Attributes • Strategic location relative to Limerick and Galway Cities and Shannon International Airport; • Improved synergies between Ennis and Galway due to the M18; • Rail, bus and motorway connectivity; • Economic triangle of Limerick - Shannon – Ennis; • High quality ‘dark fibre broadband’ and innovation in electronics; • Availability of various opportunity sites allowing expansion of the town centre; • Availability of strategic brownfield sites, such as the Roche Site, Clarecastle (23ha); • Clare Technology Park opportunity site – brownfield site (20.8ha); • Proximity to internationally recognised tourism assets, including Cliffs of Moher, Burren, Loop Head and to towns and villages in West Clare; • Centre for culture, music, heritage and tourism; • High quality of life, attractive town centre and tidy towns winner, boutique capital of Munster; • Ennis General Hospital and potential redevelopment opportunities in the St. Josephs Hospital campus area.
Key Infrastructural Requirements i. Provision of a new access to the motorway from the Quin Road to alleviate significant heavy traffic from the town; Strengthen ‘steady state’ investment in rail infrastructure to ensure its continued renewal and maintenance to a high level to provide quality levels of safety, service, accessibility and connectivity; iii. Northern Inner Relief road, linking Gort Road (R458) to Tulla Road (R351); iv. Link from Drumcliff Road (L4182) to Lahinch Road (N85); v. Link from Drumcliff Road (L4182) to Gort Road (R458); ii. vi. Link from Clon Road (R871) to Quin Road (R469); vii. A Local Transport Plan, including mobility management, to facilitate the delivery/ development of key town centre opportunity sites and public realm enhancement initiatives; viii. Water and wastewater infrastructure for phased growth; ix. Enhance the potential for green infrastructure links between recreational facilities at Lees Road, West Clare Railway line, Ballyallia Lake, the River Fergus and Clarecastle;
x.
Redevelopment of Our Lady’s Hospital.
RPO 13
Ennis a. To support Ennis as a self-sustaining, regional economic driver and as a key location for investment choice in the Region, to support its enhanced development based on its strategic location relative to Limerick and Galway Cities and Shannon International Airport, as well as its role as a centre of employment and economic activity within the Region. The RSES recognises that this should be supported and enhanced through initiatives such as the Atlantic Economic Corridor; b. To support the implementation of Ennis 2040 to set the long-term economic strategy for the county town with an agreed focus on an economic future and spatial pattern to 2040 and beyond. The RSES
recognises the higher education growth potential of Ennis and its vision to become a centre for lifelong learning; c. To support the delivery of the infrastructural requirements identified for Ennis, subject to the outcome of the planning process and environmental assessments; d. To strengthen ‘steady state’ investment in existing rail infrastructure and seek investment for improved infrastructure and services to ensure its continued renewal and maintenance to a high level in order to provide quality levels of safety, service, accessibility and connectivity including improved frequency and journey times.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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