downloads/RPGs/Border Regional Authority RPGs 2010-2022.pdf

Border Regional Authority Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 – CHAPTER 1
FIGURE 1.3
THE BORDER REGION IN CONTEXT
Northern Ireland
• Border Region is the interface between Northern Ireland and rest of Ireland.
• Key trans regional development linkages and opportunities
• Letterkenny/Derry linked gateway
• Dublin-Belfast Corridor
• Drogheda/Dundalk/Newry links, Sligo-Enniskillen Corridor, Lifford/Strabane, Monaghan – Armagh
• Key landscape protection issues with linkages between areas of outstanding natural beauty in Down/Armagh and proposed areas of outstanding natural beauty in
Fermanagh/Tyrone
• Key tourism potential particularly between Shannon/Erne Waterway, Regional Cycle Networks, Fermanagh Lakelands, Mourne Mountains and Ring of Gullion
• Key Transport Corridors from Derry, Strabane, Enniskillen, Omagh, Newry and Armagh
• Socio-economic linkages for employment, 3 rd level education and retail with specialist colleges and Universities in Derry, Enniskillen and Omagh
• Recognition of main hubs of Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Armagh, Dungannon and Newry and their linkages
• Specialist colleges and universities in Derry, Enniskillen, and Omagh.
• Major Gateway employment potential locations of Derry & Newry
• Airports at Derry & Enniskillen and International Airport of Belfast
• Shared services and specifically access to health services is important;
• Cross border labour flows and people commuting to work on either side of the border
West Region
• Geographical Boundaries with Sligo and Leitrim
• Transportation linkages of Regional and National importance including the
Western Rail Corridor, and the Atlantic Road Corridor.
• Key Road networks include N4, N17, N5 & N26, N59
• Dublin – Ballina/Westport line
• Knock International Airport
• Strong socio-economic linkages between west Sligo & North Mayo and
between North Roscommon, Sligo & South Leitrim.
• Key urban influences from Ballina and between Charlestown/Tubbercurry and
Boyle/Carrick-on-Shannon
• Important tourism and environmental strengths particularly along the Shannon
Catchment in Roscommon & Leitrim
• Potential renewable energy sources – Wind energy in Ox Mountains and North
Roscommon/South Leitrim.
• Particular landscape sensitivity and designation issues between
Mayo/Roscommon & Sligo/Leitrim.
Mid-West Region
• No geographical boundary with Border Region.
• Atlantic Road Corridor and Western Rail Corridor extends into region
from west border
• River Shannon – tourism potential extending into Region.
• Shannon Airport for Passenger and Freight links
BORDER REGION
Midlands Region
• Geographical Boundaries between Sligo/Leitrim/Cavan
and Longford/Westmeath
• Transportation linkages of Regional and National
importance
• N4 to Sligo, N52 Birr to Ardee, N55 Athlone-Cavan
• Dublin-Sligo Rail Corridor
• Socio-economic linkages between Longford as an urban
centre and South Leitrim/South Cavan.
• Important tourism and environmental issues particularly
along the Shannon Catchment in Counties Leitrim and
Longford
South West Region
• No geographical boundary with Border Region.
• Western road corridor extends into region from the west border.
Dublin & Mid East Region
• Geographical Boundary with counties Cavan, Monaghan & Louth
• Key transport linkages of national and international importance.
• N1/M1 Dublin-Belfast, N2 Dublin-Letterkenny, N3/M3 Dublin-Cavan, N4
Dublin-Sligo.
• Rail linkages, Dublin-Belfast and Dublin-Sligo.
• Dublin International Airport.
• Links to passenger and freight shipping from Dublin and Dun Laoghaire
• Links to Louth ports
• Strong socio-economic linkages to Dublin as a capital city
• Dublin Belfast economic corridor and catchment
• Drogheda as a Primary Development Centre in the RPG’s GDA and the
NSS.
• Dublin as an employment location and Monaghan/Cavan/Louth as
commuting provision.
• Tourism potential particularly along Boyne Valley and national
archaeological significant sites.
• Dublin and out of city retail locations providing key retail functions
South East Region
• No geographical boundary with Border Region.
• Linkages to Rosslare for passenger and freight shipping may be
important
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