“Carlow Town has the potential and now it has the Vision”
At the November meeting of Carlow County Council held in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Visual on 9th November 2020 Project Carlow 2040 – A Vision for Regeneration & Development was officially launched.
“Carlow Town has the potential and now it has the vision” are the words of Cllr. Fergal Browne, Mayor of Carlow Municipal District in launching the Masterplan for Carlow Town titled Project Carlow 2040.
"Town centres across the country have faced a number of significant challenges in recent years, and these challenges have been brought into sharper focus during the pandemic and it's clear we need to change and adapt to create a thriving, vibrant centre that meets the needs of our residents, businesses and visitors, both now and in the future and this Strategy clearly shows how the town can regenerate and develop to meet those challenges”.
Project Carlow 2040 is an ambitious Regeneration Strategy for Carlow Town which contains transformational and aspiring concepts for the economic, social and environmental benefit of Carlow Town.
Welcoming the plan, Cllr. Tom O’Neill , Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said, “Under the Guidance of our Chief Executive, Kathleen Holohan and Director of Services, Michael Rainey and project team, Carlow County Council partnering with Avison Young have created an ambitious, transformative masterplan for Carlow Town, which in turn I believe can attract both private and public sector investment”.
The Cathaoirleach continued to say, “Carlow County Council are determined to take the lead when it comes to driving the economic recovery following the pandemic and attracting national investment in key capital projects not just in Carlow Town but across the County”.
Speaking about the process in developing the masterplan, Kathleen Holohan, Chief Executive of Carlow County Council said, “Project Carlow 2040 has a vital role to play in our recovery, and we are keen to work closely with residents, businesses and other stakeholders to push forward with developing the opportunities in the plan”. The Chief Executive continued to say “This has been very much a collaborative process and I’d like to personally thank the elected members for supporting the development of this vision and key stakeholders such as Carlow Town Development Forum, business and community organisations and individuals who actively engaged in the process”.
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For further information contact Kieran Comerford on 086/8252037 or e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie
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Editors Notes
Project Carlow 2040 is an ambitious Regeneration Strategy for Carlow Town. This Regeneration Strategy contains transformational and aspiring ideas for the economic, social and environmental benefit of Carlow.
The strategy seeks to reinforce the critical role of the town centre as the heart of Carlow Town, providing attractive and accessible public spaces with new pedestrian linkages. A thriving, vibrant and sustainable town centre will establish the town as a destination not just for shopping but also for tourists attracted to the unique architectural, cultural and heritage attributes of Carlow’s townscape. This vision supports increased town centre living and increased building occupancy, which will in turn improve the wellbeing of the local economy and community life. Key interventions are proposed that will reintegrate the River Barrow into the public realm through the development of pedestrian walkways and the development of key opportunity sites along the river.
The long-term vision of this Regeneration Strategy is to transform Carlow Town into a regional powerhouse of sustainable economic growth that will offer business opportunities and a better quality of life for all. Carlow Town will become a centre for education, cutting edge business, high quality retailing and a Town that prioritises the wellbeing of its visitors and residents. Carlow Town has the potential to become an innovative, ambitious and successful place.
This strategy is the product of a long and broad public consultation process, with the final draft of the Strategy going on public display on 24th September and submissions were invited up to 5pm Monday 26th October. During that time the plan was available for review through a consultation portal within Carlow.ie and was available in county buildings and local libraries for inspection by appointment. The consultation was publicised through an initial press release which was then supported by an extensive social media campaign inviting engagement. In addition to emails, 35 separate social media posts issued which had a total reach in excess of 29,000. Individual and group stakeholder consultations were also conducted with a range of groups including Carlow Town Development Forum, Public Participation Network, Carlow County Development Partnership & Residents Associations and County Carlow Chamber of Commerce.
