Alternative Funding Scheme Tallaght Integrated Area Plan Mary Henchy

Why is this relevant? CommunityDevelopers Public bodies State Local Authority

Outline of the presentation 1.Tallaght in 1998 the place and the people 2.The Urban Renewal Scheme 3.The basis of the idea on how to link physical development to social and economic growth 4.Formulating a methodology 5.Implementation 6.Benefits

Tallaght Town Centre 1998 A shopping centre and a village Point blocks in a sea of car parking Lacked sense of place Lacked a residential population Green field sites It had significant potential: hospital, 3 rd level institution and planned LUAS line

West Tallaght Neighbourhoods Deprived neighbourhoods Neighbourhoods without hearts Derelict and underutilised sites

Strengths Organised communities interested in their area Tallaght was part of the URBAN initiative an EU funded program Tallaght Partnership – excellent network An active Local Employment Service The Local Authority was open to exploring a different approach South Dublin had prepared a detailed plan for Tallaght Town Centre so had an agreed vision

Urban Renewal Scheme 1998 Tax incentives for residential and commercial development Provided for the write off of construction costs against tax for a period of ten years In the case of rental properties the construction cost was written off against rental income

Urban Renewal Scheme in 1998 Construction industry was healthy so the bar was raised Brownfield sites Local Authorities required to prepare Integrated Area Plan Demonstrate the Socio-economic benefits

On an initial review of the scheme Tallaght did not qualify: 1.Greenfield sites 2.Commercial viability of projects within the Neighbourhood Centres was questionable But - In the supporting review of the previous scheme by KPMG reference was made to the Boston Linkage Scheme

Contacted Boston City, John Avault, economist with the City who explained the Boston Linkage Scheme – 1. Parcel to parcel sale of city owned prime downtown sites with the development of sites in underprivileged areas 2.Downtown sites are levied and levy is paid into a trust for social housing and job training

South Dublin adaptation of the Boston Linkage Scheme was the Community Linkage Contribution. Developments within the Town Centre that benefited from tax designation paid a levy of €2.54 per sq ft of development into a Community Linkage Fund. Next step was to sell this idea to the Dept. of the Environment and Local Government and the Dept. of Finance.

Identifying the Community projects Community Workshop held in March 1998 Outcome: List of projects agreed including: community centre; Fettercairn Horse project; Killinarden Enterprise Centres; support for services; facilities for artists. Unemployment highlighted as a key issue Need for housing

To get tax incentives developers had to: 1.Pay the Community Linkage Contribution that funded the community projects 2.Engage with Local Employment Services Network and actively engage in recruiting and training locally unemployed residents of west Tallaght 3.Residential development in the Town Centre had to include 15% social housing 4.Development proposals had to be consistent with the Plan for Tallaght Town Centre

South Dublin Co.Co. Financial Commitment to the IAP  Utilise the increase in the capital value of sites owned by the Local Authority which were designated in the Town Centre for works, facilities and infrastructure in west Tallaght.  Resources from the sale of sites owned by the Local Authority in west Tallaght were to be expended in that area.  Receipts from rates in the designated sites in the Town Centre to be used by the Local Authority for expenditure in West Tallaght for a period of 5 years.

Continued  Commercial Development in Designated Sites in West Tallaght paid no Section 26 Planning Contributions  Commercial Development in Designated sites in West Tallaght paid reduced rates Monitoring Committee set up by South Dublin to over see and implement the IAP

IAP Designated Sites

Designated sites in the Town Centre

Tallaght 1998

Main Street 1998

Tallaght town centre today

Killinarden

Killtalown Neighbourhood centre

Social and economic benefits

20 of the 24 sites identified were developed Town Centre 2079 homes 285,170 sqm commercial floor area Neighbourhood Centre 452 homes 35,449 sqm commercial floor area

Socio Economic Benefits Circa €5 million to part fund infrastructure projects in Fettercairn, Killinarden and Jobstown. More than €6 million contributed to social, educational and environmental improvements for communities 358 jobs and apprentices 234 Social houses (housing associations)

Review of Scheme by Goodbody’s “This indicates that well-managed IAP’s can successfully use urban renewal incentives to achieve social, economic as well as physical development objectives. It is recommended that such an integrated approach continue to be a feature of any urban renewal scheme”