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The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, today announced €30.4 million in funding for five regeneration projects in the Mid-East investment region of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. 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:
• Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road (Kildare County Council) – €10.23 million
• Naas Town Renewal Masterplan (Kildare County Council) – €3.49 million
• Maynooth Town Centre Renewal – Strengthening the Grid (Kildare County Council) – €1.90 million
• Flowerhill and Abbeylands Regeneration (Meath County Council) – €7.66 million
• Bray Harbour Area Integrated Regeneration (Wicklow County Council) – €7.14 million
The Department will now contact the local authorities on the next steps regarding funding. Today’s announcement brings the total approved URDF funding for this investment region to date to €59.72 million. Details of the remaining provisional funding allocations for ‘Call 2’ URDF projects in other Project Ireland 2040 investment regions, not already announced, will be announced later this week.
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 Kildare, Meath and Wicklow that will enhance quality of life for many people. The projects are all about making these areas even more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest.
“Kildare will see significant funding through this announcement, with €10 million investment for the Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road. This will help Celbridge to develop in a way that utilises public transport infrastructure, including through increased connectivity between Celbridge Town and Hazelhatch train stations. Today's URDF funding will also spur on town centre renewals in Maynooth and Naas.
“The Flowerhill and Abbeylands Regeneration project in Navan is an exciting project. The project’s mix of improvement works and the proposed park and community facility can be a catalyst for much-needed development.
“The Bray Harbour project exemplifies the role the URDF plays in funding works that can release sites for future development, all with the aim of regenerating an area with so much potential. Overall, 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 Kildare, Meath and Wicklow as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic.
“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 Government-funded programmes are for specific types of projects, the URDF funds a diverse set of integrated projects with integrated aims. I look forward to working with Kildare, Meath and Wicklow County Councils to progress these important projects.”
He concluded:
“I understand there will be some disappointment in terms of projects which were unsuccessful. My Department will engage with and work 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.
This project provides essential infrastructure to support compact consolidated development in Celbridge by realising the full potential of zoned lands south and east of the River Liffey. It will facilitate the delivery of social infrastructure in close proximity to the town centre, public transport services, schools, community facilities and employment hubs. It will also support wider strategic impacts on the public realm and the expansion and development potential of the town centre.
This project is the follow-on capital element to the successful URDF ‘Call 1’-funded project, which provided technical support for the comprehensive and integrated advancement of the Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road, a project identified for its positive wider impacts to its adjoining settlement surrounds.
The project switches the focus of social infrastructure development from the north to the south side of Celbridge to capitalise on the extent of public transport infrastructure there, with a particular focus on social infrastructure in the vicinity of Hazelhatch train station, while promoting the concepts of liveable compactness.
The project will also support national sustainable mobility principles by enhancing connectivity between Celbridge Town and Hazelhatch train station. It will provide high-quality walking and cycling linkages from residential areas to employment areas and public transport services, thereby increasing permeability and sustainable mobility within the area more generally.
Works to this project will include:
• Phases 3-7 of the Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road Scheme.
• Delivery of a second bridge over the River Liffey to access ‘Key Development Areas’.
The project will support the preparation of a Naas Town Renewal Masterplan for the historic core of Naas. The aim is to initiate the transformative regeneration of the town centre through a plan-led, evidence-based, urban design and economic focused approach.
The works to be supported include:
• Naas Town Renewal – preparation of a master plan
• Background Assessments - Feasibility Study for The Castle Quarter, and a conservation management plan and archaeological survey for St. David’s Castle and grounds
• Site assembly of key sites within the town centre
• Transportation Interventions – progression of these works to planning and detailed design stage
This project will support the preparation of a Master Plan. The plan will be informed by an urban design analysis and extensive stakeholder and public consultation. It will aim to maximise the development potential for the urban block structure and prepare key town renewal projects so as to increase town centre living.
Works under this ‘Call 2’ project include:
• ‘Maynooth Town Centre Renewal – Strengthening the Grid’ – Preparation of Masterplan
• District Heating Exploration Project – to determine the potential for a district heating scheme serving the commercial and residential community
• Development of key town renewal projects – these will be identified in the Master Plan
• Harbourfield Park - the development to detail design and tender stage
The €15.64 million in approved funding is in addition to €5.53 million in approved funding for the ‘Call 1’ project, ‘Letterkenny 2040’.
Total URDF funding approved to date: €21.17 million
This is a public realm, amenity enhancements project with one historic refurbishment. It will be the catalyst for development within an area of decline and dereliction that was a hive of activity in the past. The aim is to address the impediments to redevelopment and regeneration by implementing the actions contained in the development framework produced through the successful URDF-funded ‘Call 1’ project. The works include:
• Streetscape Enhancement - strategic public amenity enhancement will include upgraded surface paving, new pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes, street trees, lighting and furniture
• River Park - strategic public amenity enhancement connecting to a wider greenway network. Works will include planting as well as pedestrian and cycle paths with associated lighting, furniture and wayfinding measures on the northern side of the River Blackwater
• Community, Cultural and Educational Facility - social infrastructure for the local community located within a restored building
• Frontage Improvement - works will involve the restoration and lighting of historic frontages to highlight Flower Hill’s built heritage
The €7.66 million in approved funding is in addition to €10.32 million in approved URDF funding for four ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Ashbourne Road and Public Realm Improvement’; ‘Flowerhill Regeneration Project’; ‘Navan Active Land Management Project’ and ‘Railway Street Regeneration and County Archive’.
Total URDF funding approved to date: €17.98 million
This project focuses on the regeneration of the Bray Harbour Area and releasing various sites for future development through a series of integrated elements. The overall vision is to re-imagine and regenerate the strategically located waterfront area of Bray; to increase economic activity, amenity, and connectivity to public transport, the sea-front and esplanade. The aim is to deliver a vibrant public amenity that will be of great benefit to residents and visitors alike. Works envisaged include:
• Amenity and Public Realm – extension of amenity areas, improvement of streetscape, parking, cycle provision and sporting facilities
• Promenade Board Walk - linking the promenade with the harbour
• Cycle Bridge - to relieve a pinch point at the Dargle Bridge crossing
• Relocation of boat storage to the north of the harbour
The €7.14 million in approved funding is in addition to €13.42 million in approved URDF funding for three ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Bray Public Transport Bridge’; ‘Arklow Historic Town Core’; and ‘Wicklow Town’.
Total URDF funding approved to date: €20.56 million
Ends