2.2 | Shannon Shannon occupies a strategic position as a gateway to the West of Ireland. It is a centre of international business and has strong synergies with Limerick City. The International Airport and the industrial park, are critical not only to the Metropolitan Area but to the country. Shannon is central to delivering the ambition for the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area’s economic development and success. Shannon is identified for significant population growth i.e. greater than 30% population increase by 2040. The 2016 census shows the population of Shannon as 9,729. Shannon has a daytime population of 18,000 people, with over 8,700 people working within the Shannon Free Zone in over 160 companies. Like Ennis, there is potential to capitalise on the growing linkages and synergies with Galway. The Limerick-Shannon MASP strongly supports Shannon’s current and future role as a driver of growth. The MASP identifies a significant opportunity for Shannon to expand as a globally recognised centre of excellence for software engineering/aviation/logistics talent. The MASP recognises and supports Shannon as a centre for research and development for autonomous vehicles that will complement Shannon’s role as a world leader in aviation and as a centre for manufacturing, engineering, and distribution. Shannon’s attributes include: • Centre of international business, aviation, aerospace and attracting emerging sectors such as CAV and Lifesciences, for example Jaguar Land Rover and Edwards LifeSciences; • Major employment location which includes industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and transport; • Shannon International Airport with a capacity for 4.5 million passengers and, with US Pre clearance for passengers, is the international gateway for the West of Ireland; • Ranked No. 1 for economic potential, No. 2 for business friendliness and No. 4 for connectivity among Micro European Cities of the Future 2018/19 by FDI Intelligence; • NUIG Shannon College of Hotel Management is Ireland’s only dedicated hotel management college; • Shannon Free Zone (SFZ) is home to 160 companies and employs over 8,700 people; • Through the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC), Shannon hosts the largest Aviation/ Aerospace Cluster in Ireland with over 65 Aviation Companies and 2,600 jobs;
• Westpark Business Campus is home to over 50 global and national businesses; • Strong, well established economic and employment links between Shannon and Limerick City. The Limerick-Shannon MASP provides a unique opportunity to strengthen this relationship; • Economic triangle of Limerick-Shannon-Ennis; • Improved synergies betweenEnnis andGalwaywith significant potential and capacity for enhancement. The infrastructural requirements for Shannon include: • Public transport improvements to Shannon International Airport and Shannon Town. Shannon International Airport benefits from regular Bus Éireann services to Galway, however currently only five of these services per day are direct expressway services and do not coincide with flight times, creating a disincentive to use public transport to and from the Airport. Moreover, there are currently no direct public bus services providing connectivity between Cork and Shannon. Enhanced public transport connectivity from cities such as Galway, Cork and Limerick is particularly important to assist the continued growth of the Airport and the sustainable development of Shannon town; • Rail link – an infrastructural safeguard has been incorporated into the existing Clare County Development Plan and Local Area Plan for a rail line to be provided to Shannon town and International Airport; • Road Access - Investment is required in improving and upgrading the existing road access from the motorway to Shannon International Airport; • Limerick Northern Distributer Road – linking Shannon International Airport, the SFZ and Shannon town with UL and Limerick City. The provision of this road will benefit regional interconnectivity which will result in social, economic and educational gains to our Region; • Electricity infrastructure is required to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to facilitate expansion through the development of a Combined Heat and Power Plant; • Wastewater treatment infrastructure requires investment in terms of increased capacity to facilitate future development and expansion in Shannon Town, the SFZ and airport; • The MASP supports the continued investment in the delivery of the Shannon Green Infrastructure Plan and its projects such as the Shannon Town Park, Shannon Estuary Walk and the development of other amenity facilities; • Improvements and enhancement to Shannon Town Centre to create a sense of place, up-grade public realm and promote re-development. This will be a central component in attracting and retaining a skilled workforce.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
275
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker