Mr Eoghan Murphy T.D. Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government today (11th January) announced details of a second call for proposals under the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).
The URDF is playing a vital role in achieving compact urban growth, one of the key strategic objectives identified in the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan under Project Ireland 2040.
As a key activator of Project Ireland 2040, the URDF, one of four funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, is focussed on supporting applicant led projects that will assist in the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and large towns.
The URDF operates on a competitive, bid-based Exchequer grant basis. Proposals under the second call must involve innovative and transformational integrated urban regeneration projects that align with local Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) and in the case of Metropolitan areas the relevant Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP).
Speaking about URDF projects, already supported and now in progress, Minister Murphy reflected on the importance and early success of the investment programme.
“In keeping with the intentions of Project Ireland 2040, the URDF represents a more integrated and tailored approach to the provision of Government investment and is a move away from the siloed policies, thinking and funding of the past. The significant pipeline of projects already approved under the first call is set to have a transformational impact on our cities and large towns. The diversity of this first tranche of projects demonstrates the broad focus and responsive nature of the URDF. Through the URDF, successful applicants are receiving targeted support for innovative holistic solutions to the issues that have prevented the regeneration and rejuvenation of our cities and large towns”.
In respect of the second call the Minister urged local authorities to avail of the opportunities presented by the second call.
“For too long our cities and large towns have been blighted by rundown and poorly utilised areas. With the launch of this second call I am urging local authorities to grasp the opportunity presented to them through the URDF and to embrace the challenge to reimagine these areas and consider how to harness their potential so that they contribute positively to our communities.
The National Planning Framework, unlike previous similar strategies, is underpinned by significant Exchequer capital investment through the URDF. The Exchequer funding support is in place. €550 million is available to support projects up to 2022 and a total of €2 billion available up to 2027.
For the first time this innovative catalyst Fund provides planning authorities with the opportunity to coordinate their planned regeneration and rejuvenation of our cities and large towns with a stream of tailored Exchequer capital investment which will ensure that the right project is happening at the right time and in the right place.”
Applications will open to local authorities on 1st February 2020. The closing date for applications under this second call is 12 noon on 31st March 2020.
Ends
Notes to the Editor
The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and NDP. This is to enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and towns and to ensure that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.
Call 1
Under Call 1 in July 2018, bids were invited from all public bodies for funding support from the URDF. A total of 189 applications were received. The application process was competitive. On 26 November 2018, following an assessment process, Minister Murphy announced URDF support for a total of 88 projects throughout the country.
Call 2
Call 2 will again be based on competitive bids. There will be some refinements to the second call in order to focus on NPF priority actions and locations.
- Call 2 is open to local authorities only, who, being the planning authority, are best placed to prioritise and integrate proposals in their operational areas. Collaborations with non-local authority partners continue to be encouraged but in all cases, the lead applicant must be a local authority.
- Applicants will be required to demonstrate a clear and direct linkage between the proposal and the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) and in the case of Metropolitan areas the relevant Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP).
- The primary focus of the second call will be on supporting integrated urban developments that enhance the urban area in question so that it becomes an attractive and vibrant place in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.