€4M bill to fix multi-storey carpark in county town

Some €4 million will be spent on essential repair works to the Multistorey Carpark in Cavan Town, more than double what was previously reported.

The bill was previously estimated at between €1-1.5 million. The facility is set to close fully from May 20, with the “significant refurbishment contract” expected to begin shortly thereafter.

The repair project, under the public works contract for minor building and civil engineering works, is expected to take until early next year to complete.

In April 2020, Cavan County Council commissioned Malachy Walsh & Partners Ltd to deliver a number of reports on the condition and proposed future development of the multistorey parking facility, which has had “no major interventions” since it was first constructed back in 2001.

One report, completed in 2021, “advised the precautionary closure” of carpark levels 7 to 15, and also made a number of recommendations regarding important maintenance to ensure the “long term viability” of the town centre property. It’s understood the upgrades will focus on structural improvements, rather than any form of reconfiguration within.

Cavan County Council appointed Alan Traynor Consulting Engineers in 2023 to oversee the design, procurement of contractors and supervision of the works.

A tender competition was completed last September with a contractor expected to be announced shortly.

Previously the council thought that interim measures could be taken to reopen levels 7-15, however it was ultimately considered more “prudent and less disruptive” to keep them closed while design, construction, and modernisation works were undertaken.

As spokesperson for the council confirmed to the Celt that “major structural elements” of the planned building works include the “replacement of weakened structural steel members in the internal ramps”, followed by sand blasting the entire structural steel frame back to bare steel, before “applying three coats of fireproofing intumescent paint to meet current fire safety standards”.

The installation of a “new traffic management system” including entrance and exit barriers, as well as the installation of modern pay stations capable of taking card, cash and Android, Google and Apple Pay methods of payment. The two existing passenger lifts are also set to be replaced, together with an “upgrade to all other electrical and mechanical services”.

“New wall finishes, CCTV on all levels including lift lobbies with emergency communication buttons, together with a new lighting system are all aimed at making the carpark a safe, accessible, and convenient place to park in Cavan Town Centre. The project has a nine-month contract period.” The carpark has had a storied history, ever since it was built more than 20 years ago by Elliott’s. The local authority purchased the facility in 2014 as per the conditions of a watertight, pre-agreement with its previous owners, the nine person-strong Virginia Consortium.

Trading as Glassell Ltd, of which council is the sole shareholder, the loss-making facility was purchased with a €4m 30-year loan. The council pays annual charges in the region of €166,000 per annum on the loan, signed in 2015.

Up to that point the off-street parking property had sustained losses of over €5m in rent, at €500,000 per year, plus running costs.

In recent years, the carpark has been affected by rises in maintenance and energy costs.

The pandemic also had a major impact on usage rates, with income slashed by 72.5% in 2020 compared to the previous year.

The multi-storey requires yearly capital contributions from the council in order to operate. In 2023, the authority adopted in its budget a contribution to Glassell Ltd of €100,000.

It’s hoped the revamp, once complete, will boost occupancy rates.