A Chara,
Please find attached the submission of the Southern Regional Assembly on the Draft Newcastle West Local Area Plan 2023-2029.
I would appreciate...
Chapter 6 – Economic Development and Tourism
Closed6 May, 2023, 8:00am - 19 Jun, 2023, 5:00pm
Newcastle West is a key town, which provides a long established employment base in the west of the County. The Settlement Hierarchy as set out within Chapter 2 Core Strategy and Settlement Strategy of the Limerick Development Plan (LDP) 2022-2028 identifies Newcastle West as a Level 2 (Key Town) settlement. Therefore, the town has an important economic role in the western part of the County where regionally strategic employment centres are provided. The plan will support critical employment growth in the coming years. Infrastructure delivery and improvements to public realm and facilities will be prioritised in the plan area. This accords with the approach set out in Chapter 5 A Strong Economy of the LDP 2022 to 2028.
Newcastle West has a proven track record in sustaining economic development and employment given its’ success as a Manufacturing base in healthcare, joinery, food and beverages, and machinery. New investment from companies such as Ortec Inc (locating its European headquarters in Newcastle West) and the expansion of Filtertek has created a more resilient employment base.
Limerick City and County Council is committed to facilitating the creation of employment in Newcastle West. This plan provides the appropriate framework for development through the provision of adequately zoned lands and policies, which support economic and appropriate retail development. The Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028 sets out the strategic context for economic development of Limerick. The Limerick Local Economic and Community Plan was adopted in 2016 and a new plan is currently being prepared. Both of these documents should be read in tandem with this chapter.
The population of Newcastle West aged 15 or over at work was 50.7% in the 2016. Census 2016 shows that the town has a high unemployment rate at 17.3%, which was above the unemployment rates for Limerick (14.4%) and the State (12.9%). As an employment hub according the 2016 Census of Anonymised Records (POWSCAR) the availability of labour (20-39-year age group) accounts for almost a third of the population and has a relatively high percentage with third level education. This is an important factor in expanding the growth potential of the local economy.
6.2 Enterprise Context, Profile, Strategy and Availability of Land Zoned
Together with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Southern Region, the NPF places a strong emphasis on compact, smart, sustainable, appropriate and inclusive economic growth in settlements. The RSES recognises the sub-regional dependencies between Newcastle West (a Key Town), Listowel, Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale providing collaborative economic growth for joint projects such as the development of the Greenway and initiatives of the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary and the initiatives of the Atlantic Economic Corridor to realise the full potential of the Newcastle West.
The economic profile of Newcastle West reflects its strong agricultural hinterland and its strategic location on the National Primary route and Regional Road network. The largest employers are Sysco and Ballygowan Natural Mineral Water. There are a number of business employing 10-50 including PSE Power Systems, Brian A Flynn, Brian Scully Services and Nolan Products. There are also a significant number of public sector entities that offer employment opportunities in the town.
With the opportunities afforded by digitalisation and e-working the Council promotes Newcastle West as suitable location to support remote working, supporting hubs, culture/creative and Smart tech enterprises. Small entrepreneurial start-up business and innovation is also an important consideration for the towns economy. The possibility of small-scale employment opportunities and start up business incubation units should be explored in the town with a view to re-use of existing buildings. The LAP supports opportunities for employment creation, business and technology development in Newcastle West to facilitate economic in accordance with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and the Limerick Development Plan.
Policy EDP1: Strategic Economic Development:
It is a policy of the Council to promote, facilitate and enable economic development and employment generating activities in Newcastle West on lands zoned ‘Enterprise and Employment’ in a sustainable manner in accordance with the Proposed Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028, the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region.
Objective EDO1: Enterprise and Employment Objectives:
It is an objective of Council to:
(a) Encourage the redevelopment of vacant commercial units, brownfield, derelict, and infill sites for local enterprise development subject to the normal planning criteria and environmental requirements.
(b) Ensure any proposals for the lands zoned for Enterprise and Employment adjoining national or regional roads include a Traffic and Transport Assessment, to ensure that the local road network and associated junctions have sufficient capacity to facilitate the extent of the development planned. The costs of implementing mitigation measures arising from the assessment shall be borne by the developer.
c) Any proposals on lands zoned enterprise and employment shall ensure the provision of a minimum 20m landscaped buffer zones between proposed development and residential developments.
(d) Promote a diverse range of employment opportunities by facilitating appropriate development on appropriately zoned Enterprise and Employment lands, subject to compliance with all relevant Development Management Standards of the Proposed Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028.
(e) Ensure any proposal for part of the lands zoned Enterprise and Employment does not preclude the development of the remaining zoned lands. Any proposal submitted on these lands shall include an indicative layout which allows for a coordinated development of the remaining zoned lands.
(f) Retain sufficient lands around the site boundaries where industrial, enterprise or distribution activities are proposed to accommodate landscaping to soften the visual impact and reduce the biodiversity loss of the development.
(g) Early engagement with all utilities providers, including Uisce Eireann is strongly advised.
(h) Promote inter-urban linkages and partnerships across county boundaries, capitalising on collective strengths to attract investment in Newcastle West, the wider West Limerick /North Kerry region and the Atlantic Economic Corridor.
Indicative layouts as per Figure 6.1 and 6.2 below, have been prepared for the Enterprise and Employment zoned lands in Newcastle West. These indicative layouts are intended to inform the comprehensive development of these lands, while protecting the residential amenity of property in the vicinity and ensuring minimal disruption to the existing road network.
Figure 6.1: Indicative layout and access point for enterprise and employment lands, Site 1
Figure 6.2: Indicative layout and access point for enterprise and employment lands, Site 2
The Council acknowledges the increasing importance of home–working/e-working in the modern economy and its many benefits, including flexibility, work-life balance and the reduction of gas emissions as a consequence of reduced commuting to a central base. Proposals for the use of a home, whether own-door units or apartment schemes as workplaces will be controlled through the development management process based on the scale and nature of operations. Uses which might negatively impact on residential amenity, such as the repair of vehicles, activities involving welding/fabrication, dangerous chemicals, hazardous material will not be permitted in a residential areas. The level of customers/callers will also be taken into account. Any proposals for small-scale businesses in residential areas shall comply with the Development Management Standards of the Limerick Development Plan.
6.3 Tourism Context, Strategy and Objectives
Tourism is a proven economic driver, and can play a significant role in the overall development in Newcastle West sustaining employment and providing opportunities for new business and services. The Local Area Plan has a key role in the protection of tourism assets and landscape whilst enabling appropriate tourism development.
Newcastle West is an attractive town with the Castle Demesne parkland of over 100 acres set in a secluded location within walking distance of the Town Centre. The Demesne provides a variety of leisure, play and sporting facilities for all to enjoy. Within the town, is the restored medieval complex known as Desmond Hall (13th century castle).
Additionally, The Limerick Greenway is a popular recreational trail, which is ideal for walking, cycling and hiking. This 44km greenway connects Newcastle West to the settlements of Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale and extends into Kerry. The Limerick Greenway has already stimulated business growth in Newcastle West strengthened by strategic location and accessibility of the town. Blue-way opportunities exist along the River Arra and River Daar.
Other tourism assets in the town include its rich built heritage with a large number of structures on the Record of Protected Structures. The Market Square is an attractive area of public realm, which includes seating, green infrastructure, a freestanding limestone monument and serves as a space for a local market. There is potential to further enhance this area.
The Limerick Tourism Development Strategy 2019 – 2023 sees Newcastle West as a heritage hub in a cluster of towns themed for the purposes of tourism promotion as ‘Limerick’s Connected Heartlands – The Medieval Strongholds of Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West, Rathkeale and Adare’.
The Council will seek, through the Town Centre Regeneration Strategy and the principles set out in Fáilte Ireland’s Development Guidelines for Tourism Destination Towns, to further develop the tourism potential of Newcastle West, building on linkages with other towns and identifying ‘tourism-specific’ needs for high quality tourism. The development of a ‘Green and Blue Infrastructure Implementation Strategy’ (outlined at section 8.2.1) will also support initiatives and the development of the tourism industry in the town.
Policy TP1 - Tourism Strategic Policy: It is a policy of Council to:
Support the long-term sustainable growth of appropriate tourism opportunities in Newcastle West, in accordance with Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028, the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region and the Limerick Tourism Development Strategy 2019 – 2023 and any subsequent replacement strategy.
Figure 6.3: The Square
Objective TO1 – Tourism: It is the objective of the Council to:
- Support growth in the tourism sector in Newcastle West ensuring that the economic and societal benefits of tourism are effectively distributed throughout the town by making vital connections between complementary sites and attractions, and ensuring visitors can avail of Newcastle West’s services attracting visitors from the Greenway into the town centre, and enabling them to do so with ease.
- Support the provision of a range of tourist accommodation types and infrastructure including, hostel accommodation, campervan/caravans sites, subject to them being located on suitably zoned lands.
- Support Newcastle West’s role in the Limerick Tourism Development Strategy 2019 - 2023 and any subsequent replacement document.
- Require tourism projects to adhere to appropriate environmental and ecological assessment and to mitigate any adverse environmental, biodiversity and ecological impacts.
- Support community engagement in the development of tourism and amenity projects in the town.
- Seek to improve public realm opportunities, to make available spaces to facilitate the tradition of festivals in the town.
- Support development of the Limerick Greenway, ancillary facilities, connectivity between the Greenway and the town centre, Newcastle West as a Greenway hub, with enhanced accessibility to the heritage and cultural assets of the town.
- Require new tourist projects to be located within the town to foster synergy with the services and retail business located in the town.
- Facilitate Tourism development opportunities in Newcastle West in accordance with the Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028 as they apply to Newcastle West. All development proposals comply with the Development Management Standards of the Limerick Development Plan 2022 - 2028.
- Develop Newcastle West as ‘Destination Town’ and to seek funding to realise this objective in accordance with Fáilte Ireland’s Destination Town Guidelines.
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Observations
Observations
Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to make a submission to the Newcastle West LAP 2023-2029,.
That an Aire be provided for Motorhome/Campervan users in the town of Newcastle West. ...
To whom it may concern .
I wish to make a submission to Newcastle West LAP 2023/2029.
Consider providing an Aire for Motorhome/campervan users in the town...
I wish to make the following submission to the Newcastle West LAP 2023-2029.
That an Aire be provided for Motorhome/Campervan users in the town of Newcastle West. ...
To whom it may concern
I wish to make the following submission to the Newcastle West LAP 2023-2029. That an Aire be provided for Motorhome/Campervan users in the town of...