1. Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy – Issues Paper
Presentation to the SPC for Economic Development and Enterprise
Candace Ingram
A/ Senior Executive Planner
8th January 2018

2. Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) Purpose and Content
Published: 20th November 2017
Purpose of Issues Paper: to seek public views on what should be included in the strategy
Purpose of Strategy: support the implementation of the NPF (still draft)
Local Impact: RSES will influence and guide County Clare’s Development Plans and LAPs over next 12 years
Content: location form and density of housing, location of employment, Metropolitan Area Strategic Plans, key growth enablers

3. Proposed Timeframe for RSES Preparation
Submissions on Issues Paper – 2nd February 2018
Public consultation on draft RSES – May 2018
Public consultation on amendments – September 2018
Making of RSES – December 2018
Previous Regional Planning Guidelines were prepared over a 2 year period

4. The Southern Region
The Southern Region consists of the administrative areas of Carlow, Cork, Clare, Kerry, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford County Councils, Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork City Council.
The region is sub-divided into three Strategic Planning Areas (SPAs) each with separate SPA Committees
Mid West SPA – Limerick, Clare and Tipperary

5. National Hierarchy of Plans
National Planning Framework
Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy
County Development Plan
Local Area Plans

6. Clare County Council Submission on Draft National Planning Framework
The importance of inter-regional collaboration
Failure to recognise the LNDR as a key growth enabler in the Limerick area
The importance of UL to economic growth with in the region
Failure to give due recognition to the importance of Shannon Town and Shannon International Airport in the region
Support needed for the SIFP and the future development of the Shannon Estuary
The under-representation of Marine Spatial Planning in the NPF

7. Continued
Concerns regarding the focus of “strategic employment development” in the cities – does not recognise the potential of Shannon or the Shannon Estuary for such development
Unrealistically low population targets – need to be reconsidered
Need to recognise the importance of small towns and villages (<10,000 pop.) as centres for employment and services in rural areas.
Approach to zoning and population distribution may stagnate growth

8. Content of the RSES
Section 23 of the Planning and Development Act sets out the required contents and objects of an RSES. In general terms the contents can be divided into:
Economic elements; and
Spatial elements

9. The Economic Elements Creating and sustaining quality jobs
Identifying regional strengths and opportunities
Identifying the regional attributes that are essential to enhancing regional economic performance including:
The quality of the environment
The qualities of cities, towns and rural areas
Physical infrastructure
Social, community and cultural facilities
Proposals for augmenting the economic performance of the region

10. The Spatial Elements Will address the location and provision of:
Employment, industrial and commercial development
Retail development
Housing
Transportation, including public transportation, water services, energy and communications networks, waste management facilities
Educational, healthcare, sports and community facilities
The preservation and protection of the environment
The promotion of sustainable settlement and transportation strategies in urban and rural areas.

11. The Issues Paper - Overview
The Issues Paper indicates that the RSES will contain policies on:
Co-ordination and alignment of population and jobs growth.
Preparation of Metropolitan Area Strategic Plans (MASPs) for the Cork, Limerick and Waterford Metropolitan areas.
Identification of locations for strategic employment growth.
Identification of a number of large regionally distributed towns where future population and jobs growth will be focused.
Targeted population growth in smaller towns and rural areas at an average rate of 15% across the region.
Identification and prioritisation of key future growth enablers

12. Population Targets
Population Allocation of the Southern Region
370,000
(maximum growth figure)
3 Cities (Cork 115,000)
(Limerick 52,000)
(Waterford 29,000)
196,000
(combined allocated growth figure)
Large Towns
60,000
(16% of overall allocation)
Remaining population for Small Towns (<10,000 population) and Rural Areas
119,000
Distributed between 9 counties in the Southern Region (proportions to be decided by RSES)
13,222 per county
(between 2018 and 2040)
Average growth in population per year over 22 year period
601 people per annum per county in region
At an occupancy rate of 2.5 as proposed in the Draft NPF
240 houses per year for Small Towns (<10,000 population) and Rural Areas

13. Mid-West Population Changes
1991
2016
% Change
Proposed 2040 Population
(ESTIMATE)
% Change
Clare
90,918
118,817
31%
139,167
17%
Limerick City and County
161,956
194,899
20%
262,555
35%
Tipperary
132,772
159,553
185,200
16%
Total Mid-West (including all of Tipperary)
385,646
473,269
23%
586,922
24%

14. Small Town (<10,000) Examples
2006
Pop.
2016
Annual average change in Pop
NPF proposed 15% growth from
Annual average pop. Growth proposed
Annual housing growth at 2.5 person per household
6 year land zoning requirement including 50% headroom
Shannon
9222
9673 45
1451 61 24
7.2ha
Killadysert
445
513 7 77 3 1
1.1ha
Miltown Malbay
706
757 5
114 2
0.86ha
Mount- shannon
154
173 26
0.4ha

15. Sample of Impact of NPF/RSES on Zoning
Town
Zoned Land required over next 6 Years (NPF growth rate)
Amount of Residential Land currently Zoned in CDP
Shannon
7.2ha
47.11ha
Killadysert
1.1ha
8.62ha
Miltown Malbay
0.86ha
5.55ha
Mountshannon
0.4ha
2.47ha

16. Location of Core Population Growth Map courtesy of Limerick City & County Council

17. IMPORTANT!
The National Planning Framework will address high level strategic issues. While the RSES is also strategic in nature, it is essential to ensure that County Clare is fully and properly represented in this Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.

18. Submissions & Observations
In writing to the following address: RSES Submissions Regional Planning Unit Southern Regional Assembly Assembly House O’ Connell Street Waterford X91 F8PC
By to the following address:
Closing Date: 5pm on Friday 2nd February 2018