6 SCOT Analysis & Summary of Needs

Strengths Challenges

Culture and Heritage

• Rich natural and cultural heritage sitting on the Wild Atlantic Way, 300km of walking trails, a vibrant creative sector, Yeats country and archaeological sites and monuments of national and international importance

• Strandhill has an Eden Award recognising it for excellence in sustainable tourism

• Sligo Town holds a purple flag award for excellence in the night time economy

• Sligo food trail

Infrastructure and Accessibility

• Major infrastructure projects such as Western Distributor Road completed in Sligo Town, N4, N15/16, and the new Garvogue Bridge

• Growing internet connectivity across the county with large decreases in households without internet access

• Accessible via road, rail and air

• Sligo has large amounts of land banks suitable for development

• Strong wastewater treatment facilities – can service a population of 80,000

• Local authorities are stakeholders in Ireland West Airport and as such there is good collaboration

Infrastructure and Accessibility

• Peripheral location in the Northwest with lack of regional connectivity

• Limited rail connectivity

• Absence of motorway to Dublin and road network to Belfast and Galway mostly sub-standard

• Traffic congestion in Sligo Town

• Lack of public transport especially in rural areas

• Need for more serviced enterprise parks near Sligo Town

• Fibre broadband blackspots and rural areas with poor mobile coverage

• Absence of local gas network infrastructure

• Lack of identification and measurement of ICT infrastructure across the county

• Housing

• Lack of housing availability and supply

• Quality of housing available

• Planning permission viewed as difficult to obtain Town Centres

• High commercial vacancy rate which is also having a negative impact on town centre

• Majority of vacant units are not fit for purpose

• Lack of data on property ownership inhibits ability to bring vacant units back into use

Opportunities

Infrastructure and Accessibility

• Repurpose vacant or derelict buildings as innovation centres, venues for the creative sector and recreational spaces

• Promote Ireland West Airport as the best connection to Sligo County and the wider region

• Remote working / digital hubs, particularly in rural areas

• Fit for purpose town centre

Education and Training

• New Technological University status for IT Sligo and St Angela’s College.

• Creation of an educational quarter / centre in Sligo Town

• Promotion of MSLETB training for further education and upskilling of SME’s and businesses

• Open up St Angela’s Campus to community events

Environment and Sustainability

• Potential to become a leading Green county in Ireland as well as a leader in sustainable tourism and other areas

• Greening Sligo Town through implementation of the new public realm plan, creating more climate friendly environment

• Increasing the local production, supply and use of green sources of energy

• Develop offshore renewable energy infrastructure to meet future demand

Threats

Culture and Heritage

• Failure to protect Sligo’s special areas of conservation and natural heritage could lead to further decline e.g. Knocknarea and Queen Maeve’s cairn

• Lack of Conservation Plans in place by relevant responsible agencies for the protection and management of Heritage Sites in Sligo

Housing

• Failure to address housing issues will result in barriers to investment and meeting population targets and inadequate provision for the existing community

• Shortage of developers in Sligo could impact housing supply

Environment and Sustainability

• Climate change will have a significant impact on the people of Sligo, its natural landscape and environment, agriculture and businesses including those in the SME sector

• Failure to address the biodiversity crisis could see further decline in native species and ecosystems such as forests and peatland which could threaten future generations livelihoods and health

• Not enough electric vehicle charging points currently to meet 2030 Climate Action target