4.7 Self-Sustaining Growth Towns and Self-Sustaining Towns

4.7 Self-Sustaining Growth Towns and Self-Sustaining Towns

Supporting the regional driver role of Key Towns, Self-Sustaining Growth Towns and Self- Sustaining Towns, are settlements that act as regionally important local drivers providing a range of functions for their resident population and their surrounding catchments including housing, local employment, services, retail and leisure opportunities. It is important to acknowledge the variation of function that exists at this settlement level, with some towns operating as commuter towns whilst others function more sustainably.

Table 4.2 sets out a settlement typology for towns in our region, based not just on scale but also considering the role and function of those settlements. Development plans should identify an appropriate settlement hierarchy and growth rates within their core strategies, based on their unique assets and growth potential within the city or county context and having regard to Table 4.2 and the Asset Based Approach outlined in Chapter 3 Growth Strategy.

Within the Gateway Region, towns, such as some of those located in the Midlands, tend to have more significant employment and service functions relative to their regional and local catchment. Some also have a high ratio of jobs to resident workforce, which means that they are attracting workers from a wide catchment area. These towns offer potential for regional economic growth and can accommodate average or above average growth to provide for natural increase, service and/or employment growth where appropriate, to be set out in the core strategies of county development plans.

It will be crucial to promote activity in towns that support local and surrounding urban and rural populations through good connectivity, support for economic development and regeneration opportunities, strengthening communities (including rural communities) across our region, in line with Regional Strategic Outcomes 2 and 3 of the RSES.

Self-Sustaining Towns

Self-Sustaining Towns are towns that require contained growth, focusing on driving investment in services, employment growth and infrastructure whilst balancing housing delivery.

Self-Sustaining Growth Towns

Self-Sustaining Growth Towns are towns that contain a reasonable level of jobs and services which adequately caters for the people of its service catchment. This may include sub-county market towns and commuter towns with good transport links, which have capacity for continued commensurate growth.

A number of settlements within the Metropolitan Area, Core and at the eastern fringes of the Gateway Regions have undergone rapid commuter-focused residential expansion over the recent decade, without equivalent increases in jobs (i.e. settlements characterised by a low ratio of jobs to resident workforce) and services. Population growth in these towns shall be at a rate that seeks to achieve a balancing effect and shall be focused on consolidation and inclusion of policies in relation to improvements in services and employment provision, to be set out in the core strategies of county development plans.

Towns in the Dublin Metropolitan Area and Core Region tend to have experienced strong commuter focussed growth but some of these towns offer potential for increased residential densities at high quality public transport hubs and can accommodate average or above average growth to provide for natural increase, service and/or employment growth where appropriate, to be set out in the core strategies of county development plans.

Towns recording the highest growth rates in the country over the last ten years (>32%), and which have lower levels of employment provision include; Ashbourne, Balbriggan, Blessington, Clane, Kinsealy-Drinan, Lusk, Laytown-Bettystown, Ratoath, and Sallins. Nevertheless, it should also be noted that such towns are important employment and service centres. In addition some of these settlements, such as Ashbourne and Ratoath have the potential to strengthen their employment base and develop as important centres of employment due to their strategic location, connectivity with surrounding settlements, and the availability of a skilled workforce.

Figure from page 94

Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy