This article is from page 17 of the 2012-06-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
A NEW roadmap for the development of Shannon into an international gateway has been laid out by Clare County Council in the terms and conditions of a new development plan for the town.
Taking on from where the 20112017 Clare County Development Plan left off, the new Shannon Town & Environs Local Area Plan has set out its goals for the development of Shannon, with the promotion of the airport and its hinterland seen as the key driver in the town’s progress over the next decade.
The local plan has pledged to play its part “to facilitate the development and expansion of Shannon”, which could now be in the offing as the airport prepares to take control of its own destiny with independence from the Dublin Airport Authority in the coming months.
And, part of these expansion plans for the airport envisaged in the council blueprint include the development of “an international air freight cargo hub” and “the development of innovative initiatives that harness the potential of the airport including a residential flight school, global logistics centre for humanitarian aid, unmanned aerospace systems and a centre for space collaboration”.
As part of paving the way for these ambitions plans for the airport, what has been termed a “core strategy” of the local area plan is to “ensure that sufficient lands are zoned at appropriate locations to meet all envisaged land use requirements of the area over the lifetime of the local area plan”.
The local area plan has also pledged “in collaboration with other agencies, to prepare a high level Strategic Plan, to identify key priority projects and developments capable of being accommodated at the Shannon Airport lands, Shannon Free Zone and Westpark”.
The draft goes on to highlight Shannon as “a key hub” both for national and international air travel, “a gateway to Ireland’s primary tourist locations” and “a driver” for county and region’s economic development.
“In this regard the plan will seek to ensure the growth and development of Shannon Airport and to harness its full potential, in line with national, regional and county development policy. The designation of a Strategic Development Area encompassing the airport lands reinforces this commitment,” it says.
‘Strategic Development Areas’ are areas identified within the plan area where specific planning and development objectives, land use policies and or master development plans have been identified for the future development of such designated area.