What makes a town or city truly liveable in the twenty first century? This was the central question at the third FutureECOS regional stakeholder meeting held in Waterford this month. The project, part of the Interreg Europe programme, aims to create sustainable living spaces by involving public and private actors alongside local citizens.
Updates on the project’s recent milestones were delivered first by Dr Rhiannon Carey Bates, EU Projects Officer at the Southern Regional Assembly. She highlighted the success of recent interregional learning events and the ongoing territorial analysis that underpins the project. Following this, Anna Sellers, Economic and Policy Analyst, discussed the strategic opportunity of extending the Dublin to Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC) into the region. This was followed by a presentation from Mary Molloy, Executive Planner, who outlined the review process for the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES), a twenty year framework for the region’s development.
A key part of the morning was a creative stakeholder workshop that used a “three window cartoon” exercise to explore the concept of future-proof living. Participants worked in groups to illustrate the common challenges, practical solutions, and desired futures for the region’s cities, towns, and rural areas. This visual approach allowed stakeholders to map out how themes like housing and transport mobility can be integrated into a “living corridor” that serves all communities. The insights gathered will help inform future policy submissions and regional investment priorities as the RSES review continues.
The event underscored the necessity of a unified policy approach to ensure that the South remains competitive. The next phase of the project includes an interregional visit to Timișoara, Romania, where delegates will study smart and inclusive urban development. By learning from European neighbours and listening to local voices, the Southern Regional Assembly hopes to design a region that is ready for the challenges of the future.
