Chapter 2 - Policy Context
The EU Urban Agenda represents a new multi-level working method promoting cooperation between Member States, Cities, the European Commission and other stakeholders in order to stimulate growth, liveability and innovation in the Cities of Europe and to identify and successfully tackle social challenges.
The Territorial Agenda is a strategic policy document for Europe, its regions and communities. It provides a framework for action towards territorial cohesion and a future for all places in Europe. The EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Policy is also relevant in the context of urban and inter-urban mobility.
One particularly important feature of the European approach to urban development is its “integrated place-based approach” to policy making which assumes that the geographical context, with its unique spatial, social, cultural and institutional characteristics, thoroughly matters. A place-based policy is tailored to the context of a territory and is based on the effective use of its development potential. This place-based approach is particularly well suited to Town Centre First. The Town Centre First Plan is an evidence based non-statutory plan, for Abbeyfeale set in the context of the national, regional and local planning policy and sets out a place based approach to addressing the issues that existing in Abbeyfeale. The following section outlines the key policy documents, which have shaped the Town Centre First Plan for Abbeyfeale.
Ireland is a signatory to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) as set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Transforming our World. The 17 no. SDGs reflect economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and set a framework for national level policies and agendas to 2030, higher level plans, such as the National Planning Framework, Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028 and the Draft Abbeyfeale Local Area Plan 2023 – 2029 have been informed by the Goals and these principles have been used to inform the preparation of the Town Centre First Plan for Abbeyfeale.
