Community-Led Participative Planning - Smart Development of rural areas.

By project INSPIRE

Published on 12 February 2025

Ireland

Southern

About this good practice

Ballyhoura Development, a rural region with a strong sense of community, culture, and heritage, faces common challenges such as rural isolation, population decline, and reduced economic activity. To address these issues, a community-led participative planning process identifies key concerns and develops actionable solutions.

The process begins with a Community Walkabout, where Ballyhoura’s team—focusing on social inclusion, economic, and environmental themes—engages with local groups to assess strengths and needs. A Community Group Health Check evaluates governance and capacity, while a Community Needs Analysis Survey gathers broader input.

Findings inform the next steps, including workshops and consultations that refine action plans through SWOT analyses, community mapping, and asset registers. A Socio-Economic Plan, guided by Census and Pobal HP Deprivation Index data, sets priorities. Actions are structured using the SMART model for effective implementation.

Community plans are living documents, reviewed and updated annually to ensure long-term, sustainable growth and development. They serve as a valuable road map for the community while also providing firm evidence for engagement with external agencies, securing funding and support to advance key initiatives.

Resources needed

Staff engagement to deliver workshops, assess needs, and finalise plans.

Marketing support for website and social media promotion.

Community Socio-Economic Planning funded through LEADER, covering facilitation, venue, and plan design. Total cost: North Cork €20,987, Limerick €29,381.

Evidence of success

Community Planning - Ballyhoura Region

2016–2023: 13 plans, 282 actions
2022–2027: 3 plans, 126 actions

Key Actions:
-Bruff: €30K audit on Main Street’s commercial potential; former bank property acquired by LCCC for community use; €1M development plan.
-Kilfinane: €34K analysis of derelict buildings; €800K investment in an identified property for a community centre.
-Mitchelstown: €500K investment in new visitor accommodation; €400K planned for Phase 2 development

Potential for learning or transfer

Ballyhoura Development believes Community-Led Participative planning is essential for advancing the smart village ethos and its 6 dimensions. This approach ensures that community groups take ownership of their plans while supporting progression of thematic actions.

A robust, flexible process allows communities to prioritise needs and collaborate with Ballyhoura Development to move forward, whilst leveraging support and funding from other agencies.

As digitalisation advances, the process uses a blended approach (digital and analogue) to engage individuals and groups, promoting inclusive methods of engagement.

Community Planning is not linear, allowing actions to be adjusted based on opportunities and evolving needs. Plan reviews enable actions to be updated as circumstances change.

Additionally, the planning process helps identify skills gaps within organisations, enabling Ballyhoura Development to support capacity-building both during the planning process and in the future.