A Baseline Analysis was carried out in the project area with respect to the characteristics of the area as it is currently. It included an analysis of existing

• community,
• housing,
• employment,
• economy,
• transport,
• infrastructure,
• historical and archaeological features, and
• environmental aspects.

The next stage of the project involves the preparation of a Strategic Framework for the City Edge area which will set out a high level strategy for regeneration of the area to create a new liveable, sustainable and climate resilient urban quarter over the coming decades.  The Strategic Framework will be informed by –

• The Baseline Study which gives the current profile of the area;
• The Emerging Preferred Scenario which sets out a high-level direction for the project in terms of type of development and location;
• Supporting studies including:
  • Movement Framework;
  • Economic Analysis;
  • Housing Analysis;
  • Parks and Open Space Strategy;
  • Surface Water Analysis and SuDS Design;
  • Climate Action Study;
• The issues raised in the submissions received during the public consultation process;
• Best practice models from similar regeneration projects including international examples.

The Strategic Framework will give a high-level direction for how the City Edge area should be redeveloped.

The next phase will start later in 2022 and will involve the preparation of a more detailed statutory plan setting out in a more comprehensive way and at a finer level of detail, how the area should evolve over a shorter timeframe.  The preparation of the statutory plan will involve significant further consultation and engagement with all stakeholders including residents, community groups, businesses, employees, interest groups, land owners, state bodies, state agencies and Government Departments. Once adopted, the statutory plan will provide detailed guidance for how the City Edge Area will evolve and develop into an attractive, sustainable and climate resilient mixed use, higher-density urban quarter.