‘Business case’ for Abbeylands project in Cavan due in 2022
A “detailed business case” is the next step for Cavan County Council to progress plans for the €14.49 million redevelopment of the Abbeylands area.
With “short-term” property acquisitions completed in relation to the former McIntyre’s site and Donohoe’s Foodfare, once the business assessment is finalised the local authority will move towards seeking Part 8 Planning for the various essential elements of the plan.
Described as “transformative” by Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien when he travelled to Cavan last year to confirm funding, the landmark project looks to redevelop under-utilised town core lands as a people-friendly plaza with easy access to surrounding streets.
Central to the new public space will be the Franciscan Friary with its iconic bell tower, while the council intends to incorporate a Remote Working Centre at the former McIntyre’s site, and a Community Services Hub at Donohoe’s Foodfare, purchased in 2021 for close to €750,000.
The two new buildings will frame the site of the Old Abbey, creating a new civic space, with a second, raised platform-type public space proposed for Abbey Street.
New pedestrianised streets will link to Main Street and Bridge Street, creating over 4,500m² of new, pedestrianised public spaces.
Director of Services, Brendan Jennings, explained said that a preliminary business case was accepted as part of the process made by the council for funding. “Now we have to complete a detailed business case,” he said.
“After that step is complete we’ll move onto Part 8 planning process for some of the elements of the plan.”
Redesign
At an earlier public consultation stage, the council hired DHB Architects which had a guiding hand in the impressive redesign of the Apple Market in Waterford City Centre. The same award-winning firm also worked on Leitrim County Council’s €8.67 million redevelopment of Carrick-on-Shannon town centre.
All told, once funding to the tune of 25% (€4,831,250) from the council is factored in, the total investment in Abbeylands, along with that from the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF), will be closer to €20 million.
Discussions with An Post, whose lands back onto Abbeylands and whose sorting office may have to be relocated elsewhere in the town, are “ongoing” said Mr Jennings.
No definitive agreement has been reached yet, and he says the council are still working on it.
“Any of these sort of things take times,” he added.
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