Economic and Enterprise Development Strategy for Lanesborough - Ballyleague DRAFT By: On behalf of: October 2020 Economic and Enterprise Development Strategy for Lanesborough /Ballyleague Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 4 1.1 Purpose of this report ................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Structure of this Report ................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Report Overview ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Study Context ................................................................................................................................ 9 2.0 Lanesborough-Ballyleague .............................................................................................................. 12 2.1 Overview of Lanesborough-Ballyleague ..................................................................................... 12 2.2 Socio-economic Profile of Lanesborough-Ballyleague ................................................................ 15 2.3 Spatial Analysis of Lanesborough-Ballyleague ............................................................................ 17 3.0 Policy Landscape and Research Findings ....................................................................................... 21 3.1 Policy Landscape ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.2 PESTEL Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 26 4.0 Consultation and Engagement Summary ...................................................................................... 28 4.1 Online Community Survey .......................................................................................................... 28 4.3 Semi Structured Interviews ......................................................................................................... 34 5.0 SWOT and Emerging Projects ........................................................................................................ 37 5.1 SWOT Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 37 5.2 Emerging Projects ....................................................................................................................... 41 6.0 Vision and Project Proposals ......................................................................................................... 42 6.1 Vision ........................................................................................................................................... 42 6.2 Regional Catalytic projects .......................................................................................................... 42 6.3 Policy related recommendations to foster economic growth .................................................... 47 6.4 Opportunities and hindrances for investment and required mitigation measures .................... 49 6.5 Capital Project Proposals ............................................................................................................ 51 7.0 Implementation Framework and Action Plan ............................................................................... 76 Appendix 1: Relevant Capital Grant Applications ................................................................................. 82 A1.1 Just Transition Fund 2020 Projects ........................................................................................... 82 A1.2 Past and Current Grant Funding Applications Under Other Schemes ...................................... 85 Appendix 2: Consultees ........................................................................................................................ 87 Appendix 3: Supporting Analysis .......................................................................................................... 88 A3.1 PESTEL Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 88 A3.2 Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile ................................................................................ 97 A3.3: Spatial Analysis – Commercial Use ........................................................................................ 104 2 Economic and Enterprise Development Strategy for Lanesborough /Ballyleague Peace is liberty in tranquillity – Marcus Tullius Cicero 3 Economic and Enterprise Development Strategy for Lanesborough /Ballyleague Executive Summary 1.1 Purpose of this report KPMG Future Analytics has been appointed by Longford and Roscommon County Councils to prepare an Economic and Enterprise Development Strategy (EEDS) for Lanesborough - Ballyleague. The objective of this strategy is to develop and deliver an effective short, medium, and long-term path to enterprise and job creation in the area, building on existing and planned investment and innovation initiatives. 1.2 Structure of this Report This report comprises: An overview of relevant policy landscape and research findings in section 2.0 (with further detail provided in Appendix 2) to inform our understanding of the context for development of the local economy. This includes: o Socio-economic profile analysis and population projection analysis, to inform our understanding of the town; o PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal) analysis, which identifies macro (external) forces facing Lanesborough/ Ballyleague and Longford and Roscommon more generally and provides an understanding of the factors influencing and impacting Lanesborough/ Ballyleague’s ’s current economic context; o Spatial Analysis, including a comprehensive survey of land uses, vacancy and dereliction within Lanesborough-Ballyleague and the identification and prioritisation of potential development sites. Summary of consultation and engagement undertaken as part of this project in section 3.0, this includes an online survey as well as a summary of strategic conversations held with key stakeholders to elicit their views on ways in which the economy of Lanesborough-Ballyleague could be revitalised. SWOT analysis to identify key issues and opportunities to revitalise the economy of Lanesborough-Ballyleague, and summary of emerging projects in section 4.0; Vision and project proposals in section 5.0; Implementation framework and action plan in section 6.0. 1.3 Report Overview A wide range of projects are being considered, planned or are actively in development for Lanesborough-Ballyleague. These include projects related to tourism and recreation, food and drink, and alternative energy. Together these proposals, if implemented, would transform the economic landscape of Lanesborough-Ballyleague, not only providing employment during construction phase but also ongoing jobs in operational phase and associated entrepreneurial opportunities. However, to a certain extent many of these proposals, particularly around tourism and recreation, are being advanced independently without an over-arching plan. A significant opportunity is presented by the availability of funding under Just Transition, and by support from several key agencies for significant projects in Lanesborough-Ballyleague. 4 Economic and Enterprise Development Strategy for Lanesborough /Ballyleague The proposed over-arching vision for Lanesborough Ballyleague is: By 2040 Lanesborough-Ballyleague will be a better place to live, visit, work and study; a place with a high quality of life and a range of employment opportunities where people choose to locate and visit. A thriving integrated and attractive town with sustainability at the heart of the economy; a hub for the Mid-Shannon area. Two Regional Catalytic Projects are recommended: A: Collaborating to Establish the Lough Ree Biosphere Nature Reserve B: Collaborating to Encourage Sustainable Villages Cluster The goal is to build on the town and the areas strengths, and to increase footfall in the town, thus making businesses more viable and revitalising the town centre; providing a range of employment opportunities which in combination will lead to sustainable economic development and revitalisation of the towns. Four key enabling pillars are identified for capital projects, focussing on making the town a more desirable place to choose to live, visit, work and study, and to raise awareness of the town’s offering targeting investors, those seeking to re-locate, and visitors. Ten themes and fifteen transformational projects are underdefined under the four pillars, as illustrated in Table 1 and Figure 1. Together these projects have the potential to transform not only Lanesborough-Ballyleague, but to create a regionally significant employment and visitor hub. While this is a long-term strategy focussed on more sustainable development, there is an urgent need to deliver employment opportunities in the short term, to support those workers that are being made redundant and to ensure that the town