AG Corridor Framework - 3apr09

8/8/2019 AG Corridor Framework - 3apr09

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ATLANTIC GATEWAYS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

CORRIDOR FRAMEWORKS

Galway-Limerick/Shannon

Limerick/Shannon-Cork

Cork-Waterford

Waterford-Limerick/Shannon


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Introduction and Context ?

Key Recommendation

?

Specific Gateway Corridor Recommendations

?

1. Galway Limerick/Shannon

2. Limerick/Shannon Cork

3. Cork Waterford

4. Waterford Limerick/Shannon

Section 1: Galway Limerick/Shannon Corridor ?

1.1 The Existing Corridor ?

1.1.1 Introduction ?

1.1.2 Galway and Limerick/Shannon Gateways ?

1.1.3 Ennis and Tuam Hubs ?

1.1.4 Other Towns on the Corridor ?

1.1.5 Villages and Rural Hinterland ?

1.1.6 Existing Development Plans ?

1.2 Prospects for Growth ?

1.2.1 Regional Population Projections ?

1.2.2 Land Use ?

1.2.3 Key Infrastructure Interventions ?

1.3 Strategic Development Opportunities ?


1.3.2 Strategic Opportunities in the Corridor ?

1.3.3 Current Gaps in Planning Policy/Documentation ?1.3.4 Natural Heritage ?

1.3.5 Built Heritage ?

1.4 Achieving A Quality Environment ?

1.4.1 A Quality Environment ?

1.4.2 Environmental qualities of the Environment ?

1.5 Development Strategy and Implementation Actions ?

1.5.1 Development Strategy ?1.5.2 Key Development Issues ?

Contents

1Atlantic Gateways Corridor Framework


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1.5.3 Key Implementation Actions ?

1.5.4 Next Steps ?

Section 2: Limerick/Shannon Cork Corridor ?



2.1.2 Limerick/Shannon and Cork Gateways ?

2.1.3 Mallow Hub ?



2.1.6 Overall Population on the Corridor ?

2.1.7 Key Development Issues ?


2.2.1 Regional Context ?

2.2.2 Sub-Regional Context ?


2.2.4 Mallow Hub ?





2.3.2 Roads and Associated Infrastructure ?

2.3.3 Bus and Rail Services ?

2.3.4 Ports and Airports ?

2.3.5 Other Infrastructure ?

2.4 Achieving A Quality Environment ?2.4.1 Introduction ?


2.4.3 Mallow Hub ?

2.4.4 County Towns ?


2.4.6 Mallow Hub ?


2.5.1 Strategic Development Opportunities ?2.5.2 Key Implementation Actions ?

2 Atlantic Gateways Corridor Framework


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2.5.3 Next Steps ?

Section 3: Cork - Waterford Corridor ?



3.1.2 Cork Waterford Gateways ?

3.1.3 County Town of Dungarvan ?

3.1.4 Other Towns on the Corridor [Youghal needs to be brought

out of the gateway discussion] ?


3.1.6 Development Plans within the Corridor ?

3.1.7 Key Development Issues ?



3.2.2 Gateways ?

3.2.3 Corridor Towns ?

3.2.4 Corridor Villages and Rural Hinterland ?

3.2.5 Key Infrastructural Interventions ?



3.4 Achieving a Quality Environment ?




3.5.2 Key Implementation Actions3.5.3 Next Steps

Section 4: Waterford Limerick/Shannon ?



4.1.2 Waterford and Limerick/Shannon Gateways ?




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4.1.5 Development Plans within the Corridor ?4.1.6 Key Development Issues ?



4.2.2 Regional and Corridor Population Projections ?

4.2.3 Urban and Rural Corridor ?



4.3.2 Transport and Infrastructure ?

4.3.3 Communications ?

4.4 Achieving A Quality Environment ?


4.4.2 Co-operative Tourism Products ?



4.5.2 Key Implementation Actions

4.5.3 Next Steps



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The publication of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) in November 2002 represented a

significant statement of Government policy on regional development. At a strategic level,the NSS recognised the role of cities and city regions in driving more balanced regional

development. The NSS furthermore recognised the combined development potential of

Cork, Limerick-Shannon, Galway and Waterford otherwise known as the Atlantic Gateways

in establishing a metropolitan zone in the western and southern parts of Ireland with the

critical mass of population, infrastructure, connectivity and competitiveness, which would be

capable of acting at the international level in development terms. Furthermore, the NSS

envisaged the Atlantic Gateways complementing the emerging metropolitan corridor on the

eastern side of the island of Ireland and encompassing the cities of Dublin to Belfast. In all,

the Atlantic Gateway cities and the intervening urban and rural areas present a combined

potential future population catchment of around 1.2 million people by 2020.

The publication of the Atlantic Gateways Initiative Report in September 2006 set out in

more detail the analysis and recommendations underpinning the proposals for the Atlantic

Gateways focusing on the cities and their individual and complementary strengths. Since

2006, an implementation team comprised of representatives from the Department of the

Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG), the relevant Regional and Local

Authorities, Shannon Development and private sector interests has been focused on driving

forward the implementation of the Atlantic Gateways concept

Introduction


Figure 1: Extract from the Atlantic Gateways Initiative Report (Sept 2006)


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Recent positive steps that the Government has taken to support implementation of the

Atlantic Gateways Report have included commitments under the National Development Plan2007-2013 to funding critical elements such as the Atlantic Road Corridor and Western Rail

Corridor.

However, what happens in the areas between the Atlantic Gateways is also critically

important to their strategic development and an overall planned approach to the Atlantic

gateways cities and intervening areas is essential if the Atlantic Gateways concept is to

succeed.

Recognising that each of the Atlantic Gateway cities have their own statutory planning

framework and in many cases sub regional land use and transportation strategies, this

document sets out strategic goals for the development of intervening and more rural areas

between the Atlantic Gateway cities and across county boundaries in a way that will

complement the strategies at the city/county level and that will be reflected in statutory

planning processes such as the 2010 Regional Planning Guidelines for the Southwest,

Midwest, West and South East Regional Authority areas and city, county and local area

plans.

This document is the outcome of collaborative deliberations between the planning

authorities, regional authorities and private sector interests such as IBEC and Chambers of

Commerce within the corridors identified above and represents a further important step

towards the absorption of Atlantic Gateways thinking into local planning policies through

the preparation of non-statutory strategic development frameworks for the four corridor

areas between the Atlantic Gateways:

Galway - Limerick/Shannon;

Limerick/Shannon - Cork;

Cork - Waterford: and

Waterford - Limerick/Shannon.

Key Recommendations

Firstly, what happens in the areas between the Atlantic Gateways, where housing

develops, the future of rural areas, trends in employment, is to a great degree determined

or at least influenced by how the Atlantic Gateways themselves are performing.

Implementation of the Atlantic Gateways concept therefore starts within the gateways

themselves.



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Secondly, with 4 regional authorities, 10 city and county councils and many other town

councils covering the Atlantic Gateway areas, joined up approaches between regional andlocal authorities in developing and applying policies to the co-ordination of development

around and between the Atlantic Gateways will be essential if the gateways are going to

develop sustainably into the future.

Thirdly, the analysis carried out in connection with the preparation of this report and

outlined in appendices 1 to 4 identify a high level of land use zoning under existing

statutory development plans for various towns and villages along the various Atlantic

Gateway corridors. By contrast, recent population trends indicate that with the exception of

Galway, the remaining gateways are growing at rates under the national average and in

some cases are declining in population with respect to their city council or more central

areas. Such trends are not consistent with enhancing critical mass and driving growth and

indicate that the policies around directing growth through statutory local planning policies

have a major role to play in spurring the growth of the gateways in a sustainable manner.

Taking account of the overall findings outlined above, overarching recommendations from

this report are set out below and are supplemented by more detailed recommendations at

the corridor level in the following sections.

Recommendation 1: National Investment Growing the Gateways

Public investment under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 is transforming the

gateways and opening the way for wider private investment in new employment,

commercial and residential development and enhancement of the physical and social

environment. Within the more challenging budgetary and fiscal environment now prevailing,

prioritisation of investment in the gateways must continue as must investment

in signature elements such as the Atlantic Road Corridor and Western Rail

Corridor, which are now making good progress and will transform accessibility between

the Gateways.

Recommendation 2: Planning Policies

Regional Planning Guidelines for 2010 must set clear growth management

objectives between them for each of the four Atlantic Gateway Corridorsfor

subsequent application within new City/County Development Plans and Local Area Plans

and addressing the issue of overzoning and turning around the trend towards decline or

central city areas and rapid growth of dormitory type settlements strung out along the main

commuting corridors.



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Recommendation 3: Towns and Villages

Investment in the towns and villages along each Atlantic Gateway corridor

should be supportedbuilding on individual town plans that are consistent with the

overall settlement strategy of the relevant Planning Authority and the appropriate regional

planning guidelines in force. Towns along the corridor should focus on acting as motors for

the progression of their own areas in economic and social terms, without detracting from

the regional and national functions of Gateways and Hub towns.

Recommendation 4: Rural Areas

Development plans for counties along the Atlantic Gateway corridors need to set

out a holistic and sustainable development strategy for the rural areas along the

Atlantic Gateway corridors, that is those areas outside the main cities and towns with a

population of 1500 persons and over.

Rural areas between the Atlantic Gateways are diverse, they contain many physical and

environmental attributes and they are experiencing differing development issues and

patterns. Smaller towns, villages and rural areas close to the Gateways and the main

commuter routes are frequently experiencing very significant pressures for development,

while remoter rural areas are experiencing the impacts of a restructuring of the rural

economy away from a dependence on agriculture: on occasion, this has resulted in the

decline in population of smaller rural villages and their surrounding countryside.

The careful management of countryside areas, their natural and built heritage and

landscapes and their potential to accommodate economic development, for example on the

Shannon estuary, is a key part of establishing an attractive qualitative context for the

Gateway, essential to their international competitiveness.

Specific Gateway Corridor Recommendations

1: Galway - Limerick/Shannon

Implementation of the Galway Planning Land Use and Transportation

Strategy (GPTS) and Mid West Area Strategic Plan (MWASP) are vital to the

sustainable development of the Gateways themselves focusing major metropolitan

driven growth on:

o The development of compact new city urban extension proposals such as theGalway City Eastern Environs (Ardaun) Strategy; and



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o The Limerick City Northside and Southside Regeneration Strategies including

the Northern Area Masterplan, as well as the implementation of the ShannonTown and Free Zone Masterplans.

The accelerated delivery of the Atlantic Road corridor and Western Rail

corridor in an integrated fashion including the development of road and public

transport interchanges within the Gateway cities and at key nodes such as Shannon

Airport as the primary international access point for the Corridor as well as Ennis,

Athenry and Gort and Sixmilebridge as an interchange point between the western

rail corridor and Shannon Airport by bus shuttle.

The development of key settlements of Ennis, Shannon, Gort, Tuam,

Athenry and Sixmilebridge and management of urban sprawl through the

densification of existing town/settlement areas. Sustainable settlement patterns will

reduce greenhouse emissions.

Careful management of development pressures at major transportation

interchanges such as those along the proposed Atlantic Corridor balancing the

need to harness the benefits of increased accessibility with the need to protect

future capacity and the states investment.

The preparation of wider rural development strategies for the intervening

rural areas along the Limerick/Shannon Galway Corridor. The key environmental

objectives are the conservation and prudent management of the natural beauty and

heritage of the more rural spaces between the gateways and key inter-gateway

urban centres so that a high quality urban and rural environment is presented to

both residents who live or come to want to live along the Corridor and to the

investor who is critical to driving the economy of the Corridor.

2: Limerick/Shannon - Cork

Delivery of Cork Docklands (CASP) through focused investment into its

regeneration and building on the Budget 2008 announcements regarding

incentivisation in finding alternative locations for the hazardous installations

to which the EU Seveso Directive applies.

Development of an overall Integrated Approach to the HarbourArea including

Ringaskiddy including the immediate upgrading of the N28 to Ringaskiddy Port

and industrial area.



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Improved links to Cork Airport including a bus corridor as part of an integrated

public transport system.

Further development and facilitation ofresearch and development innovation

in Cork building on its pharmaceutical and ICT Centres of Excellence (links to

existing centres of third level Education) and in Limerick further implementation of

the shared innovation strategy.

Delivery and future expansion of the Cork Suburban Rail Project under the

Cork Area Strategic Plan(CASP) including delivery of the planned new settlement

at Monard.

Continued investment in the quality and amenity of the urban fabric, including

branding and marketing of Cork and Limerick City Centres andjoint initiatives in

tourism and marketing of the region combining strengths of the gateways and

improving connectivity between the regions.

Improved public transport linkages between the Cork Limerick Gateways,

Hubs and other settlements.

Investment in Mallow NSS Hub town under the Special Local area Plan (SLAP)

including local roads, local public transport and delivery of improved water

services.

Initiation of a town centre enhancement scheme and

Progress in delivering employment and development sites including Mallow

West.

3: Cork - Waterford

Upgrading of the Waterford Institute of Technology campus to University

status with the university retaining its technological/business bias and the

Carriganore Campus being developed without delay, while recognising that this is

primarily a matter for the Government to decide upon an appropriate way forward

within the wider national context.

Focusing the location of research & development facilities in the

Gateways in conjunction with the third level institutions and enhanced co-operation between the institutions.



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The delivery of the 2+2 dual carriageway/motorway standard road

connectivity between Waterford and Cork is an essential part of this strategy.

The further development of Waterford Airport by way of better access,

terminal/runway expansion and support facilities for passenger and improved

infrastructure for the airport, making the South-East/N25 corridor more attractive to

potential employers and add value to the employment potential of the area.

Metropolitan Area Networks (MANS) have been provided in most if the larger

towns and require marketing and other measures to grow their usage by local

businesses. Furthermore, access to broadband in rural areas under the new

National Broadband Scheme must be progressed quickly.

The quality of existing public transport services within and between the

Gateways needs further enhancement through the provision of park and ride

facilities and better integration with good rural public transport systems.

Enhanced use of existing rail transshipment facilities at Belview Port is a

vital part of the transport infrastructure required to improve efficiency of cargo

movement throughout the Region and beyond and is seen as a vital determinant in

the upgrade of the Corridor Rail network.

4: Waterford - Limerick/Shannon

Implementation of the Waterford Planning and Land Use Transportation

Study (PLUTS) and the Mid-West Area Strategic Plan (MWASP) currently

being prepared) focusing major development on:

o As mentioned earlier, the Limerick City Docklands in addition to the Northside

and Southside Regeneration Master Plans.o Waterford City Centre including the redeveloped North Quays, Belview and a

knowledge and enterprise zone centred on WIT and the IDA Technology

Park.

Upgrading of the N24 National Route as a major inter-urban corridor to

reinforce the transport links between Waterford and Limerick and allowing for

greater access from the corridor to the multi-modal transport interchanges and

national access points located at Shannon Airport, Foynes and Belview.



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Accelerated development of key towns along the Waterford-Limerick Corridor

at Carrick-on-suir, Clonmel, Cahir, Tipperary and both Cashel and Thurleswithin the hinterland of the corridor as attractive places to live and work.

Development of Limerick Junction as a strategic transport gateway for N-S

and E-W road and rail traffic

Enhancement of the existing Limerick-Waterford rail line services to

provide rail commuter services to and from both Limerick and Waterford and

inter-town connection between the towns of Carrick, Clonmel, Cahir and

Tipperary/Limerick Junction with Park and ride facilities and feeder buse services

from more outlying rural areas.

A plan led approach to protecting, conserving and harnessing the

corridors rural assets in terms of landscape, small town and village structure,

water quality and inland waterways.

Relocation of the Clonmel campus of the Tipperary Institute to

Ballingarrane Estate as part of a wider and strengthened knowledge network

encompassing the various centres of third and fourth level education In Limerick,

Waterford and Tipperary.

A more comprehensive description of the issues within each Atlantic Gateway corridor and

implementation actions is contained in Appendices 1 to 4.

Next Steps

The Atlantic Gateways report is a comprehensive recognition by Government of their

collective potential and has been backed with national level investment.

This document is about follow-through on planning policy at a more local level. Thereforethe primary audience for this non-statutory document is represented by the relevant

regional and local authorities.

The roll-out of infrastructural investment under the NDP 2007-2013 and the preparation,

including implementation, of these frameworks present a unique opportunity to create plan

and infrastructural investment-led development rather than the other way around.

Major roads, investment in rail connectivity between these Gateways and the existing local

planning process present the opportunity to integrate national strategic infrastructure



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planning and local planning to secure sustainable long-term growth. Long-term planning for

physical and social infrastructure needs to take account of local spatial planningconsiderations such as the need to provide for access to strategic locations such as Hub

towns and other locations in road investments, tied in with access to public transport nodes

and close to the existing built-up areas to provide for compact sustainable urban

development.

Notwithstanding the above, the NDP 2007-2013 provides for many of the key physical

infrastructure elements essential to the implementation of the Atlantic Gateway concept. An

important step is the reduction of the impact of distance between the Gateways and in

improving the overall attractiveness of the Atlantic Gateway cities. Other elements of the

NDP include substantial investment in the capacity of water services infrastructure at

strategic locations to cater for plan-led development, investment in housing development

and regeneration and investment to secure the diversification of the rural economy through

communications, tourism and rural development initiatives.

Taking account of the unique opportunities to drive plan led development:

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

along with other Departments and agencies will, through the monitoring

arrangements for the National Development Plan 2007-2013, seek to maintain a

high level of priority around the transportation and gateway development measures

in the NDP focusing especially on the Mid Term Review of the NDP in 2010.

Regional Authorities and constituent local authorities, will work together to

ensure that the next round of RPGs due in mid 2010 are fully reflective of the

thinking behind the Atlantic Gateways concept and put forward credible proposals

for the management of growth along the corridors;

Local authorities will advance plans for the various towns along the AtlanticGateway Corridors in line with Regional Planning Guidelines and strategies for

gateways at the sub-regional level and will ensure that future reviews and variations

of existing plans will take account of this document and the Atlantic Gateways

report in general;

Regional Authorities, the Regional Assemblies and the Chambers of

Commerce /IBEC will work together in exploring other collaborative exercises in

the Atlantic Gateways areas including joint marketing, networking and other

measures to promote an integrated approach to planning and development alongthe Atlantic Gateway Corridors.



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Se

ction1-Galway-Limerick/Shannon

Corridor


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This Section is a joint collaboration by the Mid-West and West Regional Authorities and

local authorities within the existing corridor, namely, Clare County Council, Galway CountyCouncil, Galway City Council, Limerick County Council and Limerick City Council.

Map 1 Galway - Limerick/Shannon Corridor

1.1.1 Introduction

The cities of Galway and Limerick are approximately 100 kilometres apart. The Galway

Limerick/Shannon corridor centred along the N18 and depicted on map 1 above has anapproximate area of 3,000 sq km. and encompasses a population of around 300,000

Section 1.1: The Existing Corridor



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people. The area within the corridor grew by 70,000 in the past fifteen years - a rate of

growth of 2% per annum which almost matches the national rate of growth over theperiod. Approximately 240,000 of this population is located in urban or suburban districts.

The corridor contains the NSS Gateway cities of Galway and Limerick / Shannon, the hub

towns of Ennis in Co. Clare and Tuam in County Galway, and the towns of Shannon and

Sixmilebridge in Co Clare, Gort and Athenry in Co. Galway as well as several other smaller

villages. Both Gateways play an important role in the overall development of the corridors

contiguous area from a social, economical, cultural and educational perspective. The

Galway Transportation and Planning Study (GTPS) area defines the northern section of the

Limerick / Shannon / Ennis Atlantic Gateways Corridor (figure 1.1) and the southern section

of the corridor comprises Zone 1 of the Mid West Regional Planning Guidelines; figure 1.2.


Figure 1.1 Galway Transportation Planning Study (GTPS) Integration Study Area


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The corridor contains very significant employment opportunities - more than 100,000 jobs

are employed at various locations. About 66,000 of these are located in the

Limerick/Shannon/Ennis area and 40,000 in Galway City alone. Thus, the corridor has a

considerable concentration of the necessary business and professional occupations,

described as "the creative class".

The universities and third-level colleges of Galway and Limerick anchor the production of

human capital at either end of the corridor and are recognised as centres of excellence intheir particular fields and continue to build their contribution to knowledge-based industries

and their production of graduates at all levels of academic scholarship.

The Galway Limerick/Shannon Corridor traverses two regional authority areas that of the

Mid-West and the West regions, whose combined population in 2006 was 774,034 persons.

Recent population projections (DEHLG, 2007) indicate that by 2020, the combined

population of these two regions could rise to almost one million people.


Figure 1.2 Zone 1 of the Mid West Regional Planning Guidelines.


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Graph 1.1 2006 population of the Local Authority areas relevant to the corridor.

The areas around each Gateway such as the GTPS area in Galway and the Mid West RPG

Zone 1 (Ref. map 1.24) had a population of 164,283 (GTPS) and 186,895 (Zone 1)respectively in 2006. Again, these areas are expected to increase in population to 214,894

(GTPS) and 232,805 (Zone 1) by 2020. The population of the Local Authority areas relevant

to the corridor are illustrated in Graph 1.1.

The populations of the various cities and towns along the transport corridor between the

two gateways and rural areas was estimated to be around 177,285 people in 2006 of which

161,168 lived in the two cities and main towns and the balance lived in the rural areas

along the N18 route. Taking account of the above, it is clear that the Galway Limerick

/Shannon Corridor is a significant population agglomeration in the State. Map 1 indicates in

an illustrative manner, the area covered by the corridor and its wider context. However,

given improvements in transport infrastructure and as travel and development patterns

evolve, the nature and extent of the corridor will be dynamic and will constantly change.

1.1.2 Galway and Limerick/Shannon Gateways

The GTPS area encompasses the Galway Gateway and Tuam hub, as illustrated in Figure

1.1. It is anticipated that by the year 2020, the sub-regional GTPS hinterland will have a

population of approximately 214,894 or 40% of the West Regions population. An array of

towns and villages are dispersed throughout the study area and outside of those, the



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corridor is predominantly rural in nature. The main settlements within the corridor are

Tuam, Athenry, Gort, Ennis, Sixmilebridge and Shannon.

Limerick City sits at the lowest crossing point on the River Shannon and is bisected by the

River Shannon. Together with Shannon town, Limerick is designated in the National Spatial

Strategy as the "Gateway" to the Mid West Region and as the location of a strong

competitive economic node. Limerick is the third largest city in the country, with the core

gateway area, highlighted in yellow in figure 1.3 accommodating 137,000 people in 2006.

Zone 1 of the Mid West Regional Planning Guidelines is anticipated to have a population of

232,805 in 2020. The Galway Gateway as defined in the NSS is the fourth largest in the

State, with a significant catchment area and has had considerable growth rates in the past

two decades.

The new Shannon Town Centre Master Development Plan together with a new Masterplan

for the Shannon Free Zone industrial area, when incorporated into the South Clare

Economic Corridor Local Area Plan will give effect to Shannons ambitious redevelopment

proposals as a fast developing new town and industrial area. The Shannon Free Zone has a

major economic impact on the surrounding area, both in terms of commuting work flows

and in local sub-supply. Proximity to Shannon Airport, as well as linkages to the industrial


Figure 1.3 The Limerick Gateway City core area and the surrounding area withinZone 1.


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and educational services in Limerick, have been key features of its success. The 2020

projected population for Shannon Town is13,200.

Both Gateways benefit from the location of Shannon Airport within the Corridor. The growth

and sustainability of Shannon Airport is in the interest of both Gateways and the wider

urban and rural areas. Public/private collaboration on the development of the Corridors

future air access is vital in the interests of developing a corridor area with an international-

level service that will enable it to operate and compete collectively on the national and

international stage.

1.1.3 Ennis and Tuam Hubs

Ennis which is located between the two Gateways of Galway and Limerick/Shannon is the

largest settlement along the Corridor and is a designated NSS Hub Town. It is strategically

located approximately 40 kilometres north of Limerick on the N18 National Primary Route

and is one of the fastest growing Hub Towns in the country with an Ennis & Environs

population of 30,000. It is serviced by the Ennis Dublin rail line (currently eight return

daily services) and in 2009 will be serviced by the Western Rail Corridor. The town is an

important residential, market and commercial centre in the corridor area, providing

significant levels of employment.

Tuam is located at the northern end of the Atlantic Corridor, is the principal town in Galway

County and is a major commercial hub for the North Galway South Mayo sub-region. It is

strategically located approximately 38 kilometres north of Galway on the N17 National

Primary Route which makes up part of the spine of the Corridor. Tuam and its environs has

seen a 34% growth in population since 2002. The town will also be serviced by the

Western Rail Corridor.

1.1.4 Other Towns on the Corridor

Athenry is a convergence point of importance given the N/M6 and N/M18 routes converge

here, together with the convergence of the GalwayDublin rail line and Western CorridorRail line which gives Athenry town strategic importance within this Atlantic Gateways

Corridor. In addition, the natural gas pipeline and electricity transmission network (220kV)

all converge at this location. For these reasons and given Athenrys proximity to the Galway

Gateway, the area extending from Galway City to Athenry is designated as a strategic

development corridor in the Galway Co. Development Plan.

Gort is an important centre on the western transport corridor, located between Galway and

Ennis / Limerick on the N18; offering a range of services to a wide rural hinterland. It has

good future potential in terms of road and rail; it will be served by the first phase of the



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Western Rail Corridor and the new dual carriageway will enhance its convenience to both

the north and south. The 2006 CSO population figure for Gort was 2,782, representing a53.8% increase on 2002, with most of its employment based on manufacturing and

tourism. Gort is designated a heritage town and has strong historical and literary links,

attracting tourism, in addition to its close proximity to Coole Park, Thoor Ballylee, Lough

Derg and the Burren.

Sixmilebridge is located three miles east of the National Road Network (N18) serving the

two Gateways of Galway and Limerick/Shannon, approximately six miles from Shannon

International Airport and four miles from the tourist attractions at Bunratty. It is the only

large town in the South Clare Economic Corridor Plan, 2002-2008, apart from Shannon that

is designated for expansion. The service infrastructure is in place for this expansion to take

place. At the 2006 census it had a population of 1,659. The population of Sixmilebridge

increased by 25% in the inter-censal period 2002-2006. A rail stop is being developed in

the town and is due to open in March 2009 as part of the development of the Western Rail

Corridor, which will link Galway to Ennis and Limerick as part of the Atlantic corridor

development strategy.

1.1.5 Villages and Rural Hinterland

Villages and rural hinterland are experiencing different development issues and

development pressures. Smaller towns and rural areas close to the Gateways and the main

commuter routes are experiencing significant pressures for development. The 2006 CSO

Census highlighted issues of population decline in rural villages, while some of the Corridor

villages close to the Gateways and the main commuter routes recorded significant growth.

Proper and prompt water and sewerage servicing of these smaller towns and villages is a

key issue for their future growth and sustainability. Some of the remoter rural areas are

experiencing the impacts of a restructuring of the rural economy away from a dependence

on agriculture and this has resulted in the decline in population of smaller rural villages and

their surrounding countryside. The encouragement and support of local enterprise is vital

to the future sustainable development of these areas.

1.1.6 Existing Development Plans

The statutory City and County Development Plans have specific planning and development

policies and objectives set out in their respective areas within the Corridor. The common

planning policy theme is focused around proper planning and sustainable development, in

so far as future development is directed towards a range of existing settlements. The

promotion of sustainable rural development is a central policy in all existing county

development plans.



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Existing Strategies, Plans & Policies in the Galway Limerick/Shannon Corridor

1. National Spatial Strategy 2002 2020

2. West Regional Planning Guidelines 2004 - 2016

3. Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines 2004

4. The Galway County Development Plan 2003 2009 (amended)

5. Galway City Council Development Plan 2005 2011

6. Oranmore Local Area Plan

7. Claregalway Local Area Plan

8. Bearna Local Area Plan

9. Tuam Local Area Plan

10. Athenry Local Area Plan

11. Gort Local Area Plan

12. Clarinbridge Local Area Plan

13. Kinvara Integrated Area Plan

14. Ardrahan Settlement Strategy Plan

15. Craughwell Settlement Strategy Plan

16. Kilcolgan Settlement Strategy Plan

17. Framework Document for the Strategic Development Corridor between Galway &

Athenry

18. GTPS (Galway Transport and Planning Study) 2003

19. Limerick County Development Plan 2005

20. Adare Local Area Plan 2003

21. Patrickswell Local Area Plan 2002

22. Southern Environs Local Area Plan 2005

23. Caherdavin Local Area Plan 2005

24. Castleconnell Local Area Plan 2007

25. Castletroy Local Area Plan 2003

26. Village Design Statement for Murroe

27. Planning and Languages Transportation Study for the Limerick Area28. Clare County Development Plan 2005 2011

29. South Clare Economic Corridor Local Area Plan 2003

30. Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2003

31. North Clare Local Area Plan 2005

32. East Clare Local Area Plan 2003

33. Limerick City Development Plan 2004 2010



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Galway - Limerick/Shannon Corridor

1.2.1 Regional Population Projections

By 2020 it is envisaged that the population of the Mid West Region will grow to over

450,000 and the West Region to over 527,000. Over the coming 12 years, the implications

of this level of growth for Limerick City are that if the Mid West region as a whole is likely

to grow by about 76,000 persons then at least 45,000 are likely to seek residence in and

around the Limerick/Shannon Gateway. In Galway, a large proportion of the estimated

population growth in the West region up to 2020 will be within the GTPS area. The GPTS

estimated growth to 2020 is a target population of 214,894. (See Table 2.3).

Table 2.3 Recorded (CSO) and *estimated Population figures for the GTPS

1.2.2 Land Use

The land use availability for the corridor area is based on the undeveloped residentially

zoned lands in the plan areas of the Corridor. The breakdown of these figures is available in

tables 2.5 2.8. The total figure for available residentially zoned lands in the corridor

areas is 3,387 hectares (ha). In the case of the Galway Gateway there are two significant

additional areas designated for Local Area Plans in the City, i.e. Ardaun (149ha) and

Murrough (40ha).

Table 2.5 Undeveloped Residential lands in Galway City

Section 1.2: Prospects for Growth


Year 1996 2002 2006 2020 Change1996-2003

Population 126,910 144,189 164,283 *214,894 37,373

R Residential 159.4 ha

LDR Lower Density Residential 71 ha

Total Figure 230.4 ha


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Ennis / Clarecastle 485.9

Newmarket-on-Fergus 32.41

Shannon 49.83

Sixmilebridge 38.24

Bunratty 2.72

Meelick 5.66

Ardnacrusha 24.26

Total Figure 639.02ha

Settlement Residentially

Zoned Lands

Res Lands

Developed

Total

undevelopedClaregalway 78.5 13.016 65.5

Bearna 145.3 0 145.3

Headford 113 28.305 84.7

Kinvara 53 8.8619 44.1

Gort 116.6 5.3908 111.2

Oranmore 278.7 0.63 278.1

Loughrea 264.4 9.9905 254.4

Tuam 496 32.7541 463.2

Oughterard 136.3 6.1334 130.2

Moycullen 122.3 17.5614 104.7

Athenry 267 24.406 242.6

Total 1,924 ha

Figure 2.6 Areas of Available Residential Land in County Clare (In Zone 1)

*There is no residentially zoned land in the Parteen settlement. The land is

comprised mainly of Other Settlement Land (OSL) and Open Space areas, of

which there is 28.84ha of undeveloped O.S.L.

Figure 2.7 Areas of Available Residential Land in Co. Galway (inside GTPS)


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Figure 2.8 Areas of Available Residential Land in County Limerick (Zone 1)

1.2.3 Key Infrastructure InterventionsWithin the Corridor, there are ongoing investments (as set out in the National Development

Plan 2007-2013) in road and rail infrastructure which will improve the connectivity between

Galway and Limerick/Shannon. In particular, investments in road include the N6 / N7 / N17

/ N18 and N19 upgrades. The Western Rail Corridor will be delivered through the

reconstruction of the existing rail line and will provide for a rail link between Galway and

Limerick through Ennis with the future possibility of adding a rail spur to Shannon. The

additional access provided by the Western Rail Corridor will provide more sustainable

access along the Corridor. The opening of new rail stations will impact on such areas as

they become attractive places to live and work, i.e. Ardrahan and Sixmilebridge rail stations

opening in 2009. Plan-led development will be important for these areas to manage and

optimise the value of the public investment. Details of major planned and specific

infrastructure projects are listed below.

List of Key Infrastructural Developments & Significant investment

1. N6 / N18 and N17

2. Galway City Outer by-pass

3. East Galway Main Drainage

4. Western Rail (Ennis Athenry) and (Athenry Tuam)


Caherdavin 12.38

Castleconnell 36.55

Castletroy 88.48

Fedamore 12.38

Montpelier 05.69

Patrickswell 61.25

Soutern Environs 250.00

Adare 23.45

Caherconlish 11.75

Total Figure 501.93 ha


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5. Commuter Rail

6. Tynagh Power Plant and Complex7. Gas powered plant to the east of Galway City

8. Phase2 of Southern Ring Road Project; Limerick Tunnel, consists of 675m of

underground tunnel connecting to upgraded N7 (under construction) Dublin-

Limerick-Cork-Galway.

9. Major water services projects ongoing within Limerick City and suburban area.

10. Limerick Northern Ring Road connecting N18 at Connagh to the N7 at Annacotty.

11. Quality bus corridors and park and ride provision at the N18, N7 and N20.

12. Major expansion and upgrade of the University Concert Hall to care for a wider

range of activities including conferences, larger concerts and outdoor concerts.

13. Water services program

14. Major anti erosion measures at Silver Strand, Galway

15. Waste management measures; Concert/conference facility at NUIG

16. Third level Education expansion; Second level education expansion

17. The enhancement of the Atlantic Road Corridor, including links to other Gateways,

with accelerated priority going to the completion of the Limerick-Galway section of

the N18 to high quality dual carriageway. The next stage of this project is the N18

Gort to Crusheen scheme. It consists of 22 km of high quality dual carriageway

extending from Ballingers Corner, north of Gort, to Craggard, south of Crusheen,

where it ties in with the N18 Ennis bypass.

18. Improvement of road access to Shannon Airport;

19. The R-352 Ennis Tulla route has been extensively upgraded also providing greater

ease of access to the East of the County.

20. The upgrading of the Limerick Ennis rail line, reopening of commuter rail stops, and

additional frequency of commuter rail services.

21. Re-opening of passenger services on the Ennis-Athenry leg of the Western Rail

Corridor is promised in TRANSPORT 21, and the feasibility of a Shannon Airport rail

link has been studied.

22. The completion of the Shannon Limerick Rail Study for a new rail link betweenShannon and Limerick.

23. Shannon Airport is the second largest airport in Ireland and is developing into a

significant hub. It provides international access to the region, including from the US,

and is the key feature of the areas transport infrastructure.

24. Waste Water Services investment programmes.

25. In Ennis a new main drainage scheme including a 50,000-population equivalent

treatment plant is due for completion by 2012. A new water treatment plant is to be

completed within 2 years. A new trunk water mains infrastructure is being provided

in association with the bypass.


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26. Ennis Town Water Supply Augmentation Scheme ( 18 months contract) Due1st

Quarter 200927. Newmarket on Fergus Contracts 3 and 4 due for completion Spring 2008

28. The Castle Lake upgrade and augmentation scheme for Shannon Town is at the

Planning Stage

29. The Newmarket-on-Fergus Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade should be

complete by 2008 and the Quin Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade should also

be complete by 2008.

30. The Clonlara (SLI) should have construction complete in 2009. In Shannon Town,

construction is due to be complete by 2009.

31. The Blackwater, Parkroe, Gillogue, Ardnacrusha, Athlunkard, Lakyle, Ballycannan,

Meelick, Parteen scheme should have Phased Construction complete by 2008 to

2010.

32. An upgrade of the Shannon Town Treatment works upgrade should be complete by

2010

33. The Killaloe Sewerage Scheme is in the planning stage

34. Galway City Bus Strategy

35. Water Services Investement Program - Galway City / Environs

36. Docklands Development - Galway City

37. Galway Airport - Investment in Infrastructure.

38. Ceannt Station - Investment in delivering an Improved Integrated Transportation

Hub


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Galway - Limerick/Shannon Corridor

1.3.1 Introduction

The underlying driver of economic development is the availability of highly skilled and

educated people - what economists and social scientists frequently refer to as human

capital. Places that have more social capital tend to thrive, while those with lower levels

tending to stagnate or decline. Universities play a key role in creating initial advantages in

human capital, which becomes cumulative and self-reinforcing over time. Amenities also

play a role in attracting and retaining highly-educated, high-skills households. Tolerance

and openness to diversity are also important. The Galway Limerick/Shannon Corridor

offers strong potential to deliver the social capital and physical infrastructure required todrive overall regional development.

The Shannon Free Zone comprises the largest single concentration of industrial and

international service activity on the Corridor. The National Technology Park, beside the

University of Limerick, is Irelands first technology park with a balanced mix of multi-

national subsidiaries and Irish technology companies. Raheen Business Park, beside

Limerick City, has industry concentrations in computers, electronics, food and metal

products. At Ennis, significant developments are taking place around the Information Age

Park as a focus for information-related enterprises. Galway has built up a substantial

momentum of growth from both indigenous enterprise and inward investment. Main

clusters around Galway City are at Mervue Industrial Estate, Parkhouse Business Park,

Ballybrit Business Park and Galway Business Park. Major sectors include medical devices,

information technology and software.

Significantly, Galway and Limerick/Shannon excel in different sectors, providing

complementary industrial structures. In addition to the industrial sector, the

Limerick/Shannon-Galway Corridor has well established an internationally renowned

strengths in tourism. The area serves as a gateway to main tourism destinations, such as

the Burren and Connemara, and also has assets in urban-related tourism, particularly inGalway, and increasingly in Limerick. Shannon Airport serves as a major international

gateway for the western seaboard for both industry and tourism, with established linkages

with both Limerick and Galway. Cooperation already exists between third-level educational

institutions (University of Limerick, NUI-Galway, Galway- Mayo IT and Limerick IT), offering

an established foundation for knowledge-based enterprise.

The strategic opportunities for the Galway Limerick/Shannon Corridor thus offer several

ingredients for mobilising social capital:

Section 1.3: Strategic Development Opportunities



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the mixed range of complementary sectors offers the ability to compete in several

areas; while there may be concentrations in specific locations, the overall Corridorhas a healthy economic mixture;

there is a growing number of indigenous enterprises in the export and new

technology sectors which need to be encouraged as a base for the future;

the Corridors role as a combined gateway for international tourism gives it strategic

national importance;

these complementary strengths in industry and tourism can act as a collective

resource, reinforcing each other; and

the momentum for research and development has been established by the higher

education institutions.

To achieve the potential of the Corridor, it will be vital that economic development

infrastructure investment and the planning policies of constituent planning authorities

recognise the complementarities, interconnections and interdependencies between the

Gateways of Limerick/Shannon and Galway and their wider regions. It is the combination of

these distinctive characteristics and defining features that produces a synergy and a set of

development opportunities that is greater than the sum of the individual gateways and

intervening areas. The challenge for spatial strategies in the Limerick/Shannon-Galway

Corridor is thus to provide the context for these activities to flourish, including an attractive

living environment, high quality leisure resources, excellent transport links and competitive

working conditions.

A new Planning and Land Use Transportation Study is being prepared for the Mid West

Region (entitled Mid West Area Strategic Plan MWASP) and, together with a review of both

the West and Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines, this should now fully integrate the

concept of the Atlantic Corridor and should be seamless across regional boundaries.

1.3.2 Strategic Development Opportunities in the Corridor

Galway Gateway

The Galway Gateway is a high value and high skills activity area. Galway has a good

infrastructure base, the right people and skills and quality of life assets that sets the City

apart. This in turn will maximise the benefits it brings through good physical assets - road,

rail, telecoms etc. - a high education and research base and will consequently allow for a

good balance of development throughout the Corridor.

Limerick Gateway

The Limerick / Ennis / Shannon area has experienced considerable development andpopulation growth during the past twenty years, with new facilities and services having


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been provided during this period. Together they create an urban agglomeration that is

centrally located within the region and that has the potential to be easily accessed from allparts. The presence of Shannon International Airport and major educational institutions

such as the University of Limerick and the Limerick Institute of Technology strengthen the

Limerick / Ennis / Shannon area as a national focal point.

Shannon Free Zone Master Plan

Shannon Development is drawing up a new Master Plan for the future development of the

Shannon Free Zone. This is a large-scale complex master planning project and will include

greenfield, brownfield, regeneration and reconstruction master planning. The completed

master plan will set out the design guidelines for all future physical developments on

Shannon Free Zone and will incorporate very exacting sustainability standards with a

minimum carbon footprint. Shannon Free Zone will aim to be an exemplar for firms wishing

to operate with minimised consequences for the environment.

Opportunities

From a business perspective, location anywhere in the Corridor gives access to a skilled and

educated labour force of at least 150,000 people linked by good and improving road access

with rail links in the offing and international air connectivity through Shannon to the US and

Europe. Wage rates in Limerick and Galway are lower than Dublin as are almost all costs of

doing business - from rents of office and industrial space to business service charges.

Within the Corridor there is very evidently a pool of management and professional talent

experienced at the cutting edge of international business.

From a workers perspective, almost all of the urban centres in the Corridor are within a 20-

30 minute drive of each other. To live anywhere within this Corridor is to live within 20

minutes driving time of a major employment centre hosting at least 12,000 jobs.

Away from the centre-line of the Corridor along the N18, there is easy access to sea shore

in the West, and lake shore in the East which offers the ideal amenity and recreationenvironment to hold and retain the knowledge workers of the creative class. The urban

centres provide unrivalled cultural access whether traditional music, theatre, sports or the

arts in general.

The residential amenities on offer are many and varied from central apartments in the

pedestrianised urban cores to suburban dwellings adjacent to city or village or secluded

family homes on quiet country lanes. All locations are within reach of varied recreation

amenities whether seacoast, hill walking trails, or lake activities.


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The development of the Atlantic Corridor concept presents new strategic opportunities for

the larger settlements along the main arterial transportation links (road and rail) whichmake up the Corridor. From north to south, these are Tuam, Athenry, Gort, Ennis, Shannon

and Sixmilebridge. There are several other smaller scale settlements but their capacity for

growth to a significant size is somewhat limited given the need to retain their scale and

character.

By identifying a limited number of medium-sized Corridor settlements as locations for

focused investment and planned development it should be possible to create the critical

mass needed to support the rural populations between the Gateways and provide a range

of lifestyle choices for newly formed households. The Corridor can also provide the

opportunity for mobile or rural-based enterprises to locate in serviced areas other than

Gateway City locations.

The realisation of this inter-Gateway settlement pattern requires co-ordinated decision-

making and investment choices at national and regional level as strategic, targeted

investments in additional to enabling infrastructure, such as water and waste water,

broadband and ICT initiatives etc. will be required.

Threats

The spread of residential development away from the Corridor to more unserviced rural

hinterlands, lakeshore and sea coasts may threaten the very attractiveness of these

amenities. The importance of sustaining a proper settlement hierarchy of cities, towns and

villages and viable commercial cores within each settlement is essential for the sustainable

development of the Corridor.

Challenges

Creating and Marketing the linked potential of the Corridor is a key challenge. and will not

happen without considerable effort and expenditure. While the provision of the transport

linkages will provide the physical basis for the creation of such a single market in themedium term, the mere existence of these linkages will not, of themselves, create an

image of such an integrated entity.

The political will to work in close co-operation is also a vital initial step as is the availability

of the transport linkages.

Skills development and linking skills with enterprise is a key challenge within the Corridor.

The linkage of R & D in the third- and fourth-level education Institutes has also been

identified as a critical factor in enhancing the capacity of regions to attract industry. While



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The third- and fourth-level education presence is strong in both the Galway and Limerick-

Shannon Gateways, providing a strong potential R&D linkage to industry within the Corridorarea.

The completion by 2010 of the dual carriageway link and a rail link between Limerick and

Galway will mean significant reduction in journey times between both cities and from both

cities to rural areas in between.

1.3.3 Current Gaps in Planning Policy/Documentation

Limerick Regeneration Companies (Fitzgerald Report)

The Fitzgerald proposals will stimulate new development in the northern and southern

suburbs of Limerick City and facilitate new development opportunities along the route of

the proposed Northern Relief Road (and in the vicinity of the proposed new rail platform at

Moyross), which will ultimately link the eastern, northern and western parts of Limerick City

and lead to a more balanced development of Limerick City. The growth and progress of the

Limerick-Shannon Gateway relies on the long-term well-being and protection of Limerick

City Centre. To address the immediate needs of parts of Limerick City, the Fitzgerald report

concludes that three strands of intervention are necessary to achieve progress,

intensive police intervention,

the economic and infrastructural regeneration of the Moyross, Southill, Ballinacurra/

Weston and St. Marys park areas of the city, and

a coordinated response to social and educational disadvantage.

Structures and funding are being made available to progress the three strands. This

approach provides a model that can be applied to other residential areas requiring

regeneration within the Corridor area.

Limerick Docklands Development PlanAcross many coastal cities, redevelopment of docklands has been a very positive force in

re-imaging and enhancing cities. Arrangements are in hand to consider options for Limerick

in this regard. However, the working committee has not yet reached a conclusion on the

future development of the Limerick Docklands area.

The Ardaun Concept

The strategy for Galway City is to continue to be a major focal point for growth at the

national, regional and local levels. Consolidation of the Citys growth in a co-ordinated and

sustainable manner will be a major focus for the future. Consolidated growth will be


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achieved through the development of Ardaun a new settlement area straddling the eastern

boundary of the city encompassing lands in the county as recommended by the GTPS.

1.3.4 Natural Heritage

The natural heritage of the Atlantic Gateway Corridor is a resource of strategic importance

in the development of sustainable tourism and maintaining a high quality of life in the

Corridor area. The landscape of the Gateway is remarkable for its diverse and evocative

cultural associations and the facilities and amenities it offers for a wide range of activities,

all in a relatively compact area. The natural heritage of the Corridor is an important setting

and complement to its built heritage, and inspires and is closely associated with the living

arts.

Prominent natural features in this region are the Coastline, the Burren, Lough Derg, Galway

Bay, the River Shannon and the Corrib River. Galway Bay has an annual oyster festival, the

racing of the traditional Connemara hooker boats in Kinvara and fishing on Lough Corrib.

The river Shannons attractions range from bird and dolphin watching in the estuary to

boating and angling in Lough Derg. The river Shannon is navigable for most of its length

and is connected via canals to Lough Erne and the Blackwater in Ulster. The Burren region

of county Clare is recognised internationally for its distinct karst landscape, its unique eco-

system and the evocative survival of national monuments and features from various

episodes of human history. The area has strong potential for further tourism related

development, a potential which in many areas, is largely underutilized. Sensitive

exploitation of these tourism assets in accordance with environmentally sustainable tourism

practices is essential.

1.3.5 Built Heritage

The architectural and built heritage within the Corridor is strongly defined and gives a

unique character to many of the settlements within the area. The medieval legacy in

Galway City, Athenry, and Ennis is well complemented by the strong Georgian and medieval

presence in Limerick City. Testimony to the quality of these attractive assets are thenumber of Heritage Towns, Conservation Areas and the hundreds of Protected Structures

and National Monuments in total within the corridor from grand historical structures to

more prosaic vernacular architecture. This context makes for a varied and interesting and

high environment and contributes to the quality of life experienced within the corridor.


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1.4.1 A Quality Environment

A quality environment is a significant component of quality of life, and involves protectingthe built heritage in the urban area and the ecological designations elsewhere. The West of

Ireland is increasingly being marketed for its attractive and pleasing quality of life, and the

benefits of balanced work/ life opportunities. This applies both to urban and rural areas.

The cost of property is also an attractive element of life in the west, in addition to leisure

facilities and readily available natural amenity areas, the sea, the arts, music and language.

1.4.2 Environmental Qualities of the Corridor

The corridors environment has a rich natural, architectural and archaeological heritage, as

reflected in the extent of protective designations at national and European level. Sites and

species that are so designated under European Directives are protected. The effects of

recent economic growth and comprehensive national legislation have given national and

local authorities a new impetus to improve the record, protection and enhancement of

architectural and archaeological heritage. Conservation requires both strong protection and

pro-active management.

The establishment of the Burren Beoproject which promoted sustainable farming practices

to preserve the unique limestone habits and associated flora from the encroachment of the

hazel scrub is an important European Union initiative in sustainable farming and in addition

to safeguarding a unique habitat could also prove to be an attraction and pilot project for

other areas in Europe. This example illustrates the importance of using positive incentives

and resources, in innovative and long term strategies, based on a comprehensive

assessment of individual landscapes. The entire Burren is a cSAC, and part of the Burren is

designated a National Park. The Shannon estuary is both a candidate Special Area of

Conservation and a Special Protection Area (SPA). The east of Galway Bay is designated a

SPA. Smaller sites of nature conservation interest exist throughout the corridor: including

blanket bogs, raised bogs, semi-natural woodlands, lakes, turloughs, rivers, estuaries and

coastal habitats. The pastoral landscape of much of the region has given rise to rich

network of hedgerows and unimproved pastures. Stone walls too, as occur over much ofSouth Galway, are an important wildlife habitat.

The Corridor has a rich architectural and archaeological heritage. This ranges from the

Neolithic legacy of megalithic tombs so famously associated with the Burren, to raths and

crannogs from the iron age. We are also left with an urban legacy in various castles, tower

houses, churches and monastic sites, and in the street patterns and structures in Galway,

Ennis, Killaloe, Athenry and Limerick City. The Georgian and Victorian periods are

responsible for some of the most distinctive and elegant of the architecture of our towns,

i.e. Newtown Pery in Limerick City.

Section 1.4: Achieving a Quality Environment



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There are many challenges facing the corridor in terms of environmental quality and

maintaining and protecting landscape quality and water quality (ground and surface water)are increasing challenges to be addressed in the context of managing development within

the Corridor.



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and Sixmilebridge. There are several other smaller scale settlements but their capacity for

growth to significant size is limited. By identifying a limited number of medium-sizedCorridor settlements as locations for focused investment and planned development it should

be possible to create the critical mass needed to support the rural populations between the

gateways and provide a range of lifestyle choices for newly formed households. The

Corridor can also provide the opportunity for mobile or rural based enterprises to locate in

serviced areas other than gateway city locations.

1.5.2 Key Development Issues

The Atlantic Gateway Corridor Frameworks provide an opportunity to create a

comprehensive plan-led approach to future infrastructural investment. A number of key

Corridor infrastructural developments are set out as follows:

Delivery of the necessary road linkages, particularly the N6 / N7 / N17 / N18 and

N19 and which are key parts of Transport21;

The development of commuter rail links into and between each Gateway, the

development of the Western Rail Corridor and enhancing public transport

accessibility to Shannon Airport including the reservation of a route for potential

future rail access,

Public transport investment, particularly in areas with high volumes of commuter

traffic;

Provision of the Galway City Outer Bypass (GCOB);

Broadband provision;

Improvements in water and wastewater services;

Upgrading of Shannon and Galway Airports;

Investment in Galway Harbour, Shannon Estuary Ports;

City regeneration projects;

The Limerick Northern Distributor Road in line with the Fitzgerald Report;



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Gateway Innovation Funding for Limerick and Galway; and

Ardaun proposal in the Galway Gateway.

1.5.3 Key Implementation Actions

(1) The full implementation of the Galway Planning Land Use and Transportation

Strategy and Mid West Area Strategic Plan will be vital to the sustainable

development of the Gateways themselves and centred on:

The development of compact new city urban extension proposals such as the

Galway City Eastern Environs (Ardaun) Strategy; and

The Limerick City Northside and Southside Regeneration Strategies including

the Northern Area Masterplan, as well as the implementation of the Shannon

Town and Free Zone Masterplans

(2) The accelerated delivery of the Atlantic Road corridor and Western Rail corridor in

an integrated fashion including the development of road and public transport

interchanges within the Gateway cities and at key nodes such as Shannon Airport as

the primary international access point for the Corridor as well as Ennis, Athenry and

Gort and Sixmilebridge as an interchange point between the western rail corridor

and Shannon Airport by bus shuttle.

(3) The development of key settlements of Ennis, Shannon, Gort, Tuam, Athenry and

Sixmilebridge and management of urban sprawl through the densification of

town/settlement areas. Sustainable settlement patterns will reduce greenhouse

emissions.

(4) Careful management of development pressures at major transportation interchanges

such as those along the proposed Atlantic Corridor balancing the need to harnessthe benefits of increased accessibility with the need to protect future capacity and

the states investment.

(5) The preparation of wider rural development strategies for the intervening rural areas

along the Limerick/Shannon Galway Corridor. The key environmental objectives

are the conservation and prudent management of the natural beauty and heritage

of the more rural spaces between the gateways and key inter-gateway urban

centres so that a high quality urban and rural environment is presented to both

residents who live or come to want to live along the Corridor and to the investorwho is critical to driving the economy of the Corridor.

41Atlantic Gateways Corridor FrameworkAtlantic Gateways Corridor Framework


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42 Atlantic Gateways Corridor FrameworkAtlantic Gateways Corridor Framework

(6) The setting up of a Steering Group to follow the progress of the Key Development

Issues, as set out in section 1.5.2 above. This would act as an implementationworking group on the projects listed.

1.5.4 Next Steps

Implementation of this Corridor Framework will proceed through its consideration within the

review of the Regional Planning Guidelines for the West and the Mid-West, development

plan review processes at city, county and where relevant, local area plan level. In addition,

the wider strategies for economic social and cultural level carried out by the city and county

development boards represent another opportunity to translate this framework into the

statutory policy frameworks.


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Section2-Limerick/Shannon-Cork

Corridor



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This Section is a joint collaboration by the West and South-West Regional Authorities and

local authorities within the existing corridor, namely, Clare County Council, Limerick CountyCouncil, Limerick City Council, Cork County Council and Cork City Council.

Map 2 Limerick/Shannon-Cork Corridor

2.1.1 Introduction

The Cork-Limerick Corridor is that area of the South West and Mid West Regions shown on

Map 2 above and located between the Cork and Limerick/Shannon Gateways, a distance by

road of approximately 100 kilometres. Apart from the cities of Cork and Limerick, the

second and third largest cities in the state respectively, the important urban settlements

Section 2.1: The Existing Corridor

Atlantic Gateways Corridor Framework


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within the corridor include Blarney, Mallow (Hub town), Buttevant, Charleville and the

proposed new settlement at Monard in County Cork, Croom and Patrickswell in CountyLimerick.

The existing infrastructure base of the Cork Limerick/Shannon corridor is already the

most highly developed of all the corridors and is distinctive in that it is the only corridor

with both rail and road connectivity. The corridor contains a modernised national route

(N20) with proposals currently at route selection stage to replace the N20 with a Motorway

(M20) from the Cork Northern Ring Road to the junction of the N20/N21 south of Limerick.

The Cork Limerick rail route which serves Mallow and Limerick Junction, with connections

to the Dublin and Rosslare rail networks, offers 10 services per day. Furthermore, two bus

companies offer hourly bus services on the Cork to Limerick route.

Two international airports (Cork Airport and Shannon Airport) are located at either end of

the corridor, which both connect to a wide variety of destinations in the UK and mainland

Europe, with Shannon Airport also connecting to North America.

Whitegate oil refinery which provides both harbour and terminal facilities for the storage

and processing of strategic energy resources (oil and gas products) in Cork Harbour, is the

only refinery in the state.

The Limerick/Shannon-Cork Corridor contains very significant employment opportunities

In excess of 180,000 jobs at various locations on the corridor. The detailed breakdown of

these employment figures in the corridor is illustrated in Table 1.


Table 1: Employment uses within the Limerick/Shannon-Cork Corridor1

Categories Number of JobsEstimatedPopulation 2006

Agriculture, forestry & fishing 1412

Manufacturing industries, mining, quarrying andturf production, electricity, gas and water supply.

39,290

Construction 10,341

Commerce 54,023

Transport, storage and communications 11,810

Public administration & defence 10,274

Education, health & social work 37,785

Other 16,853

Not stated 707

Total 182,4951 Source : POWCAR (Place of Work Census of Anonymised Records) Analysis from the 2006 Census.


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The universities and third-level colleges of Cork and Limerick at either end of the corridor

are also recognised as centres of excellence in research and teaching that deliver thehighest calibre of graduates at all academic levels.

Regional Context

The Cork Limerick Corridor traverses both the South West and Mid West Regions. Both

Regions, under the guidance of their Regional Authorities published Regional Planning

Guidelines in 2004. These Guidelines contain statements and analysis of key economic

objectives, together with a set of planning guidelines to be incorporated within the

development plans of the local authorities in the Regions.

Following the 2006 Census Results, the following table provides an indication of the

population increases 2002-2-6 for these Regional Authority areas.

Sub-Regional Context

Within the regional context there is a further layer of strategic planning guidance at sub

regional level. In Cork, the Cork Area Strategic Plan 2001 - 2020 was adopted by Cork CityCouncil and Cork County Council in October 2001. This plan was prepared as a joint

strategic policy guidance document addressing the future growth in population and

economic development of Cork and its sub-region area to 2020. For the remainder of the

County (West Cork and parts of North Cork) the North and West Cork Strategic Plan was

prepared in 2001 and covers the period 2002 - 2020.

In order to meet sustainable development and environmental objectives and facilitate public

transport and infrastructure provision, CASP proposes to rebalance population growth in the

City to give priority to locations close to the City and along the railway line linking Blarney,

47Atlantic Gateways Corridor FrameworkAtlantic Gateways Corridor Framework

Table 2: Regional Population 2002-2006

Region 2006Population

Increasesince 2002

% of increasedue to net in-

migration

Mid West 360,651 21,060 52%

South West 620,525 40,169 60%

Total 981,176 61,229 -

Source: DoEHLG National Population Projections and Regional Population

Targets 2006-2020 February, 2007


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Cork, Midleton and Cobh. The update of CASP which was completed in June 2008 adheres

to the original key goals for the City Region agreed in 2001 and includes a new economicdevelopment strategy that will over the lifetime of the plan, deliver a major uplift in

economic growth and employment capable of sustaining the increased population now

being targeted at the CASP area. The update envisages that the number of jobs in the

CASP area will increase by over 45,000 to close to 216,000.

The CASP Update has identified a number of key economic development policies that

influence the Countys economic strategy, these are:-

The need for strengthening the role of the City Centre (through regeneration of

brownfield lands),

The focus of economic development along the suburban railway corridor between

Mallow, Blarney, Carrigtwohill and Midleton,

The continued growth of the strategic employment areas of Kilbarry, Ringaskiddy,

Little Island, Airport Business Park and Whitegate,

The identification of the need for an additional strategic employment centre in

Ballincollig and the need for a science park at Curraheen,

The strengthening of all Ring Towns with particular emphasis on the development of

Mallow as a Hub Town.

For the remainder of the County (West Cork and parts of North Cork) the North and West

Cork Strategic Plan was prepared in 2001, to establish a strategy to address declining

trends in key demographic and economic sectors, covering the period 2002 2020. This

plan sets out sustainable proposals to optimise spatial development patterns, raise the

productive potential of the economy, improve access and communication, increase

infrastructure provision and resources and promote access to social, recreational and

cultural facilities.

The North and West Cork Strategic Plan has also identified the need to strengthen thecorridor between Mallow and Charleville in North Cork.



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Figure 2.1 Cork Area Strategic Plan Diagram

In Limerick the Planning, Land Use and Transportation Study for the Greater Limerick Area

is a similar document which sets out the future strategy for transportation and land use in

the Greater Limerick Area.

2.1.2 Limerick/Shannon and Cork GatewaysCork and Limerick/Shannon are the largest urban centres in the southwest and Midwest

regions respectively and are key drivers in terms of these regions social, economic and

cultural vitality. The Gateways sit within a wider spatial context of important cities and

towns that includes the linked NSS designated hub towns of Tralee-Killarney to the west,

Galway City to the north and Waterford City to the East.

The Cork Gateway is the largest urban area of the state outside of Dublin. The Core of this

area. The Cork Gateway, also known as Metropolitan Cork, includes Cork City and its

Environs together with the surrounding Metropolitan Towns of Ballincollig, Blarney,

Carrigaline, Carrigtwohill, Cobh, Glanmire, Midleton, Passage West, Tower and the proposed

Atlantic Gateways Corridor Framework

Table 3: Sub - Regional Population

Sub Region Estimated Population 2006

CASP Area 377,596

Limerick Zone One Area 185,895

Total 563,491


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new town at Monard. Development Plans relating to the gateway area include the Cork City

and County Development Plans, the Midleton, Carrigtwohill and Blarney-Kilbarry and MallowSpecial Local Area Plans 2005, as well as a number of Electoral Area Local Area Plans

(2005). In relation to the Docklands area a Local Area Plan for the North Docks Area was

adopted by the City Council in December 2005, while a Local Area Plan for the South Docks

Area was adopted in February 2008.

The Limerick and Shannon Gateway includes Patrickswell and Croom to the south of the

city. Relevant development plans include the Limerick City Development Plan 2004, the

Regeneration Plans for Limerick (Southside Vision Plan and Northside Vision Plan) and in

the County, the Limerick County Development Plan 2005, the Southern Environs Local Area

Plan (2005), and the Patrickswell Local Area Plan (2002). Table 3 overleaf indicates the

populations of the cities.

The Cork and Limerick Gateways and in particular the wider urban and rural areas within

the corridor, benefit from the location of Cork Airport as an economic driver to the southern

region. Cork Airport currently provides 8 daily return flights to Dublin and International

access to a wide range of flight destinations including Heathrow, Paris and Amsterdam.

Cork County Council is in the process of preparing a Special Local Area Plan for Cork Airport

which will address, in greater detail the particular land use requirements of the airport and

identify and secure land that may be required in the future to enhance the operational

capacity of the airport. In the medium to long term, it is projected that passenger numbers

could grow to over 15m by 2040. This projected increase in passenger numbers coupled

with the possible introduction of transatlantic flights, will necessitate the extension of the

main runway in the future.

Shannon Airport is the second largest airport in Ireland and is developing into a significant

and competitive hub for the region. It provides international access to the region, including

from the US and the UK (Heathrow), and is the key feature of the regions transport

infrastructure.


Table 4: City Population 2002-2006

City 2006 CensusPopulation

% Increase since 2002

Cork City 190,384* 2.2

Limerick City 90,757* 4.3

Total 281,141 -

*These figures are taken from Table 7 of the 2006 Census and are the totalpopulation figures (including suburbs or environs of each settlement)


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2.1.3 Mallow Hub

The NSS designated Mallow as a Hub town because of its scale, capacity for growth, itspotential role in energising a wider rural hinterland and its strategic location approximately

30 kilometres north of Cork City, on the N20 national route and Cork-Dublin intercity rail

line. Mallow occupies a strategic spatial position at the meeting point of the Cork Limerick

and Tralee Waterford / Rosslare National road and rail routes. The National Spatial Strategy

states that Mallow

AG Corridor Framework - 3apr09

Documents