Urban Planning Strategies in IrelandChapter 8

Aims• Name and describe FOUR planning

strategies

• Explain the NDP’s plans for future

development of Cork and Limerick cities

4 Planning Strategies

The Wright PlanThe Buchanan ReportThe National Development Plan

The National Spatial Strategy

Details to learn:• Name of plan• Year/s of proposal• Two key details (cost, reasons

why, proposers etc)• Town/city it was targeting

The Wright Plan, 1967During the mid to late 20th century Dublin city grew rapidly. However the city was becoming overcrowded and had many buildings were of poor quality. The Wright Plan suggested building new towns out in the suburbs and building the transport and communication links needed to support these new towns. Many of the residents of old, run down city centre areas were moved to areas like Tallaght, Blanchardstown or the high rise flats in Ballymun.

Ballymun, for example, tower blocks and two-storey houses were built on 144 hectares of land. It was advertised as Ireland’s leading housing scheme when finished in 1969.

However, it rapidly became one of Irelands worst planning disasters!!

While large amounts of people were moved out from the city centre their jobs were still there.Dublin continued to grow as the capital / primate city.In the newly built areas there were not enough services or sufficient transport.The newly built areas rapidly became sprawling housing estates with social problems.

The Buchanan Report, 1968The Buchanan Report took a more balanced view of managing Ireland’s urban growth and reducing the dependency on Dublin.This report suggested a national strategy for development.

The Buchanan Report suggested:1. Focus on two national growth centres at Cork and

Limerick2. Create smaller local centres at Letterkenny, Cavan,

Tralee and Castlebar.3. Create 6 regional centres for regional growth:

Dundalk, Drogheda, Athlone, Sligo, Galway and Waterford.

However…………..the Buchanan Report did not get political support so the Wright Plan was chosen and implemented.

2000-2013

National Development Plan2000-2013

• The main aim of the NDP is balanced regional development.• Investing in areas like infrastructure, education, training and social inclusion.• NDP identified 5 cities as ‘gateways’= Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and

Dublin.

Objectives included:1. Sustainable national employment growth 2. Improve housing, transport, services etc3. Strengthen Ireland’s competiveness with other countries4. Balanced regional development5. Promote social inclusion6. Services for vulnerable members of society

• Current NDP 2007-2013 budget is approx. €183.7 billion

THE NATIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY, 2002-2020

National Spatial Strategy2002-2020

18 year planning framework for improved social, economic and physical development throughout Ireland. Also aimed for population growth balance in the country.

Combined with the Gateways of the NDP, this plan added further gateways of Sligo, Letterkenny, Dundalk, Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore.Also smaller ‘hubs’ were identified including Wexford, Killarney and Castelbar among others.

Idea was to improve regional development and stop reliance on the Dublin area.

(Aims of the NSS very similar to the Buchanan Report)