Major revamp planned for Abbeylands' area of Cavan Town

Major and innovative plans for the development of the Abbeylands area in Cavan Town, together with adjoining areas, are being formulated by Cavan County Council.
Director of Services, Brendan Jennings, revealed the news at last week’s meeting of the Cavan Belturbet Municipal District in the former Reference Library.
He was responding to a question from Sinn Féin councillor Daniel Downey who sought an update on the proposed development for this area of the county town.
Mr Jennings said that various plans had been mooted in respect of Abbeylands for years. He argued that the latest plans have “the most potential” to tap into the Urban Regeneration Fund.
“That fund was announced during the summer and like every other county we are pushing to get a development for Cavan Town,” said Mr Jennings.
“This project has to be in the core of the town and leading to regeneration and bringing an area back to life. The obvious area in Cavan Town is the Abbeylands’ quarter, which is located in between Bridge Street, Townhall Street, Main Street and Farnham Street,” outlined the director.
He pointed out that Abbeylands is in council ownership and a lot of research has gone into it over the years.
“We are making use of some of that research and a lot of the work that has been done at various stages to formulate this application. The proposed project will be much bigger than just the Abbeylands itself. There is a lot of criteria attached to this funding and it is competitive, as it applies to every other town over 10,000 people,” detailed Mr Jennings.
The deadline for applications passes today (Wednesday), September 27. “We have been working steadily and meeting with most landowners in that quarter. We have to be able to demonstrate, as part of this regeneration programme, that we meet the criteria,” added Mr Jennings.
The goals of the new plan include enhancing this open space, enhancing the cultural facilities in the area, generating additional economic growth in that area of the town and increasing residential input.
Meetings have been held with An Post, the Credit Union and various business people and others with a view to developing a scheme.
The council is set to apply for seed money to develop the area and, as part of that process, is drawing up a master plan as to how they envisage the development of that entire quarter over the next 20 years. This is with a view to seeking further funding of up to €2M under the Urban Regeneration Fund.
The development of the former McIntyre’s site and the further development of the Townhall will also form part of the plan. It will also involve improving public access to the Abbeylands’ area. 
“There is no point in spending an investment, unless it is an attractive place to go. Consideration will also be given to enhance some of the buildings on the Market Square onto Main Street and give access into the alleyways off that,” outlined Mr Jennings.
“There are lots of ideas out there at present but we have to look at what is real and workable,” he added.