Two major council community projects shortlisted for top planning awards

The Flower Hill Urban Regeneration Plan and the Kilcloon Community Development project have been short-listed for prestigious planning awards.

The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) has short-listed 39 entries for this year’s Irish Planning Awards and Meath County Council has been short-listed in the Plan Making category for Flower Hill and Abbeylands Urban Design Plan and in the Sustainable Communities and Placemaking category for Kilcloon Community Development.

The awards aim to highlight innovation and excellence in Irish planning. The awards gala ceremony will take place on 28th September 2023 in Clontarf Castle Hotel.

The Kilcloon Community Development Project is a fine example of a concerted community effort to deliver a community development and demonstrates the value of collaboration between public and private sector planners.

The community centre committee in Kilcloon purchased a site to build their community centre and they recognised that a source of revenue to fund the development would need to be identified.

Meath County Council in collaboration with Ger Fahy Planning prepared a masterplan for the lands. Clustered or ‘clachan style’ housing was proposed to the south of the community centre which would generate funds for building of the centre and also provide housing in a village centre location.

The Masterplan includes a framework for the phasing of the development. In 2020, full planning permission was granted for the community centre, a playground, the internal road and ancillary works and outline permission was granted for 13 dwellings.

Willie Rattigan of ‘Kilcloon Community Centre Committee said they were delighted to have been shortlisted.

"We would like to thank Meath County Council for nominating our project for this award and for their support in its development over a number of years. We also acknowledge the professionalism of McKevittking Architects, Ger Fahy planning and the design team for the design solution proposed.

"The project involves the provision of a Community Centre, Playground and village square and thirteen houses for local people. The community centre will provide much needed facilities for the growing population in the area. The housing element which will help fund the community development will provide opportunities to those who meet local needs to reside in their own community.’"

The Flower Hill scheme in Navan will see a major overhaul of the area, courtesy of €11million grant funding under the Government’s urban regeneration fund.

A plan, drawn up with the Paul Hogarth Company in conjunction with the council's own planning department has already been the subject of a public consultation process.

Creating a new streetscape, developing an urban quarter, a river park, and rebuilding Flower Hill are all aims of an ambitious development plan.

Flower Hill in Navan is set for a major overhaul courtesy of a €7.66m grant under the Government’s urban regeneration fund.

The plan allows for a complete renovation of the street, as well as the creation of a riverbank walk/cycleway between Flower Hill and Blackwater Park.

Work will also include the development of a community and cultural facility and upgrading of frontage on existing buildings

The proposed works include: upgrading surface paving, new pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes, street trees, lighting and furniture.

Mary MacMahon, President of the Irish Planning Institute said: “The standard and quality of entries for this year’s awards were very high, the judging panel had a very tough task to produce a shortlist. After reviewing all the entries, we have been able to shortlist 39 impressive submissions.

“We look forward to the awards ceremony in September and the announcement of the winning entries per category.

“The awards provide an excellent opportunity to reflect and promote the contribution of planning to society and highlight the positive work being carried out across the sector and the role of planning in delivering quality and sustainable development.”

The Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage will be the main sponsor of this year’s awards with additional sponsors including Wave Dynamics Acoustic Consultants and Uisce Éireann. The individual categories of Climate Action and Biodiversity and Research and Innovation will be sponsored by FuturEnergy Ireland and the Office of the Planning Regulator respectively.