The East Coast Corridor: spatial development strategies for the Dublin-Belfast metropolitan regions

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the European perspective concerning spatial development strategies in relation to metropolitan corridors and to assess the role of these strategies specifically on the metropolitan areas of Dublin and Belfast. The paper also considers the impact of development and investment policies on the Dublin-Belfast corridor. The structure of the paper is in two broad parts; the first part deals with the development and planning policy issues in the Dublin region. This is followed by an overview of the Northern Ireland perspective and the Regional Development Strategy which incorporates the vision of an outward looking, dynamic and livable region and where diversity is a strength rather than a division. The discussion within the paper considers the intra and inter-regional development prospects for the Dublin-Belfast corridor. Although further research is necessary, broad indicators are used to consider some of the development impacts within the corridor.