Key Facts and Projects
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2019 Update Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report The Mid-East (Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly) Key Facts and Projects NSO 1 - Compact Growth 1,079 new social housing builds in the Mid-East in 2019 4,648 total new dwelling completions in the Mid-East in 2019 11 successful applicants to the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in 2018. Second call closure for applications extended to 29 May 2020 given Covid-19 crisis NSO 2 - Enhanced Regional Connectivity The M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass Widening – construction stage M11 Capacity Enhancement (Phase 1 & Phase 2) – preliminary business case stage R407 Sallins Bypass – implementation stage N2 Slane Bypass – preliminary business case stage Athy Southern Distributor Road – final business case stage Laytown to Bettystown Link Road – at planning stage NSO 3 - Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities 4 projects were approved for funding from the first call of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund NSO 4 - Sustainable Mobility The Dart Expansion Programme to Drogheda, Celbridge and Maynooth. Initial sequencing of investment in the Mid-East will focus on electrification of these lines In 2019 planning and design continued in relation to the overall Dart Expansion programme. NSO 5 - A Strong Economy, supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills 13,435 in IDA supported employment, 21,258 in EI supported employment 3 successful applicants for the latest round of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund 1 successful project partner under Call 2 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund NSO 6 - High Quality International Connectivity Dublin Port which is progressing a c.€230 million infrastructural investment at the port to accommodate larger sea-going vessels and to increase capacity NSO 7 - Enhanced Amenity and Heritage Over €5m has been allocated to develop a 46km stretch of the Barrow Blueway, located along the Grand Canal Barrow Line from Lowtown to Athy in Co.Kildare 132 successful applicants from the Mid-East in the last round of the Sports Capital Programme The average sports capital grant for the region was €35,405 NSO 8 - Climate-Resilient Society Twelve flood relief schemes including the Arklow Flood Relief Scheme NSO 9 - Sustainable Management of Water and other Environmental Resources There are currently 15 water and wastewater projects in progress in the Mid-East e.g. the Meath Water Mains Rehabilitation Project. NSO 10 - Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services 5 schools projects were delivered in the Mid-East in 2019 A further 73 schools projects are at various stages of planning, design and construction There will be three healthcare projects completed in 2020, including the Primary Care Centre in Rathdrum Co. Wicklow Page | 1 Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report 1. Project Ireland 2040 This document sets out the projects and programmes which are being planned and delivered in the Mid-East as part of the public investment detailed in Project Ireland 2040 - the Government’s National Planning Framework and National Development Plan. Project Ireland 2040 set out ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs), built around the over-arching themes of well-being, equality and opportunity. This document sets out the main achievements under each NSO in 2019, for the Mid-East region. These documents serve to highlight the diverse range of investment being made by the State across the country under Project Ireland 2040 – a list of the major projects in the Mid-East is contained in the Appendix. The document draws on information from a wide range of publicly available sources, as well as material provided by Government Departments and Agencies. 2. The Mid-East and Project Ireland 2040 Area The Mid-East has experienced high levels of population growth in recent decades at more than twice the national growth rate. Managing the challenges of future growth is critical to this area. A more balanced and sustainable pattern of development, with a greater focus on addressing employment creation, local infrastructure needs and addressing the legacy of rapid growth, must be prioritised. Page | 2 Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report 3. Progress against National Strategic Outcomes 3.1 National Strategic Outcome 1 – Compact Growth This outcome aims to secure the sustainable growth of more compact urban and rural settlements supported by jobs, houses, services and amenities, rather than continued sprawl and unplanned, uneconomic growth. There were 1,079 social housing new builds in the Mid-East in 2019 with more planned in 2020. In line with the national increase in new houses being built, there were 4,648 new dwelling completions in the Mid-East in 2019. Table 1: Social Housing Completions in 2019 Mid-East Total New Build Kildare County Council 453 Meath County Council 351 Wicklow County Council 275 Total 1,079 Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Table 2: Total Housing Completions in 2019 Mid-East New Dwelling Completions Kildare County Council 1,899 Meath County Council 1,633 Wicklow County Council 1,116 Total 4,648 Source: Central Statistics Office Table 3: Total Planning Permissions in 2019 Planning Region and County Houses Multi One off Private Total development houses flats/ houses apartments Mid-East - Totals 3,970 3,336 634 1,979 1,597 Kildare 1,567 1,406 161 576 3,710 Meath 1,752 1,437 315 1,054 4,558 Wicklow 651 493 158 349 1,651 Source: Central Statistics Office Page | 3 Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) will help to rejuvenate significant but underused areas in Ireland’s five cities and other large towns. In the Mid-East these include: Bray, Newbridge, Naas, Celbridge, Greystones, Leixlip, Maynooth, Arklow, Ashbourne, Laytown- Bettystown-Mornington, Wicklow and Trim. The URDF is a key part of Project Ireland 2040 and has a total budget of €2 billion over the period to 2027. The aim of the URDF is to stimulate new residential and commercial development in our larger cities and towns. New services and amenities will support these new developments, and help to achieve the ‘compact growth’ also set out in Project Ireland 2040. In total, 11 projects were approved for funding from the first call of the URDF in 2018. The second call closure for applications was extended to 29 May 2020 given the Covid-19 crisis. Table 4a: Successful Applicants for the latest round of the Urban RDF in the Mid-East Category A (Ready Category B Total per County Mid-East to Go) (to be developed) Kildare County Council 1 3 4 Meath County Council 2 2 4 Wicklow County Council 3 0 3 Total 6 5 11 Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Table 4b: Successful Applicants for the latest round of the Urban RDF in the Mid-East Applicant County Description Kildare Kildare Naas Library (including Public Realm works). The proposal County is for the redevelopment and rejuvenation of Naas Town Council Hall to provide a library and cultural centre. The vision is to create an iconic library, cultural and public space in the heart of the historic town of Naas. Kildare Kildare Celbridge Southern Relief Road and Second Liffey County Crossing. Technical assistance for the advancement of the Council Celbridge Southern Relief Road and Second Liffey Crossing. Kildare Kildare Canal Quarter Naas. Project is for technical assistance to County develop area known as Canal Quarter in Naas, as the Council cultural and creative district of Naas. The aim is to address the challenges affecting Naas town centre through a plan led transformation of this underutilised area of town while connecting the town centre to peripheral areas in a sustainable and permeable manner. This will be achieved though utilising and investing in the Canal Quarter’s existing assets and developing new cultural, civic and retail activities, community amenities and mixed residential/commercial development. Page | 4 Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report Kildare Kildare Newbridge Cultural and Civic Quarter. Project relates to County plans to reinvigorate the historic heart of Newbridge and Council enable the creation of a Cultural and Civic Quarter. Funding will allow for project establishment, stakeholder engagement and feasibility study. Meath County Meath Ashbourne Road and Public Realm Improvement. Funding Council for significant public realm improvements and enhancement of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. Meath County Meath Navan Active Land Management Project. As part of the Council regeneration of the County town of Navan, financial support will be provided to Meath Co. Council to tackle priority derelict sites in the town. Meath County Meath Flowerhill Regeneration Project. Technical assistance for an Council urban regeneration and development framework for the Flowerhill area of Navan. Meath County Meath Railway Street Regeneration and County Archive. Council Technical assistance for urban regeneration plan for entire lands comprising historic building of St. Patrick’s classical school and the Council’s former offices in Navan. Wicklow Wicklow Bray Public Transport Bridge. Support for the provision of a County new public transport bridge over the river Dargle. This will Council unlock lands at the former Bray Golf Club site and adjoining brownfield opportunity sites within Bray. Wicklow Wicklow Arklow Historic Town Core. This project will transform the County streetscape and public realm in the historic core of Arklow, Council including a plaza and rationalisation of the existing courthouse building. Wicklow Wicklow Wicklow Town. This project involves the relocation, County upgrading of the library, Fitzwilliam Square upgrade, and Council street improvement. Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Page | 5 Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report 3.2 National Strategic Outcome 2 – Enhanced Regional Connectivity A core priority under the National Planning Framework (NPF) is the essential requirement to enhance and upgrade accessibility between urban centres of population and their regions, in parallel with the compact growth of urban centres.