NW Strategic Growth Plan

NORTH WEST
STRATEGIC
GROWTH PLAN
JUNE 2026

2

CONTENTS
PAGE
FOREWORD
4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
5
1. PLACE
7
1.1 THE AREA
8
1.2 HISTORICAL CONTEXT
9
1.3 STRENGTHS
10
1.4 CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
12
2. PARTNERSHIP
16
2.1 GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES
17
2.2 ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
19
2.3 DEVELOPING A STRONG & COHERENT REGIONAL VOICE 20
3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
21
3.1 VISION, MISSION & OBJECTIVES
22
3.2 PRIORITY AREAS
24
3.3 REGIONAL BALANCE
28
4. APPENDIX 1
32
3

FOREWORD
A FOREWORD FROM THE CO-CHAIRS
As Co-Chairs of the North West Strategic Growth Partnership we are
delighted to present this revised North West Strategic Growth Plan for the
North West City Region of Ireland - also known as the Derry-Letterkenny
City Region. This unique cross-border city region operates as a single
functional area shaped by a shared history, heritage and culture. Our
vision is a ‘Shared North West - a connected, thriving, competitive and
sustainable cross border region’. We have a clear ambition to contribute
positively to the strategic and economic priorities of both Ireland and
Northern Ireland’s Programmes for Government.
This North West Strategic Growth Plan sets out a commitment between
government, local government and partners in health, tertiary education
and industry to make the North West City Region a strategically
connected and enabled region, a thriving and competitive region and to
have a healthy and resilient population. This Partnership and plan are best
practice examples of interjurisdictional co-operation and place-based
leadership.
We want to harness the many opportunities and address the deep
challenges that face this region, some unique to our region and others
created by drivers beyond our direct control. Producing this revised plan
signals the beginning of a new phase of inter-governmental and sectoral
commitment to strategically grow the North West City Region. We will
constantly keep this plan under review and add in new collaborative
actions as they emerge.
Councillor Grace Uí Niallais
Mayor of Derry City and
Strabane District Council
Councillor Paul Canning
Cathaoirleach of Donegal
County Council
4

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PLACE
The North West City Region is a distinctive cross-border region
encompassing the two local authority areas of Donegal County
Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council which serve a
combined population of nearly 320,000 across over 6,000 km². The
region’s ‘metropolitan area’ includes the three core settlements of
Letterkenny, Derry/Londonderry and Strabane, with a population of
212,000 people, making it the fourth largest urban agglomeration
on the island of Ireland. It also has the largest concentration of the
island’s border population.
The region has strong industrial and maritime roots, a diverse
tourism and cultural offering as well as strong communities and
entrepreneurial spirit - it is a creative, innovative and resilient
region. However, it continues to face structural challenges linked
to peripherality, infrastructure deficits and long-standing regional
disparities.
Whilst significant investment is planned and underway, for example
through the City Deal and Donegal 2040, additional transformative
investment is required in critical and enabling infrastructure to address
barriers inhibiting growth and to enable the region to achieve its full
potential. The plan provides an evidence-led framework to realise
this potential, including its compelling proposition to help solve
national challenges and contribute meaningfully to Programme for
Government priorities in both jurisdictions.
PARTNERSHIPS
The region’s shared challenges and peripherality have led to a
strong history of collaboration with a well-established and evolving
ecosystem of cross-border partnerships. At its core, the North West
Strategic Growth Partnership provides a formal governance structure
bringing together local and central government to align policy,
investment and delivery. This is complemented by strong collaboration
across key regional anchors with Memorandums of Understanding in
place for:
• Tertiary Education – North West Tertiary Education Cluster - a
strategic alliance of Ulster University, ATU, North West Regional
College and Donegal ETB.
• Health – a partnership between the Western Health and Social
Care Trust and Donegal Integrated Healthcare Area, working to
support stronger cross border collaboration.
In addition, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Letterkenny
Chamber of Commerce are working in partnership to present a joint
North West City Region value proposition.
The North West Strategic Growth Partnership now brings together all
these partners, as a unified regional voice, with this plan as a vehicle
for coordinated, place-based delivery.
5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
The renewed plan provides a framework to guide the next phase of
growth of the North West City Region – with the following vision,
ambition, priority areas and cross-cutting themes:
VISION
A Shared North West
Connected, thriving, competitive and sustainable cross-border region
MISSION / AMBITION
The Derry-Letterkenny Cross Border City Region contributes positively to
the strategic and economic priorities of both Ireland & Northern Ireland’s
Programmes for Government
Connected &
Enabled Region
INFRASTRUCTURE &
CONNECTIVITY
PRIORITY AREAS
Thriving & Competitive
Region
SKILLS & INNOVATION
CROSS-CUTTING THEMES
Healthy & Resilient
People
HEALTH & RESILIENCE
COLLABORATION SUSTAINABILITY VISIBILTY INCLUSION
Interventions and enablers are set out under the three interdependent
priority areas, each aligned to strategic outcomes:
• Infrastructure & Connectivity – prioritising investment
in transport, energy and water infrastructure to improve
accessibility and connectivity, unlock growth potential, enable
decarbonisation and accelerate housing supply.
• Skills & Innovation – strengthening the region’s competitiveness
and knowledge infrastructure through expansion of tertiary
education, investment in research and innovation, targeted
skills development aligned to high-growth sectors and strategic
initiatives.
• Health & Resilience – enhancing health and wellbeing,
community cohesion and resilience through cross-border
collaboration and innovative responses to shared challenges.
Central to delivery is the need for targeted and long-term
investment. Without this intervention, regional disparities will
continue to widen. Evidence shows infrastructure and connectivity
as foundational for balanced growth and the critical importance
of strengthening skills and innovation as key drivers of regional
competitiveness.
The plan provides a pathway to assist the governments in Ireland,
Northern Ireland and UK in meeting commitments to regional
development and balance. The importance of regional balance,
not just for lagging regions, but for the country as a whole is well
evidenced. A strong North West City Region, as the fourth largest
metropolitan area, is essential to the successful development of
the wider North West region as well as for the island of Ireland as a
whole.
6

1. PLACE
7

1. PLACE
1.1 THE AREA
The North West City Region of
Ireland – also known as the ‘Derry-
Letterkenny City Region’ - includes
the principal urban core at the heart
of the two local authority areas of
Donegal County Council and Derry
City and Strabane District Council
which serve a combined population
in excess of 320,000.
The region’s ‘metropolitan area’
is made up of the three core
settlements of Letterkenny, Derry/
Londonderry and Strabane as well as
the smaller settlements between. This
provides a critical mass of 212,000
people, making it the fourth largest
urban agglomeration on the island
of Ireland (see Figure 1).
The North West City Region
(NWCR) has a concentration of
employment, service provision,
education and healthcare
commensurate with a region of this
scale. It is a unique cross-border
region, shaped by a shared history,
heritage and culture. With strong
industrial and maritime roots, a
diverse tourism and cultural offering
as well as strong communities
and entrepreneurial spirit - it is a
creative, innovative and resilient
region.
NORTH WEST CITY REGION
AT A GLANCE
• Area of over 6,000km 2
• Metropolitan area of 3 core settlements:
Derry/Londonderry, Letterkenny &
Strabane
• Over 100 other settlements
• 4 Third Level Education Institutes - 36,000
students
• 2 University Hospitals
• 2 International Airports
• 3 Deep Water Ports
POPULATION:
• 212,000 population of Metroplitan Area
• 317,840 population of the 2 Local Authorities
• 350,000 population at 50km radius
• 400,000 population of 60km radius
FIGURE 1: Metropolitan Areas Relative to Population
Map shows population sizes of metropolitan areas on island of Ireland,
with NWCR as the 4th largest after Dublin, Belfast and Cork
8

1. PLACE
1.2 HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Historically, local authorities across the North West
have had a strong track record in cross-border
collaboration, reflecting the realities of life in a region
where it effectively operates as a single functional
area regardless of geographical and political
boundaries. Both local authorities are located at
the furthest periphery or most North West of their
jurisdictions. County Donegal shares 93% (140km) of
its entire land boundary with Northern Ireland and
has the largest land border between the UK and the
European Union.
Border regions in general experience higher levels of
deprivation, peripherality and health inequalities as a
result of their distance from the centres of decision
making. For the North West City Region in particular,
this has been disproportionately impacted by both
partition in the early 20th century and more recently
by the UK’s exit from the EU, which has heightened
the impact of historical under-investment. The
peripherality of the region in both jurisdictions has
been a key contributing factor as well as a barrier to
addressing in terms of the infrastructure deficits that
inhibit growth and competitiveness.
The shared challenges and peripherality of the region
has led to a strong history of collaboration by the
local authorities, whilst the North West has been
a key priority for North South Co-operation since
the 1998 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and the
establishment of the North South Ministerial Council.
The reform of local government (2014 in Ireland and
2015 in Northern Ireland which offered new statutory
powers), provided the opportunity to further
formalise this collaboration and build on previous
partnerships with new structures established in 2016.
FIGURE 2: A history of local and central government commitments to the North West City Region
NORTH WEST CITY REGION:
Cross-border commitments & structures
Irish Government Donegal County
publishes National Development Board &
Spatial Strategy - Derry City Council Strategy
Letterkenny designated Board come together to
as a ‘Linked Gateway’ form NORTH WEST
with Derry PARTNERSHIP BOARD
New Structures &
Fund established:
NW STRATEGIC
GROWTH PARTNERSHIP
NW REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT GROUP
North West
Development Fund
‘New Decade,
New Approach’
NI Executive - mentions
NWSGP & NWDF
2002 2011 2016 2020
2005 2015 2018
British-Irish
Intergovernmental
Conference announces
NORTH WEST GATEWAY
INITIATIVE
‘A FRESH START - The
Stormont Agreement’
NI Executive’s agreement
in principle to match Irish
Government’s €2.5m for
NW Development Fund
Irish Government publishes
NATIONAL PLANNING
FRAMEWORK - recognises
North West City Region
& role of of North West
Strategic Partnership
(NWSGP)
A brief history of cross-border structures and initiatives for the North West since
2002 is reflected in Figure 2 above and further details of the structures are included in
chapter 2.
9

1. PLACE
1.3 STRENGTHS
The North West City Region has considerable strengths, providing a strong baseline to build from in the journey ahead:
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS Significant track record in partnership and collaborative
working, across sectors and on cross-border basis, providing economies of scale and
strong leadership.
STRATEGIC LOCATION Unique cross-border position, offering dual market access to
Ireland/EU and the UK and a critical population mass as 4th largest metropolitan area
on the island of Ireland.
TERTIARY EDUCATION Strong tertiary education sector with pipeline of talent, industryled
curriculum and R&D, including two universities and two FE institutes.
FIGURE 3: North West City Region Attractive Destination and Quality Of Life
14 AWARD-WINNING
BLUE FLAG BEACHES
SKILLED WORKFORCE Highly skilled and well-educated cross-border workforce and
talent pool including a young population with 35% under 35 years.
INNOVATIVE REGION Region emerging as a hub for R&D, knowledge and innovation 1
with large number of innovation and research centres in areas such as precision
medicine, AI and cognitive analytics, robotics and machine learning.
INDUSTRY SECTORS Strong and emerging industry sectors/clusters including digital/
technology, blue economy, RegTech/FinTech, green tech, health and life sciences,
tourism, creative industries, advanced manufacturing & engineering - multi-nationals
and local companies.
COMPETITIVE LOCATION One of the most competitive operating costs in Europe - region
ranked in the ‘Top 10’ economies in the world for ease of doing business. Two airports
and their role as enablers of economic growth and regional development.
DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE Excellent broadband across region and direct connections to
the US, UK and Europe through high capacity, trans-Atlantic, secure fibre-optic cables.
QUALITY OF LIFE Cost of living, affordable housing, safe environment, high-quality
education, access to green spaces, cultural and arts amenities, strong community spirit.
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ATTRACTIVE VISITOR DESTINATION Stunning landscapes and rich cultural, natural and built
heritage, with region hosting international festivals and events including major sporting
competitions. Over 1,200km of coastline and 14 award-winning beaches.
• Donegal named as one of the ‘Top Regions in the World’ to visit by Lonely Planet
2024 and is the second largest Gaeltacht region in Ireland.
• Walled City of Derry, the most complete circuit of city walls of any settlement in
Ireland, linking the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway Coastal Route.
1
The Northern & Western Region and Northern Ireland are both classified as ‘Strong Innovators’ in the
European Commission’s ‘Regional Innovation Scoreboard’ NWRA (July 2025)
10

1. PLACE
1.3 STRENGTHS
There is also significant investment planned or underway, led by the local authorities which include the following for example:
Derry~Londonderry & Strabane City Region City Deal, Strategic
Leisure & Community Investment Programme
The Council is delivering a capital programme of circa £530m in
investment. £300m City Deal funding has been secured from the
UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and its project
delivery partners - Ulster University, the North West Regional
College, the Western Health and Social Care Trust and C-TRIC. This
funding will enhance regional competitiveness and:
• Significantly expand three world-class centres of innovation,
health and life science excellence;
• Enhance and maximise digital connectivity;
• Deliver two major transformational city and town centre
regeneration schemes;
• Build a new Graduate Entry Level Medical School for Northern
Ireland at Ulster University.
A Strategic Leisure Programme of £140m is also underway to build
two leisure facilities in Derry and Strabane alongside a further
£10m investment programme in Community Facilities. This also
complements central government investment in the two strategic
regeneration sites in the City with a £70m investment in Fort
George and £38M in Ebrington.
‘TEXTILES TO TECH’ A traditional industry sector in the wider North West revolved around
textiles, employing thousands of people on both sides of the border until the 1990s,
when cost pressures on production saw these industries move to lower cost economies.
A positive outcome was an increased focus on upskilling, training and education, which
together with strong industry-academic workforce collaboration and government
support, saw the North West of Ireland move from ‘textiles to tech’ in less than 20 years.
The region now hosts some of the world’s top tech companies which have continued to
survive and thrive in the face of recessions and other global challenges.
In Donegal, a three-year capital programme has been approved
by Donegal County Council for 2025-2027 - including to progress
strategic projects in the National Development Plan and as part of
Donegal 2040. Capital investment of €417m in 2025 includes, for
example:
• €25.6m for national primary and secondary roads
• €105.9m for Social Housing Investment Programme
• €30.9m for regeneration projects (URDF & RRDF)
Donegal 2040 is a Designated Activity Company set up by DCC to
develop and manage a range of strategic interventions to promote
economic development and job creation in Donegal. This includes
investing in and managing key strategic enterprise infrastructure,
such as the development of a new ‘Business and Innovation
Quarter’ in the heart of Letterkenny comprising:
• North West Innovation Hub which will house the Beta Business
Centre to provide state of the art workspace facilities for a
range of knowledge-based business and Alpha Innovation to
build and enhance a strong innovative and entrepreneurial
ecosystem.
• Other key enterprise buildings such as Island House in
Killybegs; Enterprise building in Ailt na Chorrain; Ritz Enterprise
in Ballybofey; as well as others planned in Letterkenny and
Buncrana.
The above investment is significant and provides opportunities for
considerable leverage and to build on. However, there is the need
for additional transformative investment in critical and enabling
infrastructure and for long-term financial commitments, to make the
necessary and sustained impact.
11

1. PLACE
1.4 CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
The North West City Region has the largest concentration of
the overall border region population on the island of Ireland. As
highlighted in section 1.2 above, border regions in general experience
higher levels of deprivation, peripherality and health inequalities and
the North West City Region has been further and disproportionately
impacted by partition, conflict and the UK’s exit from the EU.
A report commissioned by the European Parliament 1 in 2023 on
the impact of Brexit on border regions highlights their vulnerability
particularly when already lagging behind the rest of Ireland, with a
concern that already deprived areas will see a further decline.
In the wider Northern & Western Region (EU NUTS 2 Region) evidence
of widening regional disparity is apparent in terms of its status or
ranking of the following:
• In February 2026 the European Commission reclassified the
Northern and Western Region as a “More Developed Region” for
the next EU Funding period of 2028-2034. This is largely a result
of the total GDP in Galway. This new status does not take into
consideration pockets of deprivation along the border regions.
GDP in border counties like Donegal remains roughly 30% below
the EU average. This reclassification will reduce the EU cofinancing
rates allocated to the area.
• The OECD Regional Attractiveness Compass also scores the
Region well below the average for both OECD and EU in terms of
economy, housing, education, health and digitisation (with lower
scores for the Border Region i.e. the NUTS 3 Region).
• The European Commission’s latest Regional Competitiveness
Index, found the region’s infrastructure ranked 218th out of the
234 EU Regions (i.e. 17th worst in EU27) akin to the less developed
regions of Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.
A range of socio-economic statistics reflect a continuing and
widening regional disparity, with both local authority areas of the
North West City Region having among the lowest or worst rates in
their respective jurisdictions in terms of the following:
• Disposable income per capita
• Gross annual earnings
• Unemployment
• Population with no formal education
• Population with third level education
• Deprivation
• Rate of population growth
• Health inequalities and fuel poverty
Infrastructure deficits are a particular challenge for the North
West City Region given the compelling evidence of the role of
accessibility and connectivity to a region’s value proposition and
how infrastructure deficits undermine its competitiveness, ability to
grow the economy and ability to decarbonise to meet climate goals.
The impact on capacity for growth is significant, particularly in terms
of the region’s ability to accelerate housing supply to meet the
shortfall, including the impact of insufficient water and wastewater
capacity to both meet demand and enable growth. Challenges around
affordable housing are also inhibiting growth and housing supply as
well as the impacts of defective concrete blocks. Housing supply is
also a key issue for attracting investment.
1
European Parliament ‘Impact of Brexit on the Development of Irish Regions and their Cross-Border Cooperation’ (2023)
12

1. PLACE
1.4 CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
Commitments to the A5 and TEN-T Donegal projects are dependent
on long lead-in times with other transport infrastructure also
critically required. Further, it will be important to ensure that
the region does not lose out to the reduction of future overall
road infrastructure investment in both jurisdictions as part of
decarbonisation measures given it has not proportionately benefited
from previous investment.
There is no rail network in Donegal and limited provision in the
rest of the region. The All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) as
proposed would leave considerable gaps and inequalities including
no connectivity between Letterkenny to Sligo (and therefore no
link between the cities of Derry and Galway or along the Atlantic
Economic Corridor) and with the Dublin to Derry line not scheduled
for completion until nearly 2050.
Low electricity grid capacity is a significant barrier to the
development of renewable energy sources and to attracting
investment. In the context of off-shore renewable energy potential,
the region has one of the highest wind speeds in Europe and
with deep-water ports at Killybegs, Greencastle and Lough Foyle.
However, this is significantly curtailed by the absence of highcapacity
connectivity to the national electricity grid. The absence
of a gas pipeline network in Donegal also inhibits the future
development of renewable gases transported via the gas network.
The European Parliament’s commissioned report on the impact of Brexit on border regions
emphasises access to a viable and sustainable energy source as critical to regional
development, highlighting current regional disparities in connectivity in electricity grids
and gas on the island of Ireland – particularly for the North West. It also highlighted that
accessibility to the North West region - via road, rail or air - has not yet progressed to the
extent envisaged. Shared Island was acknowledged as a welcome boost to delivering on hard
infrastructure, but cannot be considered a long-term solution.
In terms of knowledge infrastructure, key to regional development in
terms of attracting talent and investment, the region is inhibited by
a number of significant barriers for tertiary education, resulting in
regional imbalances. The region already has lower tertiary education
and research centre provision compared to other areas on the
island – so that restrictions on Technological Universities appointing
professors, for example, impacts disproportionally and limits ability
to develop key knowledge infrastructure. ATU also has a lower
capital spend per undergraduates than the national average.
Government commitments to increasing capacity at Ulster
University Derry-Londonderry to 10,000 places will address the
city’s historically low number of students relative to its population
which has inhibited the growth capacity of the region. Addressing
the broader infrastructure deficits and housing shortfall, including
for student accommodation across the region, will be critical in
terms of delivering on this commitment and enabling the tertiary
education sector to fully impact on its critical role in regional
development.
NWCR INFRASTRUCTURE AT A GLANCE:
• No motorways
• Insufficient water/waste water capacity
• Lowest electricity grid connectivity/capacity
• No rail in Donegal and limited provision Derry~Londonderry to
Belfast
• No ports recognised under Ireland’s tier 1, tier 2 or of regional
significance
• Limited regional airport connectivity
• No gas network in Donegal
• Lowest student to population ratio of university urban areas on
island
See APPENDIX 1 for maps that illustrate infrastructure deficits of North West City Region
13

1. PLACE
1.4 CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
The UK’s exit from the EU has emphasised weaknesses and
vulnerabilities that already existed in the region, heightening the
impact of under-investment - with the full and lasting extent not
yet known. Ongoing challenges for the region include, for example,
cross-border taxation and legal implications for remote working and
recognition of qualifications. The cost of living crisis also exacerbates
existing inequalities in this cross-border region.
Other key challenges, not unique to this region, and as key issues
across governments, include, for example:
• Climate change: the need to decarbonise transport, housing, and
industry and to plan for climate adaptability/ resilience;
• Ageing population: the need to adapt/reshape services and plan
for impact on a dramatically reduced working-age population to
support economic growth;
• Skills/labour shortages: including for the construction sector
to address the housing shortfall and critical infrastructure
development;
• Geopolitical instability: the impact on trade, export, supply chains
and inward investment with the need to develop regional resilience
and grow indigenous enterprise;
• Technological disruption: the impact of rapidly developing Artificial
intelligence (AI), whilst also harnessing related opportunities.
•
•
KEY NATIONAL CHALLENGES:
The need to accelerate the supply of housing is a key issue and priority across both
governments - including addressing infrastructure barriers to its delivery. The Ireland
Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a radical step change in
housing supply and to pursue every action possible - whilst also acknowledging that the
security of water supply is critical to delivering on both housing and economic national
priorities. The Northern Ireland Programme for Government highlights the need for
enabling infrastructure, recognising that additional funding for wastewater, for example,
will increase the ability to build houses and enhance the economy – with the need to
provide more affordable and sustainable housing.
Section 1.4 has highlighted significant challenges to address, including
the ongoing trend of consistent performance below the national
average across a range of socio-economic indicators. This is an impact
of historical under-investment and failure to deliver balanced regional
development – with evidence that the regional disparity gap continues
to widen.
The region however has the potential to perform above the national
average and to become a net contributor to the economy of the
island of Ireland. This will require decreasing dependency on direct
and indirect benefits from government - by upskilling to increase
capacity to secure high-quality jobs and therefore becoming positive
tax contributors, both direct and indirect. Key interventions are
therefore required in terms of skills and innovation, as well as enabling
infrastructure to unblock barriers to the growth of the economy –
particularly for high-growth sectors that create well-paid jobs. This in
turn will also impact on levels of deprivation and health inequalities.
Given the long-lead in times for infrastructure investments, an
expediated timeline is required as well as short and medium term
proactive measures to avoid further widening of regional disparity - and
to ensure an even playing field relative to other city-regions that have
previously benefited from investment.
Investment in the North West City Region will build on the considerable
strengths of and opportunities for the region (see Figure 4), and makes
for a compelling proposition as well as an opportunity to help solve
regional and national challenges – particularly around climate change
and housing supply.
14

1. PLACE
1.4 CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
FIGURE 4: Opportunities, Strengths, Enablers, Impacts and Policy Alignment
REGIONAL STRENGTHS TO HARNESS:
• Critical population mass (4th largest
metropolitan area on island of Ireland)
• Strong skills/talent base
• Strong industry sectors/clusters to build on
• 4 third level institutes (2 universities)
• Planned investments e.g. City Deal, Donegal
2040
• Competitive & strategic location - low operating
costs, access to EU & UK markets
• Attractive destination & quality of life
• 2 international airports & deep water ports
• Highest wind speed in Europe for ORE
• Strong partnerships & collaborations
OPPORTUNITIES: Development of high
growth sectors that create well paid
jobs e.g.
• GREEN ECONOMY / bioeconomy / circular
economy
• BLUE ECONOMY e.g renewable energy / ORE,
marine technology
• FINANCIAL, ICT & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
(incl. FinTech, RegTech, InsureTech
• HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCES incl. MedTech)
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING &
ENGINEERING
IMPACTS & OUTCOMES:
• Improve regional balance
• Increase connectivity
• Increase productivity & competitiveness
• Accelerate housing supply
• Drive green & digital transformation
• Enable decarbonisation & energy security
• Retain & attract talent
• Increase inward investment
• Support growth of indigenous enterprises
• Reduce deprivation & health inequalities
• Position region as a hub for innovation
• Enable diversity & resilience of economy
• Increase academic - industry collaboration /
innovation diffusion
ENABLERS & ACCELERATORS:
• Investment in strategic enabling transport, water & energy infrastructure
• Investment in knowledge infrastructure, incl. R&D and innnovation
capacity, skills development and tertiary education expansion
• Dedicated cross-border economic partnership to drive strategic
interventions
NOTES ON TERMINOLOGY
GREEN ECONOMY: Low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive, reducing environmental risks and ecological
scarcities. Includes green sectors.
BIOECONOMY: Use of renewable biological resources from land and sea (e.g. crops, forests, fish, animals) to produce
food, health products textiles & energy.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: Model of production and consumption that reuses, repairs, refurbishes or recycles existing
materials/products to extend life cycles.
BLUE ECONOMY: sustainable use fof ocean / ocean resources for economy, whgile preserving the health of marine
and coastal ecosystems.
ORE: Offshore Renewable Energy (primarily offshore wind).
POLICY ALLIGNMENT:
Government commitments to Regional Development and helping to deliver key
national government strategies, e.g.
IRELAND
Programme for Ireland 2025
• National Planning Framework & National Development Plan
• Climate Action Plan
• Housing For All
• National Smart Specialisation Strategy
• Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025
• Our Rural Future
NORTHERN IRELAND
Programme for Government 2024 - 2027
• Dept. for Economy Business Plan / Sub-regional Economic Plan
• NI Climate Change Adaptation Programme 2025
• NI Housing Supply Strategy
NI Regional Development Strategy 2035
• National Smart Specialisation Strategy
EU
• Regions and cities shaping the European Green Deal 2.0
15

2. PARTNERSHIP
16

2. PARTNERSHIP
2.1 GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURES
The North West Strategic Growth
Partnership (NWSGP) is an interjurisdictional
partnership which
aims to address the unique
regional development needs of
a cross-border City Region with
two local and central government
institutions.
This innovative, place-based
governance concept was codesigned
in 2014 by senior
officials within Derry City and
Strabane District Council, Donegal
County Council, the Department
of Foreign Affairs and the
Department of An Taoiseach in
Dublin, The Executive Office in
Belfast and the Joint Secretaries
of the North South Ministerial
Council in Armagh.
The partnership arrangements
were formally approved at
North South Ministerial Council
Plenary in July 2016. The
securing of Ministerial support
provided a formal mandate for
the involvement of government
departments with local
government in this partnershipbased
process.
FIGURE 5: An organogram of the governance structures associated with the North West City Region
STRUCTURES
IRISH GOVERNMENT
NORTH SOUTH
MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
NORTHERN IRELAND
EXECUTIVE
REGIONAL
ECONOMIC
GROWTH
REGIONAL,
PHYSICAL &
ENVIRONMENTAL
DEVELOPMENT
NORTH WEST
STRATEGIC
GROWTH
PARTNERSHIP
REGIONAL,
SOCIAL &
COMMUNITY
COHESION
COUNCILS
Donegal County
Council
Derry City & Strabane
District Council
NORTH WEST
DEVELOPMENT FUND
€6m (both Governments) 2016 - 2024
Funded innovtive cross-border
projects, e.g. Spacial Scoping
Strategy, greenways, trade missions,
joint climate action plan and sport,
arts, tourism and cultural
programmes.
17

2. PARTNERSHIP
2.1 GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURES
The NWSGP held its inaugural meeting in Derry/ Londonderry in
December 2016. It is jointly chaired by the Mayor of Derry City &
Strabane District Council and the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County
Council and attended by senior civil servants nominated by
Permanent Secretaries (NI) and Secretaries-General (IE) of all
Government Departments across both administrations. It has hosted
14 plenaries up to 2024 in venues in Derry, Donegal and in Dublin
Castle.
The structure provides a single institutional focus for government
departments and agencies, allowing them to consult with regional
stakeholders and vice versa. It has been cited as a best practice
example of shared leadership in the Shared Island Shared Opportunity
NESC Comprehensive Report in April in 2022. It has facilitated a
closer alignment between regional initiatives and national strategies.
Commitments to the North West Strategic Growth Partnership
are also made in the ‘A Fresh Start- The Stormont Agreement and
Implementation Plan’ (2015) and The New Decade New Approach
political agreement (2020).
KEY NORTH WEST CITY REGION (NWCR) PLANS/ DOCUMENTS:
YEAR DOCUMENT TITLE
2016 STRATEGY THE NORTH WEST STRATEGIC GROWTH PLAN
2017 SCOPING STUDY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF BREXIT FOR NWCR
2021 STATEMENT THE GREEN TRANSFORMATION OF THE NORTH WEST CITY REGION
2021 STATEMENT STATEMENT OF REGIONAL PRIORITIES
The North West Regional Development Group (NWRDG) comprises
12 elected members (6 Councillors from each Council) and senior
officials from both Councils. It is a joint committee which meets
quarterly to develop, agree, implement, monitor and reports on
work programmes across three key pillars of wellbeing:
• Regional economic growth and investment;
• Regional physical and environmental development; and
• Regional community and social wellbeing.
Under this partnership model the NWRDG has delegated
authority for the management and distribution of the North West
Development Fund. This joint committee has maintained crossborder,
cross-party political support during the UK’s Exit from the
EU, the Covid pandemic and during a time when The Northern
Ireland Executive and the North South Ministerial Council were not
meeting.
The Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive have granted
a total of £6.63m North West Development Fund (NWDF) to the
North West City Region since 2016. It is forecasted to sustain
arrangements until April 2028. It enables the collaborative
resourcing and co-ordination of a range of joint projects for which
single jurisdictional approaches are not feasible.
The NWDF has enabled the North West Regional Development
Group to implement an innovative suite of cross border catalyst
projects aimed to progress social, economic and environmental
wellbeing of the region.
2022 SCOPING PAPER NORTH WEST METROPOLITAN SPATIAL STRATEGY - A SCOPING PAPER
18

2. PARTNERSHIP
2.2 ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
Since the current structures were established in 2016, the North West
City Region has witnessed significant achievements and progress
which have included:
• Strong partnership working on a cross-border/cross-party political
basis and development of strategic alliances across education,
health and business sectors in the region;
• Support or commitments to the North West City Region in key
government policy, frameworks and political agreements;
• Successful delivery of the North West Development Fund including
a range of economic, environmental and social projects (see
below) and leverage of other significant funding to the region;
• Preparation of over 12 joint plans, strategies or studies including
across key thematic areas such as climate, energy, planning, inward
investment, tourism and greenways;
• Co-ordination of joint submissions from the North West City Region
to government, for example, to Project Ireland 2040 National
Planning Framework and to the Northern Ireland Committee for
the Economy.
NWDF Evaluation
The Executive Office commissioned an independent evaluation
of the North West Development Fund in 2023 to evaluate its
effectiveness and additionality as well as inform future decisions
with regard to potential further funding. The evaluation highlighted
the considerable successes of the fund, stating that it:
“…carried out a robust evaluation of the North West
Development Fund and can conclude that the project was a
considerable success.”
“.. the success of the fund is being able to make meaningful,
lasting and sustainable strategic partnerships across the political
and geographical divide of the NW…. with far-reaching outputs
which have benefited the NW during a time of considerable
economic and social instability……the strategic alliances have
now matured into a robust cross border and cross community
partnership that can now move forward with real purpose, drive
and enthusiasm”.
Examples of projects funded by the North West Development Fund
PILLAR
ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENTAL
SOCIAL
PROJECTS / OUTPUTS
• NW Inward Investment Plan, joint marketing campaigns, 8 international trade missions and related global export programmes
• NW Regional Tourism Strategy & NW Tourism Product Development Programme
• NW Greenway Network
• NW Metropolitan Spatial Strategy Scoping Paper and establishment of NW Planning Forum / joint training
• NW climate action framework
• NW Regional Energy Strategy and creation of North West Energy Agency
• NW Audience Development Plan (Arts & Culture) and related programme targeted families and older people
• Other joint projects/programmes
• E.g. NW Sports Development Programme, Every Youth Counts, Colmcille 1500, Irish Language Research Project
19

2. PARTNERSHIP
2.3 DEVELOPING A STRONG & COHERENT REGIONAL VOICE
The North West Strategic Growth Partnership has championed the
Hambleton’s (2020) model of civic, place-based leadership. The
model seeks to harness the skills and expertise of a range of regional
anchors and institutions – such as the third level education providers,
the health sector and the private sector in seeking to achieve more
sustainable economic and social development.
The two local authorities have provided leadership and direction,
through setting up and managing the partnership structures, and to
ensure these enable a strong and coherent voice for partners across
the North West City Region.
The NWSGP enabled the signing of a historic Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the tertiary education providers in
the region in 2018 which has led to the North West Tertiary Education
Cluster (NWTEC) and the growth in innovation and third level
provision in the North West. This MoU was renewed and revised in
2023 and the cluster is now an established strategic alliance of all four
publicly funded tertiary education institutions in the North West City
Region.
North West Tertiary Education Cluster:
• Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
• Ulster University Derry-Londonderry Campus
• North West Regional College
• Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB)
In addition, the North West Strategic Growth Partnership has
encouraged further cross border collaboration between Londonderry
Chamber of Commerce and Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce
who have worked in partnership to present the North West value
proposition. Further engagement with the private sector will be
important as delivery partners for the strategy, particularly in terms of
skills and innovation.
cross border primary healthcare in specialisms such as oncology and
cardiovascular care.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust and the Donegal Integrated
Healthcare Area have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
through which the two organisations will work in partnership on
education, skills and capacity development, research and innovation,
supporting stronger cross border collaboration and longer term
improvements in health and social care across the North West City
Region.
Building on these strategic alliances, the Partnership aims to
further utilise the critical mass and political strengths of the
region. It will engage and partner with:
• Other Councils with similar and complementary regional
development needs and on a wider North West basis or
proposition such as Fermanagh and Omagh, Causeway
Coast and Glens, Sligo and Leitrim – as well as with regional
enterprise agencies, the Northern and Western Regional
Assembly and Western Development Commission.
• Other City Regions on the Western Atlantic Corridor such as
Galway, Limerick and Cork, including to counterbalance and
provide solutions to continuing overpopulation in the East.
The North West City Region will also build on its key connections
and collaborations across the UK, Europe and internationally,
including for example - the Derry/Londonderry - City of London
historicalconnections, UNESCO Learning City Network, EU
thematic partnerships and Irish government bilateral
agreements/partnerships with Scotland and Wales.
Similarly, the respective Departments of Health, the Western Health
and Social Care Trust, the Health Service Executive and Co-operation
and Working Together (CAWT) are continually collaborating to deliver
20

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
21

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3.1 VISION
The North West City Region has made significant progress since
establishment of current structures in 2016 as outlined in chapter 2.
Building on this momentum, the purpose of the strategy is to review the
long-term vision and priorities for the region. This will ensure that we:
• Address key challenges that are inhibiting or blocking growth of the
region;
• Build on the strengths and comparative advantages of its unique
location and context;
• Harness opportunities in a rapidly changing global context;
• Clearly identify the compelling proposition for the city-region and
the enablers/investment required to realise this potential;
• Provide a pathway for delivery of the strategy whilst also
contributing to government priorities for regional balance and
solving regional/national challenges.
The vision, mission/ ambition, objectives and key priority areas are set
out below alongside a number of cross-cutting themes:
• Vision: A Shared North West - connected,
thriving, competitive and sustainable crossborder
city region.
• Mission/Ambition: The Derry-Letterkenny
cross border City Region positively
contributes to the strategic and economic
priorities of both Ireland and Northern
Ireland’s Programmes for Government.
OUTCOME STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE PRIORITY AREA
A CONNECTED & ENABLED REGION
A THRIVING & COMPETITIVE REGION
A HEALTHY & RESILIENT PEOPLE
To address infrastructure deficits that will improve connectivity, enable growth of the region, unlock its potential
and enable decarbonisation
To drive the sustainable economic growth of the region by developing skills and talent to address key skills gaps
and support high-paid jobs, supporting high-growth sectors /clusters and enhancing innovation and R&D capacity
To enhance health & well-being, community cohesion and resilience of the people by facilitating collaboration
and enabling cross-border solutions to shared challenges
CROSS-CUTTING THEMES
INFRASTRUCTURE &
CONNECTIVITY
SKILLS & INNOVATION
HEALTH & RESILIENCE
COLLABORATION
SUSTAINABILITY
VISIBILITY
INCLUSION
Collaboration is crucial to delivery of the strategy, both within the region and in connecting as strategic alliances externally – with other regions facing
similar challenges, other city-regions on the island of Ireland and within the UK, EU and internationally.
Sustainability is included as a cross-cutting theme in recognition of its significance and relevance across all priority areas, rather than as a separate priority.
Key areas of focus include, for example, decarbonisation, the circular economy and renewable energy as well as enhancing climate adaptability/resilience –
and growing the economy whilst also protecting the environment.
Visibility and recognition of the region, and its potential, is significant - given the status as the fourth largest urban agglomeration on the island of Ireland
and uniqueness as the only functional economic region of such scale on the island which experiences a national jurisdictional border. A communication
strategy will be developed to increase awareness and visibility.
Equality and inclusive growth are important, recognising that income inequality is damaging to economic growth and the need to grow the economy in a
way that reduces inequality and addresses high levels of deprivation.
22

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3.2 VISION
FIGURE 6: Summary of Plan Overarching Framework
VISION
A Shared North West
Connected, thriving, competitive and sustainable cross-border region
MISSION / AMBITION
The Derry-Letterkenny Cross Border City Region contributes positively to the strategic and economic
priorities of both Ireland & Northern Ireland’s Programmes for Government
PRIORITY AREAS
Connected & Enabled Region
INFRASTRUCTURE & CONNECTIVITY
Thriving & Competitive Region
SKILLS & INNOVATION
Healthy & Resilient People
HEALTH & RESILIENCE
CROSS-CUTTING THEMES
COLLABORATION SUSTAINABILITY VISIBILTY INCLUSION
23

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3.2 PRIORITY AREAS
Key interventions are set out below under the three priority areas - including what is required in terms of enablers or investment as well as
keypathways or vehicles that will assist in progressing and delivering in partnership with governments and other partners.
Infrastructure & Connectivity
KEY INTERVENTIONS KEY PATHWAYS / VEHICLES ENABLERS /INVESTMENT REQUIRED
Key enabling transport,
energy & water
infrastructure to enable
growth and unlock the
full potential of the
region.
INFRASTRUCTURE
CLUSTER – as a vehicle
or mechanism for coordination
across key
partners and to accelerate
delivery.
NW METROPOLITAN
AREA SPATIAL &
TRANSPORT STRATEGIES
– to provide key joint
planning frameworks
as a foundation for
enabling and managing
growth.
Identify other specialist
studies required for
specific infrastructure
investment areas.
ROAD CONNECTIVITY: Prioritise and progress as a strategic project in its entirety for the North West, covering all
constituent projects and to connect the 3 key routes – Dublin to Letterkenny-Derry; Belfast to Derry-Letterkenny;
and Derry to Galway. Prioritising as a strategic and coherent project would be consistent with Government’s previous
policy/ approach to developing motorways to link the cities in Ireland. Intra-connectivity within the region is also
important for regional development as well as the Letterkenny Southern Network Project to enable its role as Regional
Growth Centre.
ENERGY CAPACITY: Increase capacity/connectivity to establish energy security, future-proof need and enable the
development of renewable energy including offshore (ORE):
• Electricity: increase electricity capacity to 220Kv from Sligo to Letterkenny-Derry with potential linkages to
Killybegs to enable ORE;
• Gas: explore options for other energy sources including extension of gas network into Donegal to enable future
transportation of renewable gases such as green hydrogen.
WATER CAPACITY: Prioritise investment in water and waste water infrastructure for the region to enable key growth
needs and address the housing shortfall.
RAIL CONNECTIVITY: Re-integrate the NWCR into the all-island rail network, building on the AISRR and UK
Connectivity Review, to connect Dublin to Derry, Derry to Letterkenny, Derry to Belfast (phase 3) and Letterkenny to
Sligo-Galway.
PORT INFRASTRUCTURE: Develop strategic port/ harbour infrastructure at, and connectivity to, the deep water ports
at Killybegs, Greencastle and Foyle Port including designation of Killybegs as part of EU’s TEN-T Comprehensive Ports
and to enable development of the blue and green economies.
AIR CONNECTIVITY: Develop Donegal Airport and City of Derry Airport including continuing support of PSOs to
maintain and enhance services (particularly connections to Dublin and London) and prioritise investments in safety,
security, operational and capital infrastructure.
Figure 7 (page 27) maps how these infrastructure investments will be key enablers - to accelerate housing supply, enable growth, improve competitiveness and
connectivity as well as enable decarbonisation. A breakdown of road projects is also included.
24

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3.2 PRIORITY AREAS
Skills and Innovation
KEY INTERVENTIONS
Key enabling
knowledge
infrastructure
including:
• Skills
development
and pathways
into high-quality
jobs
• R&D and
innovation as
key drivers
of economic
growth
• High-growth
sector/ clusters
including
green and blue
economies
KEY PATHWAYS /
VEHICLES
Establish a Cross
Border Economic
Partnership – its
purpose would
include developing
key interventions to
proactively address
legacy issues and
build on strengths
and opportunities
for the region
- identifying
specialist studies
or input required
to develop specific
interventions.
It would bring
together key
partners across the
region, including
the NW Tertiary
Education Cluster
and Chambers/
private sector, as
well as relevant
government
agencies/
departments. It
would complement
the Local Economic
Partnerships in NI.
ENABLERS /INVESTMENT REQUIRED
DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION:
• Expansion of Ulster University’s Derry-Londonderry campus to 10,000 students.
• Atlantic Technological University’s Library, IT and Education Building (Letterkenny campus) and approval to appoint
professors and enhanced investment in the ATU’s research infrastructure, both in terms of facilities and equipment.
• Investment in student housing, and infrastructure to enable, as critical to facilitating the expansion of third level provision in the
region.
R&D AND INNOVATION:
• Develop the unique cross-border innovation ecosystem and infrastructure of the region through the Alpha-Beta Business &
Innovation Quarter in the heart of Letterkenny and the Digital Innovation Hub in Derry-Londonderry (City Deal).
• Maximise sectoral and regional strengths through clustering and scaling of existing research and innovation excellence and
facilities, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key cross-cutting area across all sectors.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT/PATHWAYS:
• Development of programme of skills development, targeting key gaps, aligned with opportunities for high-growth as well as
core skills required to enhance innovation capacity and building on strong industry-academic collaboration.
• Development of joint apprenticeship schemes that target core skills shortages/gaps, address cross-border legal/ taxation
challenges and build on Programme for Government commitments – for example:
• NI - Apprenticeship Challenge Fund to promote innovation and address inequalities
• Ireland - strengthen links between education providers and industry and as an important contribution in meeting key
targets - particularly for housing and climate action.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Development Zone/ Investment Zone:
• Explore the potential for the city-region to become a pilot development or investment zone. The Ireland Programme for
Government 2025 includes a proposal to include the development of economic Strategic Development Zones in the regions.
Whilst the Northern Ireland Programme for Government includes an objective to harness the UK Government Investment
Zone policy (focus on skills, local infrastructure, enterprise and business support).
With key potential elements to complement or as part of the above:
• Serviced Lands Initiatives – development of key ‘enterprise infrastructure’ to unlock opportunities in key locations and to
address the continuing market failure to meet demand. This would provide an opportunity for local authorities to utilise
statutory powers to develop under-utilised landbanks. Funding and support would enable investment in enabling utility
and access infrastructure required to provide developable ready sites and meet current gaps and unmet demand, including
from indigenous businesses unable to grow /scale-up. It would also provide an opportunity to provide innovative affordable
housing solutions to meet the current shortfall by unlocking current infrastructure blockages, including water and waste
water.
• Explore scope for the North West City Region to provide locations to meet Government de-centralisation commitments
including in ‘Our Rural Future’ (Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht) to ‘prioritise the siting
of new State agencies, Departments and enterprises in towns and cities outside of Dublin to support the Government’s
regional development objectives’ – and as also reflected in the Ireland Programme for Government as part of commitments
to driving job creation to the regions.
25

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3. PRIORITY AREAS
Health and resilience
KEY INTERVENTIONS KEY PATHWAYS / VEHICLES ENABLERS /INVESTMENT REQUIRED
Key enabling cross-border
collaboration to enhance longterm
health, well-being and
resilience. To include innovative
solutions to shared challenges -
that address health inequalities
and enhance community
cohesion - to support the
resilience of the region to grow
and its communities to thrive.
Partnerships/
collaborations between
Departments of Health,
the Western Health
and Social Care Trust,
the Health Service
Executive, CAWT as
well as community/
voluntary sectors and
other key partners.
• Build on collaborations to date between Departments of Health,
the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the Health Service
Executive and Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT) to
deliver cross border primary healthcare – in particular to reduce
travelling times for patients requiring specialist health services.
• Explore further opportunities for collaboration across the North
West City Region utilising arts, sports, language, culture and
heritage as vehicles for interventions that address the wider
determinants of health and wellbeing, an ageing population as
well as enhance community cohesion to contribute to thriving
and resilient communities. Building on the North-West Audience
Development Programme which targeted families and older
people.
• Explore further opportunities to build on current cross-border
health collaboration and data-driven healthcare to provide
innovative solutions to healthcare inequalities (e.g. building on
current initiatives such as the Personalised Medicine Centre,
C-TRIC/ NI Centre for Stratified Medicine, Design Innovation for
Assisted Living (DIAL).
26

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3.2 PRIORITY AREAS
FIGURE 7: Infrastructure Investments as Enablers to:
IMPROVE
CONNECTIVITY
IMPROVE
COMPETITIVENESS
ENABLE POPULATION
GROWTH
ACCELERATE HOUSING
SUPPLY
ENABLE
DECARBONISATION
NW STRATEGIC ROAD CONNECTIVITY* 3 3 3 3 3
ENERGY CAPACITY 3 3 3 3 3
WATER / WASTE WATER CAPACITY 3 3 3 3
RAIL CONNECTIVITY TO NW 3 3 3 3
PORT INFRASTRUCTURE / CONNECTIVITY 3 3 3
AIR CONNECTIVITY TO NW 3 3 3
TERTIARY EDUCATION / SKILLS INVESTMENTS 3 3 3
DEVELOPMENT ZONE / SERVICES LAND INITIATIVES 3 3 3 3 3
* Key road projects include:
• A5/N2: Dublin to Derry (N14/N15 to A5 link and A5 Western Transport Corridor)
• A2/N13: Letterkenny to Derry (TEN-T N13 Bridgend to border/A2)
• Donegal TEN-T priority route improvement project - 3 sections (N14/A5 link, N56/N13 and N15/N13)
• A6: Derry to Belfast (Phase 2)
• N56: Inver to Killybegs (five points) • N56 Dungloe to Gweedore
• N13: Stranorlar to Letterkenny • Manorcunningham to Bridgend
• N15 Stranorlar to Lifford
• Letterkenny Southern Network Project • Northern Network Project • Transport Hub
27

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3.3 REGIONAL BALANCE
This strategy provides a pathway to assist the governments
in Ireland, Northern Ireland and UK in meeting priorities and
commitments to regional development and balance. The importance
of regional balance, not just for lagging regions, but for the country
as a whole is well evidenced. There is growing recognition and
significance among agencies, policies and strategies, that a strong
North West City Region, as the fourth largest metropolitan area, is
essential to the successful development of the wider North West
region as well as for the island of Ireland as a whole.
In Ireland, the National Planning Framework (NPF), when launched
in 2018, was described as a ‘regions’ focused strategy committed to
regional parity. It highlighted the risks of not securing an appropriate
and effective regional balance where ‘unbalanced growth, largely
focused in Dublin and the surrounding region creates a significant
risk, whereby not achieving the economy’s full potential will give rise
to a shortfall in Ireland’s economic performance with serious and
long-lasting consequences for future living standards and the quality
of life overall, across all regions of the country’.
The NPF highlighted public infrastructure investment as significant in
terms of its impact on the competitiveness of a region and included a
commitment to improving accessibility and connectivity to the North
West in particular.
The Programme for Government (PfG) (2025) ‘Securing Ireland’s
Future’ includes a section dedicated to ‘Driving Balanced Regional
Development’ which states that the needs and wants of the
population can be better fulfilled through ‘more dispersed growth
across Ireland’.
It highlights a commitment to the National Development Plan
review in 2025 as underpinning the delivery of balanced regional
development as a key objective.
In Northern Ireland, the Programme for Government 2024-2027
includes a specific section and commitment to ‘Regional Balance’
as a key element of creating an economy that works for everyone.
There is also a commitment to enhanced regional focus for Invest
NI and related investment targets and a new Department for the
Economy Regional Balance Unit. It also acknowledges under ‘Reform
And Transformation of Public Services’ that the pressures of regional
imbalance are likely to increase.
In the UK, the ‘Levelling Up’ agenda (2021-2024) aimed to
address regional inequalities, particularly for areas with historical
underinvestment. The 2022 White Paper recognised that regional
inequalities are both very wide and persistent, with the UK ranking as
one of the most unequal developed countries. This was also echoed
by the OECD Regional Outlook 2023 which identified both Ireland
and UK in the category of wealthy countries with rising regional
inequalities.
The OECD report (2023) ‘Towards Balanced Regional Attractiveness
in Ireland: Enhancing the Delivery of the NPF’ recommended
enhanced co-ordination and some risk-taking across government
to successfully drive investment and population to the regions –
recognising the role of accessibility and connectivity to a region’s
value proposition and competitiveness.
See Figure 8 (next page) for a summary of Government commitments
to regional development and the North West.
The PfG commits to continuing to advance a balanced approach to
regional development, cognisant that the European Commission has
identified the North West as requiring additional support.
28

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3.3 REGIONAL BALANCE
FIGURE 8: Summary of Government Commitments to Regional Development and the North West
Commits to
continuing
to advance
a balanced
approach
to regional
development,
cognisant that
the European
Commission has
identified the
North West as
requiring
additional
support
IRELAND
Programme For Government
2025
Commitment to driving
Balanced Regional Development
Improve connectivity to
North West
National Planning Framework
Regions-focused strategy
committed to regional parity
Northern & Western region
justifies particular focus in NPF
NORTHERN IRELAND
Programme For Government
2024-2027
Commitment to Regional Balance
Magee Campus 10k students
New rail connection to
North West
Sub-Regional Economic Plan
Deliver locally-led
regional balance
UNITED KINGDOM
Levelling Up 2021-2024
To address regional inequalities -
areas with historical
underinvestment
Recognition & support for
North West City Region
OECD
Regional Outlook 2023
Ireland and UK in category of wealthy countries
with rising regional inequalities
Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (2025)
‘Delivering Balanced Regional Growth in N.I.’
Significant inequalities persist. Need to invest in regional
infrastrucure and strengthen skills and innovation ecosystem
Governments also have regional development commitments in other key strategies, e.g.:
• Ireland - NDP, IDA & EI Strategies, National Smart Specialisation Strategy, White Paper on Enterprise, Our Rural Future
• Northern Ireland - Invest NI Strategy, NI Regional Development Strategy 2035
29

3. PURPOSE & PRIORITIES
3.3 REGIONAL BALANCE
The Ulster University Economic Policy Centre
(UUEPC) report (2025) ‘Delivering Balanced
Regional Growth in Northern Ireland’ determines
that while there has been some convergence in
economic growth among Northern Ireland’s subregions
overall, significant inequalities persist. Key
conclusions and recommendations include:
• Regional policies are generally not pursued
with sufficient ambition, vigour or intensity and
are often counteracted by the effects of other
policies favouring ‘successful areas’ of national
economies. They require long-term consistency.
• Need to invest in regional infrastructure and
connectivity - improving transport and utility
infrastructure as foundational for balanced
growth – and also improve internal connectivity.
“This is a long-term endeavour
and will require long-term financial
commitment.”
This strategy has set out its long-term investment
requirements that are essential to enabling regional
balance and for the North West City Region to:
• achieve its vision and mission; and
• realise its full potential for growth.
In addition to assisting in achieving government
commitments to regional balance, the North West
City Region also provides significant opportunities
to assist in achieving other key regional and
national priorities – particularly around climate
change and housing.
• Need to strengthen education, skills and
innovation ecosystem as key drivers of regional
competitiveness, with higher education
institutions as critical to regional balance
(talent & research).
• Importance of place-based policies and tailored
interventions to address disparities, building on
inherent strengths e.g. industry clusters, focus
on 2-3 key sectors, cross-border linkages.
• Empower local /regional leadership to drive
economic development, supported by coherent
central policies.
30

31

APPENDIX 1
NORTH WEST CITY REGION INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICITS
Motorway Network
Rail Network
32

APPENDIX 1
NORTH WEST CITY REGION INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICITS
National Power HV Transmission Network
& Deep Water Ports
Gas Pipeline Network
110Kkw
220kw
275kw (NI)
400kw
Deep Water Ports
Existing Gas Pipelines
Interconnector 1
Interconnector 2
Pipelines provided by others
33

APPENDIX 1
NORTHERN & WESTERN REGION - INFRASTRUCTURE RANKING
IN THE EU REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS INDEX (2023)
Source: Northern and Western Regional Assembly using data from the European Commission’s “Regional Competitiveness Index”.
Source: Northern and Western Regional Assembly using interactive map from Eurostat. Colours of regions are
only for design purposes and do not indicate ranking of “infrastructure” index score. “Infrastructure” index
scores of these 20 NUTS 2 Regions available via Table 2 (above).
34