Letterkenny Chamber has officially submitted its observations on the Draft First Revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF), advocating for the urgent recognition of the unique needs of the North West region. As the region continues to experience underinvestment in critical infrastructure, the Chamber calls for balanced regional development to ensure the future growth and prosperity of Letterkenny and the surrounding areas.
Our key asks that should be reflected in the final document:
- Recognise the City Status of NW City Region which is the 4th largest urban agglomeration on the island and the only City Region North of Galway / Dublin line. A strong City Region is essential to support the successful development of the wider NW region. The Chamber calls for parity with other cities to unlock the full economic potential of the area.
- Fully support and designate Letterkenny as a Centre for Growth and Urban Centre of Scale in the North West.
- Address the Critical Infrastructure deficit. Donegal remains the only county in Ireland without motorway or rail access. The submission stresses that without strategic investment in transportation infrastructure, including roads and rail, the region will continue to lag behind.
- Investment bias in key enabling infrastructure is urgently required to address persistent lack of investment. Further to this we are asking government to provide a stimulus package for the Northern and Western Region (€570m) representing 2% of the regions GDP.
- The potential of NW city region be recognised in terms of its economic development potential in same way as other Cross-border regions are presented in the NPF.
- The submission also highlights the potential of emerging industries in the region, particularly in renewable energy, RegTech, and FinTech. The Chamber advocates for strategic investment in these sectors, alongside improvements in broadband and energy infrastructure, to make the North West a hub of innovation.
- Addressing the housing shortages in the region, the Chamber notes that the lack of affordable and available housing is stifling economic growth and recruitment. The submission calls for a coordinated, all-agency approach to ramp up housing developments, including both social and private sector solutions.
Claire McDonough, President of Letterkenny Chamber said of the submission “We are at a critical juncture. The National Planning Framework can either perpetuate the imbalance between regions or be the catalyst for a new era of inclusive growth. Letterkenny and the North West have the potential to be an economic powerhouse, but only if we see real, committed year on year investment in infrastructure, housing, and key industries. ”
The full submission can be read here Letterkenny Chamber NPF Review Final Submission
