Revitalising the North-East – O’Brien announces €35.1 million for Regeneration Projects

From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 

Works include ‘remote working centre’ in Cavan; Dundalk regeneration; Masterplan for new urban quarter in Monaghan Town

Investment will provide much needed stimulus during economic recovery

The Minister for Housing, Local Government

and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, today announced €35.1 million in funding for three regeneration projects in the North-East region of Cavan, Louth and Monaghan. The projects are being funded under ‘Call 2’ of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). The URDF part-funds projects aimed at enhancing urban areas to make them more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest. The three local authorities, which will deliver these multi-annual projects, will receive this funding.

The projects for which URDF support have been approved are:

• Abbeylands Regeneration Project (Cavan County Council) – €14.49 million

• St. Nicholas Quarter and Backlands Regeneration (Dundalk) (Louth County Council) – €7.49 million

• Dublin Street Regeneration (Monaghan County Council) – €13.11 million

The department will now contact the local authorities on the next steps regarding funding. The projects announced today will augment the existing pipeline of 87 URDF-supported projects across the country for which just under €300 million has already been allocated. Details of the provisional funding allocations for URDF projects in other Project Ireland 2040 investment regions not already announced will be announced in the coming weeks.

All selected projects support the National Planning Framework’s ‘national strategic outcome’ of compact growth, a particular focus of the second call for URDF proposals. The URDF aims to facilitate a greater proportion of residential and commercial development, supported by infrastructure, services and amenities, within the existing built-up areas of larger urban settlements.

Announcing the provisional allocations this morning, Minister O’Brien said:

“This funding will support projects in the North-East that will enhance quality of life for many people. The projects are all about making these areas more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest. These three projects focus on regenerating town centres, an important priority for this Government, through a mixture of works to create public spaces, centres for working and community, and works to connect areas in the towns. I believe this funding can be a catalyst for regeneration, development and growth. It will also provide much-needed economic stimulus and job creation in Cavan, Louth and Monaghan as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic.”

Minister O’Brien added:

“Compact growth was the focus of this round of URDF funding. The projects the Government is funding are geared towards sustainable growth of our urban settlements, supported by jobs, houses, services and amenities, as envisaged by the National Planning Framework. As well as compact growth, the fund supports our other national planning aims. In that sense the URDF is a unique approach to Government funding. Whilst many funds are for specific projects, the URDF funds a diverse set of integrated projects with integrated aims. I look forward to working with Cavan, Louth and Monaghan County Councils to progress these important projects.

“I understand there will be some disappointment in terms of projects which were unsuccessful and my Department will engage with Local Authorities and provide feedback in respect of unsuccessful proposals.”

The projects were chosen after a rigorous assessment process, overseen by a project advisory board consisting of Government departments, State agencies and national and international experts in areas such as building, architecture and planning. In total, the department received 76 project proposals. Each local authority submitted at least one application. Today’s announcement honours the Programme for Government commitment to continue the URDF.

Cavan County Council project

Abbeylands Regeneration Project - €14.49 million

This projects aims to stimulate the development of the Abbeylands Cultural Quarter and to regenerate this important town centre. It is the follow-on capital element to a related Masterplan for the Abbeylands area of Cavan Town Centre. The Masterplan was funded under ‘Call 1’.

This URDF-supported project will involve:

• site assembly in a number of areas of the town

• construction of a ‘remote working centre’, and

• construction of a cultural/community services centre.

These buildings are to be positioned around significant public realm works incorporating central civic spaces and linked pedestrian streets and public spaces.

The €14.49 million in approved funding is in addition to €262,500 in approved URDF funding for the Cavan Town Centre project (a ‘Call 1’ project).

Total URDF funding approved to date: €14.76 million

Louth County Council project

St Nicholas Quarter and Backlands Regeneration (Dundalk) - €7.49 million

This project aims to reinvigorate and transform St Nicholas Quarter, an area that has experienced high levels of vacancy, piecemeal/ad-hoc development and dereliction over the last 30 years. This transformative project will stimulate the development of high-quality higher density residential schemes and a rejuvenated urban quarter.

This project will consist of:

• Public realm works to the Northern Gateway, Bridge St, Linenhall St, Northgate St and Peace Park,

• Feasibility/Preliminary Design of project, and

• Site assembly required to facilitate public realm works.

The €7.49 million in approved funding is in addition to €1.01 million in approved URDF funding for two projects, the ‘Long Walk Quarter Dundalk’ and ‘Westgate Vision’ projects (‘Call 1’ projects).

Total URDF funding approved to date: €8.50 million

Monaghan County Council project

Dublin Street Regeneration - €13.1 million

This project aims to regenerate a large brownfield site in the core of Monaghan Town. The proposal includes the creation of new linkages between land-locked brownfield lands and the existing town street network, and the creation of new public spaces. The project will deliver the infrastructure works and development of suitable, serviced and accessible development lands, creating the physical environment for the development of new buildings for mixed-use purposes.

The proposal involves two sub-projects:

• Dublin Street South – creation of new, high quality linkages between the core retail area of the town, the new shopping centre and existing civic uses.

• Dublin Street North – development of a Masterplan for the area, to include the provision of three new development block areas and areas of opportunity for reuse/adaptation and infill development in the town. The Masterplan will define a new urban quarter.

The proposal has the potential to be a transformative place-making intervention in the core of the town.

The €13.11 million in approved funding is in addition to €1.29 million in approved URDF funding for the Dublin Street Regeneration project (a ‘Call 1’ project).

Total URDF funding approved to date: €14.40 million