economy and create an attractive environment holders which were identified in for growth. agreement with Clare County Coun- Perceptions of the Town cil. These consisted of a number of Ennis is generally viewed in a positive light with Urban Design / Heritage groups and business owners in the many people highlighting aspects such as friend- The importance of heritage assets such as lanes liness, medieval heritage, unique streetscapes Town as well as representatives from and bow-ways, shop fronts and streetscapes and boutique shopping opportunities. It is im- must be protected and enhanced to provide a various organisations and national portant to maintain and enhance these features vibrant Town Centre. bodies. to benefit the Town in the future.

Spatial Planning Targeted Approach It is crucial that Ennis builds on its strategic loca- A summary of the comments received at the initial tion in the region and improve road and rail workshop have been compiled and assessed as communications with , Shannon and part of the advancement of the Plan thus far. The Galway. Ennis has the potential to be a driver of Key Findings of the workshop can be broken down growth and employment opportunities in tan- into 6 main work streams. dem with the development of necessary infra-  Perceptions of the Town structure.

 Spatial Planning Transport  Transport Issues surrounding parking and car dependency

 Economic Development are prevalent in the Town and need addressing as part of any future transport proposals. Walk-  Urban Design / Heritage ing and cycling infrastructure also needs to be developed and encouraged.  Community Image: First Stakeholder Workshop

THE GOALS

The Economic and Spatial Plan being 1. Ennis to become the 4. Improve connections 7. A Place to arrive and prepared for Ennis will endeavour to spend time where the shape development within the Town Regional Capital with the wider County to the benefit of current and future Ennis can continue to grow and fulfil its role and area urban area and scenic residents, workers and visitors. Ennis within the region with the aim of becoming the landscape meet leading force in the Mid-West. The key elements This Plan will interact with its wider sphere of influence to maximise the benefits of the assets 2040 will provide a framework to de- of a Regional Capital will be developed and inte- Showcasing unique civic and physical attributes of County Clare. liver a number of targeted goals and grated into Plan policies. attracts visitors who will have a sense of arriving to a forward looking and dynamic Ennis. objectives that need to be agreed at this stage of the process. 5. Make the Town Cen- 2. Expand and Diversify 8. Apply principles of tre the beating heart of The Plan will build on the assets of the Town such the Economic Offering Effective Leadership to as the growth of the Town Centre through the of the Town Ennis identification of infill development opportunities. drive growth and pro- Build on the current offering of Ennis by identify- Strengthen town centre assets to provide civic Co-operation and community engagement are key ing gaps in the market which the town can facili- amenities for the community and ultimately vide direction drivers which can support local development and attract investment to add vibrancy to the tradi- tate and benefit from. Ensure the implementation of the Plan is effec- drive investment into areas which need it the tional core of the Town. tively lead and encouraged by the Local Authority, most. residents, businesses and workers in Ennis.

3. Ensure that Ennis op- 6. Revitalise Ennis erates as a serious node through a network of on the Atlantic Econom- well-connected places ic Corridor Creating an attractive ‘Capital’ location is a Utilise the location of Ennis on the west coast of platform for investment, creates vibrancy and Ireland to reap the benefits associated with the special places to live. Target Atlantic Economic Corridor.

A REGIONAL ‘CAPITAL’

It is important to combine the Investment Creation of Networks Sustainable Growth unique elements of a settlement Investment in the local It is important to develop Growth and expansion are with a high-quality provision of infra- key aspects of a regional economy is vital to the strong ties with other capital. Diversification in structure in the physical and social development of industry towns, cities and regions the economic offer of En- environment to create a sustainable and ultimately create where there can be mu- nis would contribute to jobs. The West of Ireland tual benefit for all. further growth and invest- area which encourages natural already benefits from ment. growth and investment. Limerick, Shannon and Foreign Direct Invest- A number of aspects must Galway are the immedi- ment which contributes to employment in the work together to produce this growth and this Responsible civic qualities and attractive places area. ate neighbours for Ennis, but it is also important can be done on a physical, social and economic appeal to a variety of people, businesses and activ- to think on a larger national and global scale. level; ities. Locations that function as capitals have an Public investment in local offer that attracts not only the locals, but also infrastructure such as Improvements in the connections to ,  Spatial Planning and the rest of Europe help to minimise the businesses, specialised services, regional players, electricity, broadband,  Infrastructure commuters and tourists. water and housing can impact of the peripheral location of Ennis. attract a larger resident  High-quality housing provision The Atlantic Economic Corridor is an example of The important thing is to foster balanced and sus- population leading to a a network that Ennis must exploit to gain its fair  Diversity tainable growth that will not only deliver success, stronger, more competi- share of investment, leading to growth in the but also ensure that it is maintained. tive economy.  Education local and wider economy. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Inclusion of smaller settlements in the hinter- land of Ennis such as and What are the key drivers can support sustainable

for Ennis to be consid- growth into the future.

ered a ‘capital’?

A REGIONAL DRIVER OF GROWTH

Ennis is in a strategic location in the Ennis is home to office and business parks and attracts a level of employment from Foreign Di- Mid-West Region and has good con- rect Investment. Clare Technology Park, formally nectivity to major urban centres like known as Information Age Park Ennis (IAPE), is an Limerick City to the south and Gal- important asset in the technological industry for the Town. way City to the north. Shannon town is also a located just south of Ennis The resources contribute to the attractiveness of the Town as an enterprising place to do business. and is an important employment centre for residents in Ennis.

Regional road infrastructure and connectivity to Ennis is centred on the M18 Motorway which runs parallel to the Town in the east.

Ennis also benefits from rail infrastructure with commuter train services running between Ennis and Limerick and Ennis and Galway, with connec- tions to Dublin and Cork from Limerick Junction.

Access to the wider county is built on a series of national and regional roads of varying quality and capacity.

Ennis is primarily used by tourists as a base for ex- ploring and visiting the many assets of County Clare such as The Burren and The Cliffs of Moher.

Ennis is located along the Atlantic Economic Corri- dor and works alongside the other major urban centres to create an attractive and vibrant region upon which other aspects of the economy can grow.

ECONOMIC PROPOSITION

Ennis Clare State Population of Ennis Average House Price Largest Employment At Work 52% 58% 59% 2016 in Ennis 2018 Sector - those living in Ennis Looking for 1st Regular Job 1% 1% 1%

Unemployed—Lost or given up Job 9% 8% 8%

Student 9% 11% 11%

Looking after home/family 7% 1% 1%

Retired 16% 17% 15%

Unable to work—permanent disa- 5% 4% 4% 25,276 €270,000 Professional Services bility or sickness

Other 0% 0% 0%

 House prices beginning to level off after in-  52% of the population of Ennis are ‘At Work’  Potential to increase the density of Ennis  Population of Ennis is increasing crease in recent years  Below State Average of 59%  Town Centre development  Need to plan for an expanding economy  Well above Clare average of c. €160,000  Commerce & Trade and Manufacturing are  Infill Development  Developments in housing and community nd rd  Need for supply of alternative forms of the 2 and 3 largest employment sectors infrastructure required housing e.g. apartments

Population Density Population of Ennis Residential Stock of Commerce and of Ennis Trend the Town Trade

Medium—1,290 C.90% Houses and Employs a Signifi- people per sq. km Bungalows cant number of peo- Increasing ple living in Ennis

URBAN DESIGN/HERITAGE

Strengths Best Practice Principles  Vibrant Town Centre  Unique Streetscape  Positive Urban Character Urban Character  Defined by markets, shops and commercial activity  Needs to be preserved and enhanced  Material palette represents variety and careful design  Pedestrian priority areas are clearly de- fined  Contributes to a balance between cars and pedestrians Retail & Market Activity Segmented design of urban and landscape/park areas Integrated design of urban and landscape/park areas  Medieval Layout  Pedestrian streets and squares  Attractive urban spaces  Interesting mix of building façades  Contributes to a unique Town Centre land- scape

Weakness & Opportunities  Issues surrounding vehicular traffic History & Heritage  Reduced space for pedestrians in the Town Centre Low interconnectivity between different areas High interconnectivity between different areas  Quality of the public realm is impeded  Creates issues around safety, movement and access  Surface car parks take up a lot of room in the Town Centre  These areas could be used for public / community purposes River Fergus  Need to improve the features that make Ennis a compact centre for working, living

and visiting Science Park not integrated with Urban Area Science Park integrated with Urban Area

TRANSPORT

Ennis is located directly adjacent Daily Traffic Flows Existing Travel Patterns the M17/M18 to Motor- Ennis 55% way providing excellent connectivi- Ennis Urban (Internal) 6% Ennis Rural (Internal) 22% ty to Limerick and Galway - Ire- Ennis Rural to Urban 23% land’s third and fourth largest Ennis Urban to Rural 4% cities. It has good road connections Clare County 17% Cleanagh/Shannon 9% to Shannon, a major employment Rest of Clare 8% centre and host to Shannon Airport, Galway City and County 3% via M18 and N19 roads. It is also a Limerick City and County 11% transportation gateway to major Ballysimon 3% tourist destinations in western Co. Ballycummin 2% Rest of Limerick 7% Clare, such as Cliffs of Moher. No fixed place of work 6% Work/school from home 3% Not Known 5% Train services connect Ennis directly to Galway and Limerick.

Trains terminate at Ennis on the Limerick to En- Choice of Travel Mode nis commuter service and stop at Ennis on the Mode Ennis Clare State Limerick to Galway intercity service. On foot 39% 12% 15% Transfers to Dublin, Cork and Waterford services Bicycle 2% 1% 3% can be made at Limerick Junction. Bus 5% 7% 9% Ennis is well connected to Galway, Dublin, Cork, Car 53% 79% 68% Limerick and Shannon by bus. Quite a lot of cars Train 1% 1% 5% It is used as stopping point on journeys between cities providing connectivity to other towns. Promote Cycling & Walking

Direct regional services are also provided within Co. Clare.

STRATEGIC AREAS

Diagrammatic Map of Ennis What can areas have?

Parks

Social Facilities

Living Accommodation

Employment (Office, Manufacturing, etc.)

Employment (Hotels, Retail, etc.)

Recreation and Amenity

Your Ideas will be recorded by a Facilitator