1 Carrick-On-Suir Municipal District Town Centre Initiative Report March 2016 Acknowledgement This research was carried out by Accelerate Business Coaching, supported by the Economic Department of Tipperary County Council February 2016. 2 Chapter 1 – Introduction and Background 4 Chapter 2 – Macro Environment of Town Centres 7 Chapter 3 – Strategic Capabilities 13 Chapter 4 – Structure and Governance 16 Chapter 5 – Marketing for Town Centres 20 Chapter 6 – Finance and Funding 24 Chapter 7 – Town Overviews 28 Carrick on Suir 32 Chapter 8 – Common Town Centre Initiatives Recommendations 43 Chapter 9 – Monitoring, Implementation and Conclusion 45 Appendix 1 46 Bibliography 47 3 Chapter 1 . Background Introduction Description of the Initiative Tipperary has a strong network of towns Experience from Ireland and abroad spread across the county, all of which demonstrates the value of local have felt the effects of the downturn in partnerships in developing well-considered economic activity to a greater or lesser and effective solutions and this was at the extent. Tipperary County Council, as the core of the Town Centre Initiative (TCI). new unified authority for Tipperary, The success of measures to support town identified a need to develop a coherent centres is predicated on facilitating a Town Centre Strategy to help restore strong town centre partnership vision and vibrancy and vitality to the retail areas in strategy that takes account of the town the centre of the major towns. people, economy, heritage, physical features and role within the wider network Scope of the initiative of town centres. The towns of Clonmel, Nenagh, Thurles, Carrick-on-Suir, Roscrea, Tipperary, The initiative focused on two parallel Cashel, Cahir and Templemore represent approaches – facilitating town centre 40% of the population of Tipperary and the groups and consolidating a range of other influence of these towns extends across council supports to town centres, backed the full county. This was considered an by additional, innovative measures. important fact in terms of focusing particular targeted attention to these Town Centre Forums centres. The population of the towns is Retail Excellence Ireland recently shown in Table 1 below. published a “Strategy for Rural Retailing” document which emphasises the Town 2011 Population importance of town centre groups in driving positive change for towns. It Clonmel 17,048 suggests that these groups should Nenagh 8,439 comprise local stakeholders from across Thurles 7,933 the public, private, voluntary and community sectors. Facilitating these Carrick-on-Suir 5,886 groups to organise effectively and devise Roscrea 5,403 plans to drive increased footfall and Tipperary 5,310 commercial activity in the town centre, thus generating increased vibrancy and Cashel 4,051 vitality, was a key requirement of this Cahir 3,578 initiative. Templemore 2,071 Town Centre Forums had already been Total Population 59,719 developed in South Tipperary under the Source: 2011 Census of Population, CSO South Tipperary Retail Development Table 1: Towns included the Town Centre Programme 2012, therefore the initial Initiative and their Population objective of this process was to evaluate the effectiveness of these models, identify 4 a model of best practice and implement considerations and objectives to be this model across the towns in Tipperary. implemented by planning authorities. Particular emphasis was placed on the The Town Centre Forums were settlement hierarchy; enhancement of subsequently tasked with contributing to the built and natural heritage and the development of their own 3-year vitality of the nine town centre’s; and Action Plan, including identifying priorities assessment of the appropriate retail and sourcing potential funding. mix in each of the towns. A full SWOT analysis was undertaken Complementary Council Supports and a physical audit of the retail The council provides a wide range of streetscape was undertaken. Within additional supporting measures, including the analysis there are details on grants and incentives for retailers, support vacancy, retail mix and suggested to groups to deliver festivals in their town, usages to be targeted. and business mentoring supports amongst others. The review also included a comprehensive overview of retail and economic data In the context of the Town Centre Initiative which includes national and local trends. A (TCI), the council will commit to providing review of the grocery and comparison some seed funding over the 3 years for goods sectors was undertaken with initiatives agreed by the Town Center particular emphasis on the impact that Forum. It is expected that this seed online retailing has on the sectors. The funding will be matched by contributions potential role of technology in retailing from the retail trade itself and/or other within each of the towns is also assessed. sources. The Council will also commit to having an appropriate senior staff member attend the TCI meetings, including Consultation with Stakeholders: convening and minuting the meetings if so A consultation process with stakeholders required by the group. Finally, the council was conducted. Key stakeholder opinions will use the advice and knowledge at its were sought and documented. On disposal to assist the TCF groups to completion, a briefing document was maximize the value for their area. distributed to each of the towns which incorporated the opinions expressed. This External Funding Sources has formed the basis for discussion There are a number of programmes and regarding the development of the Town other initiatives run by government Centre Forums. departments and agencies to support towns to help themselves which will be Following on from this and taking into identified in this report. account the research undertaken with retailers, other stakeholders and Methodology consumers and customers, an action plan was developed for each town. The As part of this research, the following work component of each plan consists of: was undertaken to inform the content of the action plans: 1. An analysis of the town and its retail A review of National, regional and sector including a review of the local policies and strategies and vacancy and retail mix. identifying the overarching retail policy 5 2. Identification and analysis of each town’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – a SWOT analysis. 3. Development of a mission (or purpose) statement for each of the towns. 4. The recommended model for the Town Centre Forum structure 5. Town specific marketing recommendations (as applies). 6. Presentation of a draft three-year Action Plan with specific goals and objectives for each town to assist the initial work of the newly established Town Centre Forums and to enable the development of basic strategies to fulfil their mission or purpose. Conclusion An overall Town Centre Strategy for Tipperary with detailed strategies for each of the nine towns is presented. Funding sources have been identified through all existing and potential national programs (including LEADER programs) plus European programs. It also includes a detailed and targeted marketing plan framework. Findings and recommendations with particular emphasis on a county and sub county perspective are presented also. The report is conscious of new game changing innovative strategies and incentives that could be submitted to Central Government and existing European projects for possible funding for either the towns or county. 6 Chapter 2 the attractiveness and sustainability of towns and villages. Macro Environment of Some of the key policy documents in Town Centres Retail and Town Centre Development currently referred to by government Introduction include: Many Irish towns and villages are in a very distressed state. Following years of out of Retail Ireland – Strategy for Retail 2014 - 3 town retail development, the growth of on- 2016 , Retail Planning Guidelines 2012, line shopping and reduced consumer Retail Excellence Ireland ‘A Strategy for Rural spending, the town centre can lack Retailing’4 consumer engagement, in many cases Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014 5 suffers from significant vacancy and has – 2020) for some become a secondary shopping alternative for many consumers. The At a local government level, the key policy problem is not a result of the economic documents which are relevant in this cycle – the problem will remain long after project at a County level are: market growth returns. It is likely that the South Tipperary County Development Plan deterioration of Ireland’s towns and 2009 - 201567 villages will intensify without strategic North Tipperary County Development Plan 1 intervention. 20108 9 South Tipperary County Retail Strategy 2010 10 Understanding the Macro North Tipperary County Retail Strategy 2011 South Tipperary Retail Development Environment of Irish Town Centres Programme 201211 In order to understand the macro environment of Irish town centres, the At a town level, the most important policy PESTEL framework was used. This documents are the Town Development & framework highlight six environmental Environs Plan which set out the strategic factors in particular; political, economic, objectives for town centres and these social, technological, ecological and legal. have been referenced in this document. This range underlines that the environment is not just about economic Economic forces; there is an important non- market In 2015, Retail Ireland Director Thomas 2 environment” . The key