Population and Settlement
- North Tipperary in Context
- Current & Projected Population
- Settlement Pattern
- Settlement Strategy
- Preferred Settlement Strategy
- Existing Plans
- Social Inclusion & Universal Access
3.4 County Settlement Strategy
The County Housing Strategy identified a need for an average requirement of 851 housing units per year. It can be assumed, based on the population projections outlined in Section 3.3, that an average annual requirement of 851 units will continue throughout the life of this Plan giving a total requirement of 5,106 between 2002 and 2009. The location of these houses will be determined by the following factors:
- The settlement strategy outlined in this Plan
- Local housing requirements
- Market Forces and
- The various Town Development Plans and Local Area Plans.
Section 3.3 demonstrated that the population of most rural areas is increasing at the expense of some smaller urban areas and villages. In view of the limited number of housing units that will be required annually, and in order to establish the most effective settlement pattern for the allocation of these new houses, the following settlement options are presented:
3.4.1 Do Nothing
Allow the County to develop naturally without intervention.
Likely Result: This will result in continued pressure from: the Limerick housing market in villages such as Newport and Ballina; rural housing in the Limerick catchment and the immediate areas around the towns and large settlements and rural areas in close proximity to the lake.
3.4.2 Promote the rural area and allow towns grow naturally
The rural parts of the County are attractive places to live and this is currently the lifestyle option for a significant sector of the population, which is confirmed, in the significant rise in the rural population.
Likely Result: While the towns of Nenagh and Thurles increased in population between 1996 and 2002, the surrounding rural population increased substantially with a 21.8% increase in the rural area around Thurles and 16.9% increase in the rural area around Nenagh. This trend if continued will undermine the small villages and reduce achievement of critical mass in the main settlement centres. There is increasing social imbalance in some settlement centres, with over-supply of social-to-private housing.
3.4.3 Promote all settlement centres equally
All centres have serviced land that is currently available, suitable, accessible and affordable. While all the towns have urgent employment requirements, high-growth, high-tech industries, including indigenous industries, are generally attracted to areas that have existing successful economies and can benefit from economies of scale.
Likely Result: Spreading economic activity across the County will dilute our competitiveness and undermine the potential for economies of scale.
3.4.4 Create a hierarchy of growth nodes
Nenagh is our County town and is a regional nodal centre with a combined catchment population of 35,000 in the County. Thurles catchment extends into South Tipperary and is the main retail centre on the eastern side of the County. The smaller market towns of Roscrea and Templemore will continue to provide for their immediate catchments and local needs; and the many villages provide centres for rural communities, and the open countryside will continue to provide for local need.
Likely Result: Economic competitiveness is improved where there is a critical size of population and where retail, business and industry can benefit from economies of scale and agglomerations. Therefore, significant retail and economic activity should be located in Thurles and Nenagh. Secondary centres such as Roscrea and Templemore will benefit through stronger links with Thurles and Nenagh and also improved links with Limerick.
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