Ireland hosts first PROXIMITIES Stakeholder Group Meeting
The Southern Regional Assembly hosted the first Regional Stakeholder Group meeting for PROXIMITIES project on Wednesday, 25th September 2024 in Cork City. This meeting marked a significant milestone in the Southern Region’s efforts to improve the livability, accessibility, and sustainability of peripheral urban areas.
The meeting brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Transport Authority, Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council, Kilkenny County Council, The Environmental Forum, the Land Development Agency, and the Southern Regional Assembly. This group will be central in sharing insights and best practices, as well as contributing to the successful implementation of the project's objectives.
Introducing PROXIMITIES and the Stakeholder Role
Stakeholders were introduced to the PROXIMITIES project and its policy improvement ambitions, which aim to redesign greener, healthier, and more accessible peripheral urban areas across the Southern Region and seven other European territories.
Sustainable Residential Development and PLAT Tool workshop
A key presentation on the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlement Guidelines for Planning Authorities was delivered by Jason Taylor from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. This presentation set the context for regional efforts to enhance sustainable urban planning in line with national guidelines.
A highlight of the meeting was the hands-on workshop where stakeholders were introduced to the PROXIMITIES Landscape Assessment Tool (PLAT), a dynamic tool designed to assess the accessibility and availability of amenities in peripheral urban areas. The PLAT has been developed by the Erasmus Centre for Urban Port and Transport Economics, University of Rotterdam. The PLAT tool uses customisable maps to support the development of peripheral urban areas and will be used to analyse three key peripheral urban areas in the Southern Region:
- North Blackpool/Kilbarry (Cork City)
- Raheen/Dooradoyle (Limerick City)
- Ferrybank (Waterford City/Kilkenny)
Stakeholders, in particular Local Authority representatives, will benefit from the insights provided by the PLAT, helping to better plan for the accessibility and availability of services and the future development of peripheral urban territories.
Next Steps for PROXIMITIES
The meeting concluded with discussions on the next steps for the project. The Southern Regional Assembly, in collaboration with stakeholders, will continue to engage in the development of policy improvements focused on peripheral urban areas. The PROXIMITIES project will serve as an important initiative supporting the creation of liveable, sustainable and accessible communities in the Southern Region.