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DUNDALK
2019
COLLABORATIVE
TOWN CENTRE
HEALTH CHECK
Louth County Council
t 1890 202 303 e ctchc@louthcoco.ie
www.louthcoco.ie
Ref | Map 15. Map of Dundalk, 1853 by James O’Hagan (Louth County Library); original size 75 x 62 cm Included in Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 16, Dundalk by Harold O’Sullivan (Royal Irish Academy, 2006) select contents from the Dundalk atlas are available online https://www.ria. Photography kindly provided by Martin McElligott ie/irish-historic-towns-atlas-online-dundalk
Irish Planning System
NATIONAL
Introduction
National Planning Framework Dundalk (Dún Dealgan), which is the principal The key findings from Dundalk’s first-ever
EU, National Legislation and Policy Local Authority town in the north east of the Republic of Ireland, Collaborative Town Centre Health Check and
REGIONAL is a large settlement with a population of circa. baseline data will inform plans and strategies in
39,000 people (2016 CSO). With a rich industrial relation to the following:
Regional Spatial & Economic Strategies Housing Strategy legacy, the historic town has a thriving arts
Eu Directives • Arts, Heritage and Culture
..................................... ..................................... and heritage scene, a vibrant leisure and sports
LOCAL culture, plus a growing reputation as a centre of • Climate change adaptation
Planning Legislation Retail Strategy
excellence for the pharma industry. Benefiting • Commerce/eCommerce and Enterprise
..................................... Development Plans ..................................... from a strong economic and employment base, • Cultural Tourism, e.g. music, food, etc.
Ministerial Guidelines (including core strategy) L-R Brendan McSherry, Billy Doyle, Angela Dullaghan, Marguerite Quinn, Ali Harvey, Brian Walsh,
______________________________ Local Economic and there is a healthy dynamic between resident
• Living in the Town Centre Martin McElligott, Michael Gaynor, Aideen Morrissey, Geraldine Johnston, Helen Divilly, Frank
..................................... Community Plans workers and jobs. Located on the Dublin/ Belfast
Local Area Plans • Public Realm, e.g. historic streetscapes, parks Pentony, Thomas McEvoy. Missing from photo Mark Dearey, Catherine Duff and Eamon McMahon.
Government Policy ..................................... Economic Corridor, Dundalk and the adjoining
Cooley Mountains create a culturally-significant and public spaces
..................................... Capital Programme
Captial Programmes Establishes Policy landscape, which has inspired Irish Folklore for • Renewable Energy / Energy Harvesting
Context for . . .
centuries. • Strategic Planning and Place-making Survey Methodology
Changing demographics and Engineering Course collected Red C also undertook consumer
living/travel to work patterns survey data on the vitality and surveys in the town centre.
along with changing consumer vibrancy of the historic town The survey questionnaire was
A significant number of stakeholders came together in 2018 to form the Dundalk CTCHC preferences and trends are all centre – this included a footfall based on previous CTCHC
Stakeholders and Project Team Project Team. Their names and organisations are as follows (in alphabetical order): impacting on the overall vitality survey, traffic counts and a research in Ireland and was
and viability of our historic land-use survey. provided under the CTCHC
The Dundalk CTCHC Project Team meets on a monthly basis in Dundalk Fiona Cunningham Dundalk BIDS town centres. In addition, some Training Programme. Red C
The detailed landuse survey
Town Centre and operates a rotating Chairperson. Mark Dearey Dundalk BIDS and LCC Councillor (until May 2019) of the available information used non-probability quota
examined the use of ground
Helen Divilly Louth County Council about our historic town centres sampling to administer 400
If you would like to get involved in the renewal of the Dundalk Town Centre please contact: floor space in the core town
Billy Doyle Dundalk Credit Union is limited in scope. questionnaires to consumers in
centre area. This core area
Dundalk Town Centre. Quotes
Louth County Council Catherine Duff Louth County Council The summary report presents covered Clanbrassil Street, Park
were based on age, gender and
t 1890 202 303 e ctchc@louthcoco.ie Angela Dullaghan Louth County Council up-to-date research that will Street, Church Street, Bridge
social class, as per CSO Data.
Michael Gaynor Dundalk Chamber help to inform our response Street, Earl Street, Francis Street
Ali Harvey Heritage Council to these issues and to inform and Dublin Street and included 80 randomly selected business
Martin McElligott Town Centre Commercial Manager Representatives from Dundalk BIDS, Louth The CTCHC research focused on a number of existing and future operational over 500 premises. The survey owners were invited by
Geraldine Johnston Dundalk Credit Union
t +353 86 8225003 e manager@dundalkbids.com County Council, DkIT, Dundalk Chamber, key areas: programmes that support was conducted in September Dundalk BIDS to participate in
Frank Pentony Louth County Council
Dundalk Credit Union, with ongoing support • Land use in the historic town centre heritage-led urban and rural 2018 and uses were classified, a commercial survey and a total
Aideen Morrissey Louth County Council
provided by the Heritage Council’s National regeneration. according to their use, using of 30 responded.
For information on Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) Martin McElligott Dundalk BIDS • Consumers’ opinions and attitudes
CTCHC Co-ordinator, formed the Dundalk the GOAD Classification of Land
Training Programme please contact: Thomas McEvoy Louth LEO • Business owners’ attitude toward the Dundalk’s CTCHC research was A car parking survey, covering
CTCHC steering group and engaged in a Use. The survey also examined
Eamon McMahon Dundalk IT town centre undertaken during September off-street and on-street parking
collaborative process to achieve the goals set the number of vacant units in
Ali Harvey MIPI The Heritage Council Brendan McSherry Louth County Council - November 2018. Following
the town centre. All the land-
facilities, was also undertaken
t +353 87 419 3458 e aharvey@heritagecouncil.ie out by the National Collaborative Town Centre • Footfall in the historic town centre the recommended 15-Step by DkIt Students, which fed
Sinead Mullen Louth County Council use findings were validated
Health Check 15-Step assessment process. • Movement and Accessibility Methodology set out in the into the Dundalk CTCHC results.
Marguerite Quinn Louth County Council by Louth County Council’s GIS
CTCHC Training Programme.
Brian Walsh County Museum Dundalk Office.
DkIT Students from the Civil
8
1
Consumers’ Opinions of Dundalk Town Centre Almost 30% respondents shop online Key Considerations and Opportunities for Dundalk
at least once per month with
Shopping is the primary reason people use Why do you shop in Dundalk With large-scale national and European Investment in projects such as the Market
Dundalk Town Centre, having more than twice the
59% stating that clothing and Square and Clanbrassil Street and St Nicholas Quarter Rejuvenation Schemes in
Town Centre? accessories are the type addition to NDP funded projects such as the Long Walk Quarter, in conjunction with
importance of the next most common reason, which is to
initiatives like Purple Flag and the Heritage Council and Partners’ CTCHC study, Dundalk
visit a café/restaurant. In terms of the main reasons why of goods mainly
people use the town centre, 1 in 5 town users say their 58% 56% 29% 27% bought online.
has an abundance of potential to thrive with a collaborative approach to revitalising
its town centre. There are also significant opportunities for economic growth and
primary reason is to attend work. Easy to get Habit/ Quality Selection of
development under the planned NDP Urban Regeneration and Development Fund,
to/handy Always have of Shops Shops
Convenience shopped here Disruptive Industries Fund, Various EC Funds, and the hosting of the 2nd CTCHC Border
Towns Training Workshop for the first time in Dundalk in April 2019.
What do you think about Dundalk Town Throughout this section of the report, the answers to a number of questions asked in the RED C survey may add to more than 100%.
This is because these were multi-code questions, meaning respondents were able to select more than one answer. The National Planning Framework (known as Project 2040 NPF and NDP 2018-2027)
Centre, what are your first thoughts? also supports the revitalisation of the historic county town. The National CTCHC Training
Top Online Programme has been a catalyst for bringing key stakeholders together to ensure a
Top 5 Business Types Visited
vibrant future for the historic town centre of Dundalk and to enhance the quality of life
The main store types visited by respondents included stores
It’s nice to sit Vibrant not for citizens and visitors alike. In order to create a vibrant and innovative town centre –
supermarkets, clothing stores and restaurants.
out in the market stressful like a comprehensive commercial, cultural and community hub – a collaborative effort is
Clothing shops had the highest average spend with €86.
square Dublin required to initiate and implement a Town Centre
Renewal Action Plan.
There are shops that
I can’t find anywhere 36% 30% 22% The Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy
else but which sell SUPERMARKET C A F É /TA K E AWAY C LOT H E S S H O P S Dundalk Institute The Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy (RSES) in particular offers a new opportunity
interesting stuff It has to renew the historic centre of the town and is a statutory planning guide to making
everything
of Technology
this renewal happen. Within 6 months of the adoption of the RSES by the Eastern
Great choice of locally 7% 7% A key partner in Dundalk’s
regeneration is Dundalk Institute of Midland and Regional Assembly (May 2019) Louth County Council is required to review
restaurants and CHEMIST B E AU T Y /H A I R the Louth County Development Plan 2015-2021. On foot of this, it is crucial that the
friendly atmosphere Technology. DkIT, a leading Higher
Education Provider in North Dundalk and Environs Development Plan 2009-2015 (extended under the Electoral
Better than Dublin in Leinster-South Ulster, is Local Government Planning and Development Act 2013) is reviewed. This will ensure
many ways focused on providing flexible, compliance with the objectives of the RSES which promotes Dundalk as a Regional
What type of shop is missing Younger respondents shop online more Growth Centre and seeks to prioritise regeneration and promote revitalisation and
The buzz forward-thinking and skills-
atmosphere and the
from Dundalk Town Centre? frequently and have a higher online spend. redevelopment of the town centre.
The water focused education to learners
ease of parking and fountain in the across our region. DkIT is
Shopping online at least once per month:
accessibility from the market square deeply committed to its core BREXIT
€
parking area 18-24 26% mission of supporting the
Easy
Dundalk faces significant challenges as a result of the planned exit by the UK from the
25-34 27% continued economic, social
proximity European Union and, also, in relation to the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals
Second Hand 35-54 35% and cultural development
Shops are good (SDGs). It is anticipated that the recently formed Border Town Network (BTN), under
55-64 10% of the North Leinster-South
the Heritage Council and Partners’ CTCHC Training Programme, will assist in enabling
Ulster region on the Belfast-
65+ 3% Ireland’s Border Towns to survive and thrive for the benefit of future generations.
Dublin corridor.
2 7
Consumer Consumers’ Opinions of
Survey of Land Use in Dundalk Town Centre Reactions The survey also invited respondents to rate 20 key aspects of the town centre. The most
Dundalk Town Centre (contd) positive rating was achieved by the town’s cafés and restaurants and the standard of service
Footfall in Dundalk Town Centre
to Brexit in shops.
Good% Neutral% Poor%
Consumers feel the biggest Just over two-thirds of
1
improvements the town centre could respondents prefer to park in a Café/restaurant choice in the Town Centre 89%
89 10% 2% 2
9
UNDER
Pedestrian counts were undertaken at six count points within benefit from are related to: number of surface car park vs parking on
3
the town centre, at three different intervals on 16th and 17th shops, the public realm and accessibility. Café/restaurant quality in the Town Centre 87 12 1%
November, 2018. The cold but dry weather conditions were the street.
favourable for the duration of the survey. More shops 24% Quality of shops in the Town Centre 82 14 4
The pedestrian count findings showed the highest footfall count Just under a third of those Already/Live here 8% Standard of service in shops in
81 17 2
On Surface the Town Centre
was recorded at Dealz on Earl Street on Friday morning (286 who currently use Dundalk More/better amenities 6% Car Park
Street
people). It was also the busiest count point in general over the town centre have noticed 80 17 3
course of the footfall survey. This data will act as a base line for Jobs 5% 38% 62% General ease of getting around Town Centre
a decline in activity Variety of goods available in shops in
77 19 4
pedestrian counts planned in the future.
around the town since Parking 4% the Town Centre
Survey of Parking Spaces the announcement More Green Spaces 3% General attractiveness of the Town Centre 76 20 4
of Brexit. Value for money of shops in the Town Centre 76 20 4
The DkIT survey indicates that there are 3,350 off-street car parking
spaces and 495 on-street car parking spaces within the survey area. Top 5 Festivals/Events suggested General feeling of vibrancy in Town Centre 76 20 4
23
UNDER
A significant number of respondents suggested events as a means of improving the town
The off-street parking spaces relate to locations available to the Variety/Range of shops in the Town Centre 75 19 6
centre and Music and Christmas events were the most frequently-suggested attractions.
general public and do not include further off-street parking spaces
Feeling of safety and security during the day
within the study area that are exclusively for private use only. 75 15 10
44% 39% 36% 35% 32% in Town Centre
Range of events in Town Centre 75 21 4
Day Times Bridge St Clanbrassil St Earl St
Long
Ramparts Park St
Overall Christmas Events Music Events Food Festival Beer Festival Markets
Walk Totals Under two-thirds of users
Oktoberfest Pavement Cleanliness 73 20 7
Fri 1.15 - 1.30 31 212 286 99 144 124 of Dundalk town centre
3.15 - 3.30 60 243 264 74 88 117 2378 believe that Brexit Seating and areas to congregate 73 20 7
5.15 - 5.30 57 120 211 85 97 66
will have a negative
Preferred Extended Opening Hours
Attractions in the Town Centre other than
72 21 7
Sat 1.15 - 1.30 14 240 212 69 131 74
impact on the town if Mon - Fri 9am - 7pm 41% shopping
3.15 - 3.30 25 215 186 74 183 78 2128
it goes ahead. (one extra hour every weekday) Pavement Quality 70 22 8
5.15 - 5.30 11 105 200 83 117 111
Friday 6pm - 9pm 19%
Traffic Flow in the town centre 65 20 15
OPEN
Totals 198 1135 1359 484 760 570 4506 None 18%
Friday was 10% busier than Saturday 1 OUT
OF 8 Thursday 6pm - 9pm
Sunday 12 noon - 6pm
14%
8%
Parks and green space in the Town Centre
Feeling of safety and security at night in the
Town Centre
61
61 21
30 9
18
16% drop 5.15pm - 5.30pm Friday believe it will have a Respondents also expressed a demand for extended shopping hours in the town centre
with almost one-third of them expressing a preference for late opening on Fridays. Parking in the town centre 57 23 20
positive impact on
27% drop 5.15pm - 5.30pm Saturday the town centre.
6 3
Business Owners’ Opinion of Dundalk Town Centre Survey of Land Use in Dundalk Town Centre
When you are asked what you think What are your expectations for Do you Rent?
of Dundalk Town Centre what are trading over the two years?
your first thoughts?
€1025
= ? average per
month to
rent
35% Positive 58%
50% 38% 8% 4%
64% 36%
35%
Negative Improve No Worse No
58% No Comment 7%
Change Comment
Rent Own
What do you think is the main thing Do you think Brexit will have
that attracts customers to Dundalk positive or negative impact Do you sell online?*
Town Centre? on your business? *A separate survey
was conducted
39% 35%
Banks/
? 23%
Yes
77%
during the first
quarter of 2019 on
online habits and
Shops Businesses 12% 50% 38% No results are based
Positive Negative Not Sure on the 60 replies
Impact Impact received by May 1st.
13%
Scenery
13%
Cafés
92%
say NEWRY
is the top
Business Owner’s Online Presence* 24% 76% 57%
COMPLETE OCCUPANCY RATE UNITS SURVEYED
Retail
Leisure Service
Financial & Business Service
Vacant 2
57%
24%
12.5%
5%
COMPETITION VACANCY RATE1 IN TOWN CENTRE CLASSIFIED AS RETAIL
to Dundalk 57% 92% 55% 27% Public Service 1%
WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TWITTER Health & Medical Service 0.5%
1 Taken from Study Area outlined in black in map above
2 Taken from combined study areas in red and blue
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