The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a broad national plan for strategic planning and sustainable development of urban and rural areas, with the objectives of securing balanced regional development and a sustainable approach to the form and pattern of future development (a ‘compact growth’ approach). The necessary co-ordination of plans at regional and local level to inform decision-making with the NPF is recognised and provided for in legislation.
A cornerstone policy of the NPF is to achieve a greater regional balance in population and employment growth. The goal of which is to see a roughly 50:50 distribution of growth between the Eastern and Midland region, and the Southern and Northern and Western Regions, with 75% of the growth to be outside of Dublin and its suburbs.
The NPF also targets the five cities (Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford) for 50% of overall national growth between them, with Ireland’s large and smaller towns, villages and rural areas accommodating the other 50% growth.
Census 2022 indicated that between 2016 and 2022, growth in the Eastern and Midland region accounted for 56% of national population growth, somewhat ahead of 2040 NPF projected share of 49%. This compares with approximately 70% in the previous intercensal period.
The promotion of city-based population and employment growth is an important target for the NPF. NPO2(a) of the strategy sets “A target of half (50%) of future population and employment growth will be focused in the existing five cities and their suburbs” as a means of ensuring cities deliver as ‘accessible centres of scale’.
In addition to Ireland’s five cities being targeted for growth in order to become cities of scale in the NPF, the Framework also included five regional centres as part of the strategy approach to strengthen Ireland’s overall urban structure and act as focal points for compact growth.
The NPF established a focus on the delivery of ‘structural housing targets’ that are aligned to the development objectives of the NPF. Through the hierarchy of development plans established in legislation, specific housing targets are set out in each City and County Development Plan, informed by the targets contained within the NPF and regional strategies (RSES).
Census 2022 data shows that the proportion of national population growth achieved in the five cities was 32% of overall growth. While this is below the 50% NPF target, there are positive indicators in relation to city growth, noting that the corresponding five-city growth figure for the period 2002-22 was only 24% of the national total.
The move towards a more regionally balanced and city-focused growth will be important in ensuring effective regional development and in supporting overall competitiveness, economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and climate adaption.
