Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly Draft Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy Tionól Reigiúnach Oirthir agus Lár-Tíre Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly 2 Draft Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy Contents CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 4: Introduction 4 People and Place 36 1.1 Vision ...............................................................................4 4.1 Introduction and context .......................................... 36 1.2 Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly ................4 4.2 Settlement Strategy .................................................. 38 1.3 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy ..................6 4.3 Defining a Settlement Typology .............................40 1.4 Spatial and Economic Policy Background.................8 4.4 Dublin City & Suburbs ...............................................44 1.5 Process to date .............................................................11 4.5 Regional Growth Centres .......................................... 45 1.6 Regional Profile ............................................................ 12 4.6 Key Towns .....................................................................52 4.7 Medium to Large towns ............................................. 61 4.8 Rural Areas .................................................................. 62 CHAPTER 2: Strategic Vision 18 CHAPTER 5: 2.1 Our Shared Goals ........................................................ 18 Dublin Metropolitan Area 2.2 Vision and Guiding Principles ................................... 21 Strategic Plan (MASP) 64 2.3 Regional Strategic Outcomes .................................. 22 5.1 Introduction and Context .........................................64 5.2 Vision ........................................................................... 66 CHAPTER 3: 5.3 Guiding Principles for the Dublin Metropolitan Area .....................................................67 Growth Strategy 24 5.4 Metropolitan Area Strategy ..................................... 68 5.5 Enabling Infrastructure ............................................. 71 3.1 Developing a growth strategy for the Region ........25 5.6 Integrated Land use and Transportation ................72 3.2 Growth Enablers for the Region .............................. 28 5.7 Housing Delivery ........................................................ 79 5.8 Employment generation ............................................80 5.9 Green Infrastructure and Amenities ...................... 82 CHAPTER 6: Economy and Employment 84 6.1 Introduction ................................................................84 6.2 Profile ............................................................................ 86 6.3 Economic Strategy ..................................................... 88 6.4 The Region’s Economic Engines .............................. 94 6.5 Sectoral Opportunities .............................................. 98 6.6 Drivers for Economic Growth .................................103 6.7 Capacity Building ..................................................... 108 Draft - Contents 3 CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 10: Environment 110 Infrastructure 174 7.1 Introduction ................................................................ 110 10.1 Introduction ................................................................174 7.2 Integrated Land and Marine Planning ...................112 10.2 Sustainable Management of Water .....................175 7.3 A Clean and Healthy Environment .........................115 10.3 Energy .........................................................................179 7.4 Flood Risk Management ...........................................118 10.4 Waste Management ................................................182 7.5 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage .........................120 7.6 Green and Blue Infrastructure ................................122 7.7 Landscape ...................................................................127 CHAPTER 11: 7.8 Climate Change .........................................................130 All Island Cohesion 184 CHAPTER 8: 11.1 Introduction ................................................................184 11.2 All Island Collaboration ...........................................185 Connectivity 140 8.1 Introduction .............................................................. 140 CHAPTER 12: 8.2 Transport Strategy ....................................................141 8.3 Integrated Transport and Planning Framework ..143 Implementation and Monitoring 188 8.4 Transport Investment Priorities .............................148 12.1 Introduction ...............................................................188 8.5 International Connectivity .......................................154 12.2 Legislative Background ...........................................189 8.6 Communications and Digital Infrastructure .......157 12.3 Implementation .........................................................191 12.4 Monitoring and Reporting .......................................196 CHAPTER 9: CHAPTER 13: Quality of Life 158 9.1 Introduction & Policy Context ................................158 Appendices EMRA draft RSES 9.2 Context ........................................................................159 Appendix A - Asset-Based Criteria 9.3 Housing ........................................................................161 Appendix B - SPA and County Population Tables 9.4 Placemaking ...............................................................163 Appendix C - Economic Chapter Appendices 9.5 Regeneration ..............................................................164 Appendix D - Environmental Legislation 9.6 Social Inclusion & Economic Opportunity ..........166 and Policy Background 9.7 Social Infrastructure ................................................169 Appendix E - Functional Urban Area Methodology 9.8 Healthy Communities .............................................170 Appendix F - List of Designated Sites in EMRA 9.9 Access to Arts, Culture, Language & Heritage ....171 Appendix G - Glossary Appendix H - List of Flood Relief Schemes to be advanced in initial phase to detailed design and construction 4 Draft Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy 1 Introduction 1.1 Vision 1.2 Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly ‘The Draft Regional Spatial and Economic The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly was established Strategy’ is a strategic plan and investment on 1st January 2015. The Region covers nine counties framework to shape the future development containing twelve Local Authorities namely – Longford, of our region to 2031 and beyond....’ Westmeath, Offaly, Laois, Louth, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils and Dublin City Council. The Region includes 3 subregions or Strategic Planning Areas (SPAs), namely the Midland, Eastern and Dublin SPAs (See Fig.1). One of the principal functions of the Assembly is the delivery of a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy To create a “sustainable and (RSES), a new concept in Irish planning where competitive region that supports not only the spatial but also the economic factors the health and wellbeing of that set out the future of the Region are brought our people and places, from together into one all-encompassing strategy. urban to rural, with access to quality housing, travel and employment opportunities for all “ Draft - Introduction 5 Eastern Midland Region Region Louth Longford Meath Fingal Dublin Region Westmeath Dublin City South Dún Laoghaire Dublin Offaly Kildare -Rathdown Wicklow Laois Figure 1.1 EMRA Strategic Planning Areas The Regional Assembly also has functions in relation to European funding and programming as well as a permanent presence in Brussels with the Irish Regions EU Office. It is a stated objective of the Assembly to have an increased role in the management of European funding post 2020 in line with that of the other two Regional Assemblies. Furthermore, the Regional Assembly’s functions can be expanded with a significant role in the delivery and application of investment under Project Ireland 2040 (PI 2040), which includes the National Planning Framework (NPF) 2040 and a detailed capital investment plan the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027. 6 Draft Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy 1.3 What is a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES)? A RSES is a strategic plan which identifies regional assets, opportunities and pressures and provides appropriate policy responses in the form of Regional Policy Objectives. At this strategic level it provides a framework for investment to better manage spatial planning and economic development throughout the Region. The principal statutory purpose of the RSES is to support the The RSES provides a: implementation of Project Ireland 2040 and the economic policies and objectives of the Government by providing a long-term strategic planning and economic framework for the • Spatial Strategy – to manage future growth and development of the Regions. The RSES is required under the ensure the creation of healthy and attractive Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) to address places to live, work, study, visit and invest in. employment, retail, housing, transport, water services, energy • Economic Strategy – that builds on our and communications, waste management, education, health, strengths to sustain a strong economy and sports and community facilities, environment and heritage, support the creation of quality jobs that landscape, sustainable