Presentation to 2014 ICLRD Conference, Armagh City
Liam Conneally
Senior Planner
Limerick City and County Council
Introduction
LG role in supporting Enterprise and Economic Growth
Questions to be asked of Local Government
Putting People First
Responding to the Challenge – Limerick's approach
Questions
Have we a clear sense of what we want for our future environment?
Is the Local Government Structure fit for the challenge ahead?
Do we have the skills sets and competencies available to play our
part in a changing system?
We talk about spatial planning but should we not be discussing
planning for people?
Have we the courage to embrace a different way of responding to
the new demands of Putting People First?
Putting People First
Local Government is being empowered to lead economic, social and
community development locally.
Local Government will be the main vehicle of governance and public
service at local level, deliver efficient and good value services, and
represent citizens and communities, as effectively and accountably as
possible.
Separate structures of public service will not therefore be established
outside of local government unless clearly necessitated in exceptional
circumstances.
Challenges Facing Limerick
•
High Level of Unemployment
•
Poorly Performing City Centre
•
High Level of Social Deprivation
•
Lack of Unity
•
Image
The Approach
Vision
That the people of Limerick are supported by a professional,
proactive and accessible local government structure at the heart
of a wider public service
Acknowledged for its inclusive participation of all it's citizens in
the development of their community
That Limerick is the desired location for business development,
cultural enrichment and educational opportunity
That Limerick and the MidWest will compete with other
European destinations in terms of business, tourism, living and
investment
Empowering People
There are 8 priority themes in the
regeneration programme
Community Participation, Empowerment and
Civic Engagement and Whole of Government
Approach - support an integrated approach
across the LRFIP as a whole. The Policing,
Justice and Community Safety Priority is
required to create the conditions
for other elements of the LRFIPs
to work.
Social Strategy
Education and Learning
Health and Well Being
Ageing Well
Employability and Work
Families and youth at risk
Community
Need For A Plan
•
Mid-West Task Force Report
•
Putting People First – Action Programme for
Effective Local Government (DoECLG)
-
•
LA’s to prepare Economic Development Plans
Alignment of Economic and Spatial Policies of the
merging Local Authorities
Economic and Spatial Plan
•
Other Locations who have transformed their Cities/Regions
have used this approach
•
Consultants GVA/AECOM/Thinking Place appointed
•
Expertise in:1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Economic Analysis and Business and Economic Development
Spatial and Urban Planning
Architecture, Cultural and Heritage
Transportation
Marketing
•
Limerick City Urban Area
•
Key Locations in County
Limerick 2030: An Economic and Spatial Plan
3 Elements:Economic Strategy
Spatial Plan
Marketing Plan
ECONOMIC STRATEGY
Economic
objectivesEconomy
Strategy: Reviving
Limerick’s
Research &
Analysis
Economic
Challenges
Economic
Objectives
Economic
Actions
Economic objectives
Economic Challenges
Grow and Diversify the Limerick Economy
Attract Greater Level of FDI
Bring More Economic Activity to the City Centre
Increase High Value Knowledge Based Employment
Maximise Impact of Limerick’s ICT Assets and Reputation
Improve Economic Infrastructure
Develop Economic Governance and Delivery Structure
Economic Objectives
Economic objectives
Position Limerick as a competitive knowledge economy,
known for its skills base, excellence in high-tech sectors
Develop an outstanding environment for starting and growing new business
Create the conditions for long-term economic growth
Create a vibrant city centre economy with a new mix of economic uses
and a strong education presence
Maximise local employment impact from development and Regeneration
Economic objectives
Economic Strategy
Conclusions and Recommendations:1. Potential to Create 12,000 FTE new jobs (5,000 in City Centre)
2. Limerick should aim to become Ireland’s most Business Friendly Location
3. Develop Multi-Sectoral Cluster Approach
4. Develop Rural Economic Nodes around Principal Towns
5. Identify Strategic Uses for Industrial Zoned Lands in County Limerick
Economic objectives
Economic Strategy
Conclusions and Recommendations (continued):6. Establish €50M Seed and Venture Capital Fund
7. Develop Ultra-fast Broadband Capacity
8. Develop City Centre Higher Education Campus
9. Develop Innovation Hub
10.Establish High Level Economic Group
SPATIAL PLAN
‘A good city is like a good party, you stay much
longer than you planned’
Jan Gehl
Vision for Limerick City Centre
A Premier Shopping and Leisure Destination
A Thriving Business Centre
An Expanding Residential Population
A Leading Centre for Culture/ Arts/ Creative Industries
A World Class Tourism Destination
A High Quality Safe, Pedestrian Friendly Place
Strong Rural Economy
A ‘Special City’ – innovative, authentic, attractive, unique,
progressive at the centre of a prosperous rural hinterland
7 Transformational Projects
1. A Revitalised Waterfront
2. The Limerick Cultural Centre
3. Great Streets
4. A New City Square
5. City Centre Higher Education Campus
6. Renewal of Georgian Quarter
7. A New Public Transport Interchange
A New Riverside Park
Extending from Sarsfield Bridge to King John’s Castle
The ‘front garden’ to the city - pedestrian- friendly and ‘green
Open views and access - remove Sarsfield House
Open up rear of Hunt Museum
New Pedestrian Bridge across Abbey River
Limerick Cultural Centre as focal point
The Limerick Cultural Centre
A state of the art visitor attraction/ destination on the riverfront :
‘hub’ concept - museum, library, performance - National Diaspora Centre
iconic architecture
the best site - waterfront and heart of the city
A New City Square
Centred on Arthur’s Quay Area
A meeting place / place of celebration
Pedestrianise or limit through traffic
Active frontages
Appropriate scale and high quality design
Appropriate to Limerick
Reviving the Shopping Offer
New Retail Development adjacent to Arthur’s Quay
Renovation of Cruises Street
Refurbishment Debenhams / Pennys
Support for Independent shopping
Open air/ street market
High Quality, Pedestrian Friendly Retail Quarter
City Centre Education Campus
Imperative to aid revitalisation of City Centre
A multi-campus concept - UL/ LIT and MI
Build on LIT proposals and recent investments by MI
Student accommodation
Complements Development of a Business Quarter
Renewal of Georgian Quarter
Tax incentive regime to encourage refurbishment for home ownership (Living
Cities Initiative)
Owner Occupier – business/retail
Council – led pilot/ demonstration project
Need to retain and protect existing businesses
Need to meet people’s accommodation needs
Protection can lead to Destruction
Need to Relax Restrictions
Public Transport Interchange
A new inter-modal interchange
Refurbished rail station, new bus station, relocated car park
New entrance plaza
Better signage and connections to city core
Train/Bus
Station
Dock Road
Georgian
Quarter
A
C
B
D
Charlotte Quay
Aerial View of Transformational Sites
Sarsfield
Bridge
Photomontage of Riverside Park
Photomontage of New City Square
Georgian Block – Demonstration Project
• Estimated Project Cost €2M
• Limerick Civic Trust
Limerick City & County
Council
CPG
LCDC
SPC
SPC
SPC
SPC
SPC
District
Metropolitan
District
Municipal District
Municipal District
Municipal District
Progress To Date
• Signing of the Charter of Cohesiveness and Convergence
• Economic Forum
• Reduction of City Council Rates by 21% in 2013/14
• Introduction of Business Incentive Scheme
• Since January 2013 – 450 new jobs created in Limerick City Centre
• Review of Development Contribution Schemes
• Implementation of a single business support centre
• Establishment of the Limerick Marketing Company
• Innovation Hub ready for Launch
• City Centre Cultural Infrastructure Strategy
• Limerick – National City of Culture 2014
Economic Forum;
Denis Brosnan
Chairman
Loretta Brennan
Gluxman
Fmr. Chairman
American Ireland Fund
John Moran
Dept. of Finance
“To advise, support and influence the delivery
of Limerick
Economic
and Spatia
Michael
Collins 2030:
Chairman
ShannonFoynes Port Co.
Rose Hynes
Chairman Shannon
Airport
Conn Murray
Manager/CEO Limerick
City and County Co.
Barry O’Sullivan
President MW American
Chamber
Fergal Barry
President Limerick
Chamber
Don Barry
President UL
John Herlihy
VP Google
Paul Rellis
VP Microsoft
Key City Centre Development Sites to be progressed
‘Opera’ Site
Arthur’s Quay Retail Centre
Georgian Block
‘Hanging Gardens’ Development
Bridge connecting Arthurs Quay Park to Johns Castle
To Conclude
Local Government is a significant player in the economic development
of this country. Its role is often undervalued but its contribution is
immense. As highly accountable and responsive organisations,
grounded in their business, environmental, cultural, educational, and
social communities, they are closest to our citizens needs. Local
Government is therefore not just simply an agent of central
government, it is in its own right an innovative leader of the economic
growth of the country across all sectors of society. We look forward to
further enhancement of this role over the next programme of EU
funding and we will make a significant contribution to the achievement
of the challenging targets of Irelands National Reform Programme.