Submission on the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028 - Tralee.ie

Submission on the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028
                             THE ISSUES PAPER AUGUST 2020

                                ISSUED BY TCA: 10.8.20

Tralee Chamber is the representative body for businesses across the Tralee Area,
with a cross-sectoral membership of business types. The Chamber is committed to
improving the business environment and quality of life in the region, and strongly
supports the vision of compact growth and urban density contained in the National
Planning Framework (NPF).

With this in mind, Tralee Chamber welcomes the opportunity to comment on the
Kerry County Development Plan 2022- 2028 consultation document. The Kerry
County Development Plan 2022-2028 sets out overall policies and strategies to give
guidance on the sustainable development of the county, and how that should take
place.

The plan aims to set out the overall strategy for the proper planning and
development of the County over a six-year period, within the context of the
national, regional framework of strategies and guidelines. Thus, enabling
development in a co-ordinated and sustainable manner to support growth, the
creation of a better quality of life, employment and opportunities in the county.

Context

In previous submissions and manifestos
relating to Local Area Plans, Regional
Strategies and Development Plans the
Chamber has emphasised the need for
long-term planning, economic
development and forward thinking in the
Kerry region, with a particular focus on the
need for increased urban density,
infrastructure development and supporting
the development of Tralee as an economic
driver and Key Town for Kerry as well as a
key component of the ‘knowledge
triangle’ with Killarney and Killorglin. This
submission is guided by our support for the
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, and

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bears cognisance to economic resilience by mobilising our surrounding towns and
villages in Kerry.

Since the publication of the previous County Development Plan 2015-21 the county
has experienced significant changes. Parts of Kerry have experienced reasonable
growth whilst others have failed to reach the modest population growth targets set.
Both economically and demographically the county has struggled to keep pace
with the growth in other regions, and the new plan must reflect these trends. In a
wider context, Tralee is a critical driver for the county of Kerry. Tralee’s past ability to
act as the administrative and social capital of the county has been undermined by
its ability to create economic growth and deliver quality employment; and
consequently has seen its population stagnate; this will have to become a key focus
of the County Development Plan if Tralee as Key Town is to deliver on the 30%
population growth targets of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.

With under-development, particularly on housing, public transport, town centre
property redevelopment and primary road networks, presenting significant
challenges for the county as a whole, a critical focus on the growth of Tralee as the
Capital town must now be to play the vital role in the future development and
growth of the county. The Development Plan must be cognisant of the various
environmental and spatial plans that must guide and shape the development of the
county.

While Tralee Chamber still reserves objection
that the National Planning Framework (NPF)
is flawed in that it did not designate Tralee
as REGIONAL GROWTH CENTRE. We still contest
that Tralee plays a vital role in the
development of the region in manner similar
to those towns recognised with the Regional
Growth Centre designation. A fact
recognised in the National Spatial Strategy
2002-2020:

“The National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020
designated Tralee and Killarney as a linked
hub, providing a spatial framework for
balanced regional development. Tralee
exerts influence over the surrounding
environs and its hub status asserts its
importance at regional level. Consequently,
the policies and objectives in this Plan have
been prepared in conjunction with Kerry
County Council, the Planning Authority for
the environs of Tralee, and to this end, Kerry
Local Authorities adopted the Kerry Hub Development Strategy in 2007.” Tralee Town
Development Plan 2009

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‘The Kerry Hub is the strongest of all the designated Hub towns and offers the
greatest potential” – The National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020

Notwithstanding this, until the NPF is revisited, we acknowledge that the Kerry County
Development Plan must be consistent with the NPF and the Regional Spatial and
Economic Strategy (RSES), as well as the Tralee Local Area Plan, all of which contain
a vision for Tralee as a Key Town, with compact sustainable growth - which has been
consistently endorsed by Tralee Chamber. Prioritising sustainability as a core
consideration will be essential in ensuring the county’s ability to be resilient in the
face of environmental challenges.

Notwithstanding the acceleration of issues resultant from the Covid19 pandemic,
addressing the decline of our town centres and threat to employment opportunities
must be adequately supported in the new County Development Plan. Disbursement
of population density, development of isolated employment locations, a change in
the ‘way we work’ and under-development in our urban centre is leading to
SIGNIFICANT VACANCY LEVELS (20%+) in Tralee. Positive, supportive action including
increased quality urban residential and commercial development density,
investment in key road infrastructure and active travel access to all areas of Tralee,
increased investment in enabling services infrastructure, strategic growth planning,
investment in modern public transport, supportive change of use for vacant
properties, as well as significant development of public realm space is critical at this
juncture.

Growth Targets

The Regional Economic and Spatial Strategy (RSES) has designated a hierarchy of
Key Towns with Tralee as a Key Town that is a ‘Large population scale urban centre
functioning as self-sustaining regional drivers’ and Killarney as a Key Town with a
‘sub-regional context.’

The RSES is quite clear in its differentiation, grading and ambition for the two types of
Key Towns, insofar as:

“Six of the Key Towns have a very significant population scale; Kilkenny City, Ennis,
Carlow, Tralee, Wexford and Clonmel. These are major centres for delivery of public
services, with large hospitals, third level institutions, courts, local and national
government functions as well as economic and business roles and higher order retail
functions. These Key Towns are self-sustaining regional drivers and have a
comparable structure to the five regional growth centres identified in the NPF. Given
their considerable scope for growth, it is envisaged that local authorities should plan
for population growth of more than 30% by 2040.”

“The large-scale Key Towns are complemented by a network of a further eight Key
Towns; Killarney, Mallow, Nenagh, Thurles, Newcastle West, Clonakilty, Dungarvan
and Gorey. They will play a significant role in strengthening the urban structure of the
Region. This is based on their strategic location and influence, record of

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performance and delivery, employment and service functions, potential for
employment led growth, sub-regional interdependencies and scope for
collaboration. Based on capacity analysis (including historic growth levels), it is
envisaged that local authorities will also plan for significant growth in these Key
Towns.”

In the context of the RSES the County Development plan for Tralee we must be
cognisant of the clear target of 30% population growth by 2040, much of this has to
be achieved during the lifetime of the new county development plan up to 2028.
This 30% increase on a pro-rata
calculation must facilitate the delivery
of in excess of 137 new public and
private residences per annum and
increase employment by an
additional 225 jobs per year. With
reference to the Tralee Local Area
Plan, a target of 40% of all new
housing is to be developed in the
urban centre of Tralee. In the context
of sustainable growth, the creation of
employment must also match this 40%
target for the urban area.

We are seeking as part of the County Development plan, that a STRATEGIC GROWTH
PLAN is developed for Tralee, which must be aided by strategic investment into
Tralee to not only meet the target of 30% growth, but out-perform these goals and in
time under a review of the NPF achieve re-designation as an Regional Growth
Centre.

In addition, Killarney’s designated as a complementary sub-regional Key Town must
also have clear population growth targets set out in the county development plan
based on its historical growth levels and capacity.

The county development plan must set out clearly the population increases set for
the urban areas in Kerry, and the development goals in the plan must be linked to
achieve KEY ANNUAL METRICS on housing and employment.

University Town

Following the success of Tralee IT and Cork IT’s merger into the MUNSTER
TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY status from January 2021, Tralee is now to become a
University Town. And with that comes the inherent need “to support higher and
further education and training investment, and investment in the development of IT
Tralee’s campus and R&D facilities” as set out in the RSES.

Critical to this investment is supporting the further integration of the student
population, educational facilities and supported industries into the fabric of the

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Tralee. A critical body of work for the County Development plan must be to
recognise the significance of the ‘knowledge infrastructure’ to Tralee, and to
facilitate through infrastructure, student accommodation, access and
development; greater social, employment and educational inclusion between
Clash/Dromthacker and the town centre that will facilitate a University Town
programme premised on synergy between education, research and the local
economy.

STUDENT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT must be ring-fenced in planning for existing ‘above
the shop’ vacant properties in a coordinated manner in the town centre. This has
the dual effect of not only bringing existing dwelling stock on to the market for
public and private family housing, but also supporting the regeneration of vacant
properties into modern shared living in the
town. Also, this measure would support the
integration of the growing student
population into the town centre and
bringing with it the social and economic
benefit to the town. This should be
undertaken in a co-ordinated manner with
a Tralee specific NIGHT-TIME STRATEGY
document to support the town’s evening
economy.

Associated with the knowledge infrastructure of Tralee is the inclusion of public
educational facilities within the fabric of the town centre, to provide for a more
open and accessible social experience for the people of Tralee. The establishment
of the Kerry ETB/Kerry College Campus on Denny Street is a prime example of this.

Opening up education opportunities to all,
whilst utilising otherwise under-developed
historic space in the town centre. In keeping
with this, and adapting to the modern
requirements of students and employees,
we suggest due consideration be given to
the RELOCATION OF THE TRALEE TOWN LIBRARY
into a Town Centre brownfield location.
There are ample development sites
available in the town centre, both publicly
and privately owned, which would house a
new modern library facility suitable for all
ages. This serves to directly associate all the
secondary levels schools in Tralee with a
central focal point for social and
educational purposes, and like in places
such as Killorglin and Dun Laoighaire can
act as an accelerant to commercial activity
and development.

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Ageing Population

The vacated lands currently occupied by the town library in Moyderwell can be
further developed to compliment and carry on from the highly successful elderly
housing developments in
Tobar Naofa, and lend to a
connection for further
redevelopment phases
within the current
GaelCholaiste Chiarrai
which is to be vacated
when relocated. Centrally
located at the edge of the
town park and town centre
in the Moyderwell area this
would serve to revitalise
commercial activity
leading in from Castle Street. A similar development could also be mirrored in the
former Balloonagh Convent estate equidistant to the town centre on the western
side of Tralee, which would serve to revitalise streets such as Pembroke street.

This enables the creation of CENTRAL COMMUNITY HUBS FOR THE ELDERLY and retired
community with centralised social, recreational and community support facilities,
specifically geared towards the older population in Kerry. Proposed community hub
facilities such as these are in-keeping with the ‘Slainte Care’ plan to encourage
support within a community setting. These community hubs could be developed
following on from the success of the district heating systems in-keeping with best
practice of sustainable development. As a mix between public and private
managed residence development, hubs such as these two would enable
downsizing to occur, providing greater opportunity for family homes elsewhere in
Tralee to become available rejuvenating older estates in the town.

Future of Work and Living

The retail revolution, evolving ‘remote work’ practices, smart-living, the green
economy and the automation of roles are just some of the many factors driving a
shift in employment opportunities. As a county it is widely proven that we were the
most economically impacted region in Ireland from the Covid19 pandemic because
of our reliance on key sectors in our micro-economy.

Economic resilience and diversity of employment is key to rebuilding our economy in
Kerry. We must seek to support a wider, more flexible range of industry sectors with
the same enthusiasm as our existing core industries. Kerry as a county is uniquely
positioned in an Irish context to capitalise on the movement in population who can
enable flexible and remote working because of the county’s inherent quality of life
offering.

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However, our natural scenery and landscape alone will not attract a wider range of
industries. Tralee, and Kerry as a county, needs to engage in ambitious modern,
dense sustainable development and planning with the goal of ensuring we
maximise on opportunities in the future. This is vital if Tralee is to avoid sporadic
development which has led to an unwelcome level of under-utilised brownfield sites
in the town, high vacancy levels in the retention of buildings no longer fit for modern
purposes and the hoarding of re-usable vacant buildings which must be compulsory
purchased and re-utilised if not activated.

Vacant properties and lands currently lying idle in the
urban core should be earmarked and prioritised for
significant redevelopment or demolition and
construction as appropriate. The incentivisation of infill
redevelopment should be supported, particularly on
strategic development sites or buildings. Forward
thinking plans with an ambition for quality re-
development and brownfield regeneration should be
supported and streamlined through the planning
process. Particular focus should be provided on the
amalgamation of properties on a street by street basis in
the town centre where considerable vacancy exists,
with support from local authorities to enable alternate
use, redevelopment or in specific circumstances the use
of CPO’S FOR UNDEVELOPED COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES .

Tralee Chamber welcomed the emphasis in the NPF on brownfield development
and the renewal and development of urban areas. The NPF aims to achieve a
significant proportion of future urban development on infill/brownfield development
sites within the footprint of existing urban areas. Its target is that 50% of all future
population and jobs growth must take place within the existing ‘footprint’ of urban
areas and their suburbs. We would encourage increasing the targeted 40% of new
RESIDENTIAL IN URBAN AREAS IN THE TRALEE LAP TO 50% in line with the target set out in the
NRP.

Tralee possesses strategic brownfield urban
sites and under-utilised buildings for
development, and key consideration must
be given to redevelop these valuable lands
appropriately within the current town
centre to meet the RSES goals of increased
residential and employment with a focus
on the future of work opportunities.
Ireland’s future is one of increased urbanisation, and we must focus efforts on
compact growth to accommodate more people living and working within the
existing footprint of the urban area as well as fostering a developing a town
community.

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The focus on the redevelopment and use of Tralee as a town centre should be on
what these collective lands, locations and buildings WILL BE USED FOR IN 2028 and
beyond, and not what they are currently in use for. This Development Plan must
acknowledge the importance of putting in place the infrastructure in advance of,
and to facilitate, development. The construction of enabling infrastructure such as
water, public realm, access and transport must be delivered in advance to facilitate
development. Planning must focus on supporting, facilitating and seeking out
ambitious public and private development opportunities.

Infrastructure and Access

In previous submissions to regional and local area plans, the lack of infrastructure
and inter-connectivity is often cited as a reason for why certain areas and the
county in general has under-developed. Due to the rate of expected population
growth in Tralee, and in the county as a whole, it would be beneficial to engage in
higher-density quality development through compact growth in our urban areas.

The development of significant transport projects within the county must represent
the greatest opportunity for the County Development Plan as these will serve as
enablers of sustainable economic, social and population growth for Tralee.

The lack of a clear NTA Transport Strategy for the county presents a clear challenge,
in particular in the context of the development of the M20 between Cork and
Limerick. The new County Development Plan must be underpinned by a
commitment to investment in the inter-county infrastructure within the remit of the
county council and the publication of new Active Travel and Town Mobility plans
providing for greater internal connectivity within Tralee and connecting peripheral
areas to the town. Particularly focused on sustainable mobility, the keys to which are
public transport and active travel. Specifically, it must support delivery of strategic
sustainable transport projects including an
expansive URBAN ELECTRIC PUBLIC BUS for the Tralee
area and associated infrastructure, that
integrates the MTU, Manor West and the suburbs
of Tralee to the town centre, and integrates
further with a public bus service for neighbouring
towns and villages.

Leveraging off existing and planned greenways
to extend the safe passageway for cyclists and walkers will make Kerry towns more
enticing to visitors and encourage active and sustainable tourism. Active travel
should be supported across Tralee. This will require further investment in cycling
infrastructure and improvement of the public realm to support pedestrians, that
interconnects and compliments the greenway infrastructure around the town. Tralee
must ensure that these facilities are delivered in conjunction with or in advance of
future development and are sufficient to cope with increasing demand.

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Good public transport, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure makes for liveable
communities with a lower requirement for private car use and a lower burden of
traffic congestion. We note that the objectives of the RSES is to support and seek to
strengthen these assets which should be noted in the local development plan. The
Covid19 Pandemic, and subsequent temporary mobility measures in Tralee have
taught us that better use of our public realm, under purpose-built covers is now a
critical priority for the vibrancy of our town centre in particular in the main town
square.

Of course, reduced car usage can only be achieved over time with the
development of an integrated network of alternate transport means and supporting
services. Car parking policies should reflect this expanding public transport and
sustainable mobility network, however the number of car parking spaces within
Tralee must be sustained UNTIL THE OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORT ARE ENABLED and a
supported cultural shift to public transport and active travel has begun to take
effect. This must be based on measurable data, and we call for the planned
integration through a KERRY DIGITAL STRATEGY for smart ‘beacon’ technology points to
be integrated into the planned town wide public wifi system, with an accessible
dashboard to monitor and measure key data to better plan changes to the town.

By 2030 the sale of new Diesel / Petrol vehicles is to be ceased, and our network of
public charging points is already wholly inadequate to meet current demand. All
public car parking, public visitor attractions and amenity spaces in the county must
be future proofed to ACCOMMODATE ELECTRIC VEHICLES before the end of this
development plan in 2028, which could be integrated with a strategic network of
Motorhome/Camper aires around the county.

As outlined above Tralee is a key component of the regional economy and performs
an important role in the county. The new Development Plan must build on this by
creating the right conditions for the creation of quality jobs in the right locations.
Compact growth involves locating employment hubs in close proximity to high
density residential areas, thereby eliminating or reducing the need to commute. This
should be a feature of the Development Plan. Public transport should also be
considered in this context, with employment zones located close to key transport
hubs. An excellent example of this type of development is the Centre Point Building
on the John Joe Sheehy Road and its close proximity to the railway station and Fenit-
Tralee greenway.

Town Centres

Town centres in regional locations in particular were already struggling prior to the
Covid19 pandemic but their situation is now even more perilous. While many of the
causes of this are beyond the remit of the County Development plan, the plan can
be an enabler for change. There have been numerous closures and the number of
businesses that reopen and stay open remain unknown, creating further challenges
for town centres like Tralee. The improvement of these areas must be a key objective

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particularly to support development in the town centre making it a more vibrant
place to live in, work in or visit.

“The health of the town centre often symbolises the health of
the town itself. It is therefore critical to maintain the vibrancy
and vitality of the town centre, from a commercial, social
and environmental viewpoint.” – Tralee Town Development
Plan 2009-2015

Town centres, both historic and new, need to be planned
and carefully managed in accordance with place-making
principles, ensuring a high-quality public realm. Section 5 of
the NPF relates to rural areas, and objectives 6 and 7 seek to
strengthen and diversify rural towns to be a focus for local
housing and employment growth, based on regeneration
and development that will include derelict site transformation and new technology,
such as low carbon and energy efficiency and digital connectivity.

The retail role in town centre is evolving, it is imperative that the County
Development Plan revisits the RETAIL CONTROL ZONE attributed to the town centre
streets in Tralee, and as part of the overall strategy for Tralee town takes into
consideration alternate office, community, culture and residential uses for vacated
ground floor premises no longer fit for modern retail purposes.

Further planning permission approved for ‘big-box’ retail adjacent to the existing
Retail Parks in Manor West and Manor East, added to the existing vacant space in
the existing parks, will result in circa 230,000ft2 of available retail space outside the
town centre coming on the market. In context this extra available space is just
20,000ft2 shy of the largest retail development in the Southwest Region (Mahon Point
Retail in Cork). The further expansion of out of town retail development, while a
welcome potential employer, will provide a greater challenge to town centre
commercial activity and could if not addressed encourage people away from the
town centre and into their cars which appears contradictory with the aims of the
RSES and the NPF. With Retail being the second largest employer in Kerry (14%) it is
vital that Tralee’s retail offering is protected and enhanced. To ensure that the town
centre and Manor retail offering is supportive of each other, and acts as one single
unit, an effective JOINT RETAIL STRATEGY is essential for Tralee that encourages people
to both locations in Tralee town. Currently there is a disconnect between the two
locations, which must be reversed so they operate as one integrated (infrastructure)
and connected (transport) entity.

Industrial and Environmental Challenges

The Development Plan must be underpinned by a firm commitment to be responsive
to our environmental challenges and to ensure that development occurs within
environmental limits. The entire urban area of Tralee needs to focus on its resilience

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as a built-up urban area and commit to sustainable land management and
resource efficiency in order to assist in a transition towards a LOW CARBON SOCIETY . The
maintenance of good water quality, air quality, and sustainable waste
management should be infrastructure priorities. In recent times parts of Kerry
witnessed the vulnerability of flooding and pressure on services. Kerry County
Council should work proactively with Irish Water to progress and deliver vital
infrastructure projects in order to sustain current services and enable future
development.

We are seeking as part of the County
Development Plan, and through the Strategic
Growth Plan for Tralee, for the local authority to
revisit now the out of date planning and zoning
relating to the industrial estates in CLASH AND
MONAVALLEY. Both parks are suffering from lack
of investment, identity, significant building
deterioration (Clash in particular),
environmental improvements and lack the
physical public realm and landscaping
infrastructure expected from modern industrial
parks that would attract new quality industry.
The former planning strategy to revitalise the
industrial estates based on specific industrial
sectors of high-technology and science has not
been followed through on and the focus,
coordination and development of both parks must now be revisited in order to
attract future employment. Advancement of connections to the ‘Tralee Ring-Road’
from Monavalley (Tralee Northern Relief Road from Forge Cross to Bracker O’Regan
Road via R556 junction in Lisloose), and the creation of a critical exit back on to the
Tralee Ring Road from Clash, along with advancement of the Ballymullen to Clash
Inner Relief Road would serve to improve both sites. Expansion of both locations to
lands on the Bracker O’Regan Road and Ballybeggan Racetrack should be
secondary to first maximising the potential from the existing industrial estates to
create quality employment.

The circular economy too should be considered in relation to the reduction and
reuse of waste through the procurement, waste management and delivery of
services. The Council should undertake the latest advice on green public
procurement criteria and ensure that it is sustainable in every endeavour. In
addition, the planning and management of Tralee town centre commercial activity
should facilitate access for delivery of goods factoring in LAST-MILE DELIVERY SOLUTIONS
in planned zones at the periphery of the town. If the economy is to develop further
the town should have planned delivery access and purpose built managed waste-
storage zones integrated with commercial areas in the town centre.

Kerry Airport in Farranfore, is strategically located between Tralee, Killorglin and
Killarney in the Knowledge Triangle area. There is a need for an integrated

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transportation and logistics model that better integrates public transport links to the
Airport and to the linked towns. The airport is of critical importance to the ongoing
development of the county. As part of
the Functional Area plan for the Killarney-
Tralee Hub a local area plan was
prepared to ensure that Farranfore
develops its potential as a CENTRAL
TRANSPORT HUB and as a sustainable
location for warehousing, logistics and
distribution. Land is zoned for airport
related uses, industry, light industry,
warehouse/distribution and a commercial
business park. We would support
proposals for the relocation of the
Farranfore railway station to lands adjacent to the airport, full integration with a new
bus terminal at the airport, and development of commercial freight transport and
increased tourism opportunities through the integration of the rail, road and air
network at Kerry airport.

The improvement and maintenance of smaller ports, harbours and slips is important
to the local economies of coastal areas. The Department of Transport has identified
six major ports and harbours in the region for particular attention including Fenit, An
Daingean, Kinsale, Bantry, Youghal and Baltimore. The maintenance and ongoing
development of Fenit Port and its access roads is a critical element of the county’s
infrastructure. With the advancement of the Tralee-Fenit Greenway the opportunities
for Fenit Port’s development has broadened beyond the traditional fishing, industrial
shipping and leisure industry to include a tourism and education asset which would
benefit greatly from further investment. FENIT VILLAGE must see the development of its
own Local Area Plan following the County Development Plan.

Tralee By The Sea

Waterways form an integral part of the tourism infrastructure in Kerry. Tralee has the
inherent advantage of being a large urban area on the sea, but our investment in
our existing assets does not recognise this fact. Building resilience and additionality
into the existing assets of Tralee, namely Blennerville Windmill, the Aquadome, Tralee
Town Park and the Tralee Bay Wetlands will be critical to the growth of recreation
and tourism in Tralee.

We are seeking greater emphasis on the virtues of the Canal area of Tralee from the
basin to the lock gates, and from the Blennerville Windmill location out beyond Reen
Point, as a potential economic driver of tourism, recreation and leisure that will
benefit the towns visitors and inhabitants. Sufficient analysis, proposals and reports
have already been submitted by Tralee Chamber and others for the DEVELOPMENT OF

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THE CANAL AND LEE VALLEY area, and now would is the time for the necessary
investment to actually follow through to unlock its potential.

The ‘Developing Tourism in Tralee-Action Plan to 2025’ clearly identified Tralee’s
potential to develop as the premier ‘Outdoor Adventure’ location in Ireland. The
Development plan must also take into consideration the provision of additional
tourism development areas adjacent to the town of Tralee. Strong examples of such
would be the potential re-zoning and acquisition of the FORMER JOHN A. WOODS
quarry site in Ballymacelligot on the Tralee-Castleisland road which should be re-
designated for it’s potential to be sustainably re-developed into an activity and
recreation facility. Additionally, the TRALEE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PARK & ZIPLINE study
and existing Mountain Bike Trail facility at Curaheen, Tralee should receive priority
action in the county development plan.

The LEE VALLEY MASTERPLAN published in
2000, and subsequently supported by the
then Tralee Town Council in February
2009 in their ‘Tralee Town Development
Plan 2009-2015’ (much of which remains
unrealised) must be revisited in the
County Development Plan. In particular
the ‘Tralee Town Development Plan’ and
the ‘Developing Tourism in Tralee’ reports must form a basis for the new Strategic
Growth Plan we have called for above.

Conclusion

The consultation on the Development Plan comes at an important time for Tralee
and for the wider Kerry region, given the current economic challenges being faced,
following years of stagnated growth and the more recent pandemic. Tralee will play
a vital role in the County’s economic recovery when Covid-19 restrictions begin to
ease. In light of the targets for growth that are forecast over the coming years for
Tralee, an ambitious vision must be reflected throughout the new Development Plan.
Investment in enabling infrastructure is essential both for future development and for
the renewal of existing built up areas. Without improvements to key elements of
land-use, infrastructure, transport, and the public realm, Tralee will be unable to
meet its compact growth and brownfield regeneration targets. This will result in low
density sprawl and creation of employment in a decentralised manner. Tralee
Chamber acknowledges the significant challenges that region faces in terms of
development. With a languishing population, employment shortage and economic
challenges, the planning and development of the area must be considered
carefully. The new Development Plan must support the growth of Tralee in order for it
to play an integral role in the Kerry region. In particular, we call on the Kerry County
Development Plan to commit to:

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• Consistency with the vision and objectives in the National Planning Framework and
RSES in the hierarchy for Tralee as a Key Town with a targeted 30% increase in
population

• Pursuing planning policies in line with compact growth, brownfield regeneration,
and future-use development to maximise commercial and residential development
in the town centre

• Ensuring the development of enabling infrastructure to meet the needs of Tralee’s
planned population growth

• Development and regeneration of Tralee town centre and urban hub through
careful sustainable planning and a high-quality public realm

• Creation of smart-town enablers for Tralee through the Kerry Digital Strategy

• Co-ordination with the rest of the Kerry region and Knowledge Triangle to ensure
consistency in planning and development across county

• Prioritisation of the delivery of sustainable public transport and active travel
projects

• Development of Community Hubs for the Elderly in Moyderwell and Balloonagh

• Revival of the Monavalley and Clash Industrial estates for job creation

• Development of a Logistics and Transport hub in Farranfore

• Development of a LAP for Fenit Village

• Revival of the Lee Valley Masterplan and investment in the Tralee Canal

• Sustainable development and land management to improve the town’s resilience
and vacancy rates

For Further Reference: Email Ken Tobin, CE, Tralee Chamber Alliance ken@tralee.ie
Further Reading:

Tralee Chamber General Election Manifesto 2020: https://tralee.ie/wp-
content/uploads/2020/01/General-Election-Manifesto-2020.pdf

Joint submission from Kerry Chambers Network on the RSES: https://tralee.ie/wp-
content/uploads/2019/03/JOINT-SUBMISSION-KERRY-BUSINESS.pdf

Tralee Lee Valley Masterplan:
http://docstore.kerrycoco.ie/KCCWebsite/planning/areaction/leevalley.pdf

Tralee Town Development Plan 2009-2015:
https://www.kerrycoco.ie/planning/planning-policy/town-development-
plans/tralee-town-development-plan-2009-2015/