Over €22 million announced for regeneration projects in Waterford City and Dungarvan
WCQ Creative will function as Waterford Cultural Quarter's HQ and will be "preferably" partnered with Garter Lane, pictured, it was announced at the September Metropolitan district meeting.
Waterford has been allocated over €22 million for major regeneration projects in Waterford City and Dungarvan.
Of the €409 million being made available to local authorities across the country as part of the continuing Towns and Cities Rengeration Investment Fund (TCRIF), Waterford City and County Council has been awarded €22.65 million for three key projects; Waterford Cultural Quarter Creative (25-26 O’Connell St.), 22 Lady Lane, and Dungarvan Innovation and Enterprise Hub.
The fund, which replaces the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), focuses on the delivery of capital projects within the short to medium term.
Waterford City and County Council said the three successful projects will continue their approach to the regeneration of the city and county by identifying, repurposing and bringing back to use, "strategically located derelict, vacant and underutilised buildings and sites", while developing community and civic infrastructure.
Morris Conway, Waterford City and County Council Senior Architect, welcomed the funding, saying, “Each project is significant as it repairs and strengthens the delicate urban fabric of our historic city and town centres.
“The latest phase of this initiative, which sees three key projects in Waterford supported by a fund worth over €22 million, will create lasting benefits for the community and drive meaningful economic and social progress.”
Under the TCRIF Category 1B, the landmark 18th century townhouse at 22 Lady Lane has been awarded €7.6 million for regeneration works after sitting vacant for the past decade.
The works will include reinstating the garden adjacent to the Medieval city wall, conservation works to the historic structure, and an extension providing modern office accommodation, the council have said.
At last week's meeting of the Metropolitan district it was confirmed that a team of external consultants will be appointed soon, with works on the Lady Lane regeneration aiming to start in a year's time, in September 2027.
Located at the entrance of Waterford’s Cultural Quarter, 25-26 O’Connell Street has received €7.5 million in funding under this scheme.
Having also stood vacant for over a decade, the proposal will develop the building and site as WCQ Creative, a "purpose-built campus dedicated to accommodating and supporting the creative and artistic community within the Cultural Quarter".
The proposal includes two buildings and a courtyard, which will include workshops and studios, a café, gallery and retail space with commercial studio and office space on the upper floors supporting the project.
Situated opposite the Municipal Gallery, the building will function as Waterford Cultural Quarter HQ and will be "preferably" partnered with Garter Lane; it was announced at the September Metropolitan district meeting.
Waterford City South Councillor Donal Barry questioned the timing of the application at the same Metropolitan district meeting, asking why councillors weren't told about this funding when the council voted in favour of a new art hub on O' Connell Street in a recent meeting.
Independent Councillor Mary Roche also commented on the regeneration project, saying that she was proud of the council's aim to make O'Connell Street a "full and vibrant art space".
Waterford City and County Council's aim for O'Connell Street, a representative said, was to cluster the street with art spaces, galleries and venues similarly to how many of Waterford's museums are clustered together within the Viking triangle.
Waterford City East Councillor Jim Darcy commented that although the regeneration of the site, and the creation of a prominent arts centre, is a "very good news story", he agreed with Cllr Barry's point that their previous decision was made in the dark.
"We made a decision without the full facts," he said, "and that's not good enough."
The final €7 million in the fund was allocated to a new innovation and enterprise hub in Dungarvan.
Dungarvan Innovation and Enterprise Hub received €7.1 million for the repurposing of three vacant properties into a new community innovation and business development centre, and will accommodate incubation spaces, offices and an exhibition space, this newspaper was told.
Additionally, under TCRIF Category 1A Plan and Pipeline Development, funding of €150,000 has been awarded to three projects respectively; Dungarvan Integrated Regeneration Strategy, Tramore Integrated Regeneration Strategy and Waterford City Centre Integrated Regeneration Strategy.
This fund will focus on supporting local authorities in creating a pipeline of future projects for delivery in later years of the National Development Plan and to create momentum in delivery under the new fund.
