Study envisions Ballina as a key economic driver for north Mayo area

Ballina Municipal District members have reacted positively to a presentation on the Ballina/North Mayo Cluster Study.

The presentation was made at the January monthly meeting of Ballina MD, which was held online yesterday.

The study outlines a high level strategy, entitled Vision 2030 – North Mayo Economic Gateway, to 'unlock' opportunities to further develop the established linkages and synergies within the region, including capitalising on the strategic positioning of the Atlantic Economic Corridor and the Wild Atlantic Way.

“Ballina will be a central economic driver for north Mayo within this gateway,” said Colm Ryan, project director with MKO Planning and Environmental Consultants, who prepared the report in conjunction with Repucon Consulting.

Mr. Ryan added: “The successful implementation of Vision 2030 will require support and investment within the individual and collective strengths which characterise the overall region. The North Mayo Economic Gateway will have a complementary role to the Castlebar-Westport Economic Growth Cluster in the overall development of Co. Mayo over the next decade.”

Mark O'Connell from Repucon said: “We see this as an oppotunity for a new dawn in Ballina and north Mayo in terms of the vision mapped out in the plan.”

The study identified a number of economic opportunities, including the following: new enterprise infrastructure as a major entrepreneurial stimulus (e.g. Military Barracks), heritage of multinationals located in Ballina, renewable energy focus aligned with marine sector, development of existing retail base to build on Ballina's position as a north Mayo retail centre, quality of life associated with urban living and access to natural amenities, tourism exploration base and gateway to north Mayo visitor experience, technology start-up location focused on emerging and niche sectors, blended living/work in a new approach to urban regeneration, and developing the region as a second site or regional site for multinationals.

The study also identified a number of challenges, such as: connectivity and road infrastructure, scale of Ballina town centre dereliction, capacity of rural towns to service inward investment, existing skills capacity for employments in current economic sectors, perception of peripherality, commercial vacancty rates, existing levels of accommodation stock to grow tourism base, third level education presence in north Mayo region, retaining talent to live and work in the area, aging demographic, and availability of advanced industry sites.

Among the main objectives are: developing Ballina as a place to live and work and accelerate regional growth through the creation of 'Ireland's Market Town of the Future'; developing an international investment and innovation positioning for north Mayo to attract foreign direct investment, enterprise start-ups and future industry investment; establishing north Mayo as a sustainable tourism destination through 'exceptional visitor experiences' and a tourism infrastructure that reflects the essence of the regional destination; making the area a regional location of choice for multinational relocation of second sites and regional works bases; and developing Ireland's green energy innovation hub, accelerated by a thriving renewable energy cluster.

In terms of enhancing and diversifying regional tourism, the study identified Belmullet, Killala and Enniscrone as representing an 'initial starting point' in further integrating the Wild Atlantic Way within the fabric of the North Mayo Economic Gateway. Other settlements were recognised for their own 'unique visitor experiences' also, ranging from Swinford's historic role in the Western Corridor Railway to Foxford's accessibility to the River Moy.

There was a positive welcome for the study from local councillors, who highlighted that funds will now be needed for projects.

In relation to that, Tom Gilligan, the director of services for the region, said there are programmes in Project Ireland 2040 and the Programme for Government that could be linked in to, especially when it comes to the town centre focus.

The Ballina MD manager, Declan Turnbull, added that there are a lot of positives in the study that will help kick-start a new initiative.