Bailieborough Town Centre First
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Plan Preparation and Consultation
In April 2023, Frank Cooney Architects was appointed to work alongside Cavan County Council and local community and business stakeholders to develop the new Town Centre First (TCF) Plan for Bailieborough. Throughout the summer of 2023 work was ongoing on the development of the plan which included a number of public consultation opportunities to gather local views, ideas, and feedback for the regeneration of Bailieborough. A wide reaching consultation process ensured that the TCF Plan meets the aspirations of the whole community.
Key Dates
- The first public consultation was held in the Bailie Hotel, Main Street, Bailieborough, on Tuesday, 30 May from 7pm – 9pm.
- An online survey was available to complete until Monday, 12 June at 5pm.
- Submissions and observations (written or by email) were welcomed from Tuesday 30 May to Monday, 12 June.
- A second public consultation on the Town Centre First Plan was held on August 16th. The Community Drop-In Event took place in the Bailie Hotel, from 4pm to 7pm, where attendees were able to speak with the design team and give their opinion on the draft plan.
- Submissions and observations (written or by email) were invited on the draft plan from Wednesday, 16 August to Monday 28 August at 5pm.
- During the month of September, the TCF Plan was further developed, and the final draft was completed.
- The final draft of the Town Centre First Plan for Bailieborough was presented to and signed off on at October meetings of both the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District and Town Team.
- Work is now underway in implementing the actions in the plan with the Town Team.
Bailieborough Town Centre First Plan
Like many rural towns throughout the country, Bailieborough has experienced economic and physical decline in recent years. The preparation and implementation of the TCF plan presents a structured and project led, planned approach to the rejuvenation and regeneration of the town. The Plan has been informed and led by the people of Bailieborough, for the people of Bailieborough, through local community and stakeholder engagement and sets out a protocol for the development of the town for current and future generations.
The Plan has been developed around nine enabling themes:
- Building vacancy, dereliction, repurposing, and reuse
- Public realm
- Economic development opportunities
- Connectivity/accessibility and mobility
- Digital
- Climate
- Community recreational facilities
- Tourism/Heritage and Ecology
- Community collaboration and capacity building
Download Bailieborough Town Centre First Plan
Launch of Town Centre First Plans
On Wednesday 28 February 2024, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell TD, launched the first ever 'Town Centre First' plans for 26 towns across every county. The plans, which were developed in consultation with local communities, represent the vision of local people for their area and contain proposals for a diverse range of projects such as redeveloping derelict sites, creating community parks and walkways, boosting SME and tourism potential, and protecting historical landmarks.
The Ministers were joined at the Launch by the new Town Regeneration Officers who have been appointed in every local authority to drive implementation of the new plans with the support of Government funding through a range of funding schemes including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Town Centre First Heritage Revival (THRIVE) Scheme and the Historic Towns Initiative.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, said "Communities are at the heart of rural Ireland. Town Centre First is all about empowering people to develop a vision for their town that can make it a better place to live, work, invest in and enjoy. These Plans and the new Town Regeneration Officers are about ensuring there is a strategic and coherent approach at local level to tackling vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages".
Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O'Donnell, said “It is a pleasure to launch the inaugural Town Centre First Plans. This Government has committed to multi-billion euro investment in regenerating and revitalising towns and urban centres across Ireland. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is supporting the delivery of the Town Centre First policy approach through major funding schemes such as the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Croí Cónaithe Fund and Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the ERDF supported THRIVE Fund".
“The Town Centre First approach empowers local communities and businesses, supported by Local Authorities, to guide and direct investment to maximise the particular strengths and assets of their town. In a joint initiative, my Department along with DRCD has established a National Town Centre First Office, within the LGMA, to support delivery of the policy."
Town Centre First also supports the objectives of the National Planning Framework and Housing for All by unlocking the potential of vacant and underused buildings to increase housing supply and attract more people to live and work in our town centres.
Bailieborough Town Centre First Initiatives
The Town Regeneration Officer, working in conjunction with the Town Team and a number of local business and community stakeholders, has commenced the process of implementing some of the actions in the TCF Plan. The projects range from large scale capital projects (three public realm projects at the Courthouse, Market Square and Town Centre) to demonstrator case study projects where local people have expressed interest in developing over the shop and back lands projects, to smaller scale projects around digital technology, climate action and public realm initiatives.
Some of the initiatives to date include the following:
Building your Business in Bailieborough
In May 2023, Local Enterprise Office, Cavan, in conjunction with the Town Centre First initiative, held an information evening in Bailieborough Courthouse. The session provided information on the range of services and supports provided by the Local Enterprise Office. The session was free, open to all, and targeted at business owners in Bailieborough and surrounds.
The event provided an opportunity to meet with staff from the Local Enterprise Office who:
- Provided details on supports available for retail/wholesale/manufacturing businesses.
- Provided advice on supports available for all business owners, both well established and those thinking of starting in business.
- Provided advice on issues such as cost savings, branding, identifying and connecting with your target audience, using social media to get your message out, establishing a Green identity and many other issues currently facing businesses around the country.
Many of the supports spoken about are free or virtually free. The purpose of the event was to provide help and advice locally. The event was very well attended, and it proposed to hold further similar events over the months ahead.
Check out Local Enterprise Office Cavan for further details on their range of supports: www.localenterprise.ie/cavan
Bailieborough Streetscape Enhancement Scheme
Bailieborough Development Association secured funding from the Department of Rural & Community Development through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for Streetscape enhancement, to include façade and gable wall painting and derelict shop front repairs and replacement.
Improving the visual appearance of the towns streetscape increases pride and confidence in the town, making Bailieborough a more attractive place to live, work and do business.
Bailieborough Development Association, working in conjunction with the Community, Enterprise, and Tourism Department of Cavan County Council, and local businesses and premises owners has transformed the town over the summer of 2023, bringing a splash of colour and vibrancy, particularly to the main street of the town. Some 75 premises have availed of the scheme to date.
Bailieborough Creative Hub - Creative Cavan Mural Project
In July 2023, Bailieborough Creative Hub, working in conjunction with the Town Regeneration Officer and a local business, Nomad Coffee, were successful in securing funding towards the design and provision of a mural for one of the prominent businesses in the town. The aim of this collaborative project, ‘Where Past and Present Converge’ was to work with the creative, historical, and business community in Bailieborough to develop a design brief to be translated into a beautiful mural for one of the key buildings in the town.
The project breathed new life and vibrancy into an old building currently home to a modern mobile coffee dock – hence the name for the project where Past and Present Converge. This was also a ‘nod’ to the nearby Bridewell and Courthouse, currently under refurbishment. This public realm project will greatly enhance this part of the town.
As part of the project a short video was prepared detailing the commissioning and development of the mural: https://youtu.be/apyKDOxf89s?feature=shared
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Bailieborough Tidy Towns
Bailieborough Tidy Towns is a Voluntary Community Group working together for a cleaner, tidier town in which to live, work, shop, and visit. This is achieved through a number of initiatives including regular litter picking, planting and maintenance of flowers, shrubs and hanging baskets etc. During 2023 Bailieborough Tidy Towns, as part of the Town Centre First initiative secured Municipal District Funding which has been put to good use in the town.
The group purchased a storage container in which to store the equipment used by the tidy towns members – currently equipment is being stored at a number of locations in and around the town - having all the equipment in one location will be of huge benefit to the group.
For the second element of the project, the Tidy Towns group procured the services of a consultant to develop a Landscape and Natural Heritage Design Proposal. The proposal includes a number of tidy towns and climate action based initiatives including a planting (low maintenance) scheme for a number of sites around the town.
The Tidy Towns Plan was launched by the Tidy Town committee in February 2024 and work is ongoing with regards to the implementation of the actions in the plan.
In November 2023, as part of a further Town Centre First Initiative, members of Bailieborough Tidy Towns Committee along with Transition Year Students from Bailieborough Community School planted over 1000 flower bulbs within and around the town – hoping to bring a splash of colour come Springtime! The tidy towns committee members and students were ably assisted by Cllr Sarah O’Reilly, Cllr Paddy McDonald, and Caroline Brady, Town Regeneration Officer, Cavan County Council, pictured above.
Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation is changing the way in which we live, work, and do business. Embracing digitalisation provides an opportunity to utilise technology to enhance the experience of living and working in towns and to integrate digital technology into daily commercial and social life.
In 2021 the Department of Rural and Community Development commissioned DCU and .IE, Ireland's national registry for .ie domain names, to conduct a digital town readiness assessment of Bailieborough as part of the TCF initiative – the purpose of the study was to help understand the town’s digital readiness and digital competitiveness. Arising from the findings of the report, the Town Regeneration Officer has been working in conjunction with DCU to deliver two initiatives.
The first sees a number of Digital Marketing postgraduate students working in conjunction with four businesses in Bailieborough to develop a new website for each of them. It is hoped the new websites will broaden the reach to their customers while providing a wider range of services e.g. online bookings for their clients and customers. This initial pilot project sees four local businesses participating and it is hoped that a second iteration of the scheme will be rolled out at a later stage enabling further businesses in the town to participate.
In an effort to encourage younger people to embrace digitalisation and technology, DCU, again working with the Town Regeneration Officer and Bailieborough Community School, held a very successful VR (Virtual Reality) day in Bailieborough Community School in December 2023. The school has a huge interest in new technology and is keen to provide every opportunity to develop the students digital media literacy and broader skills sets.
It is hoped that such local initiatives will help to stimulate discussion and interest in digitalisation, not alone in the schools, but in the wider community and in particular will motivate local businesses within the town to consider and explore opportunities that come with digital transition and transformation.
Information evening in Bailieborough on supports available for vacant and derelict buildings and energy upgrades for businesses
Cavan County Council, in collaboration with Cavan County Local Development (CCLD), ATU Sligo, St Anne's Parish Green Group and Bailieborough Town Team, hosted an information evening for owners of vacant and derelict properties and for businesses to hear about supports that are currently available to them for refurbishment, and for energy upgrades of their properties. The event, which was very well attended, was targeted at businesses and property owners in Bailieborough.
In attendance was Sinead Smith, Vacant Homes Officer, Cavan Co Council who provided an update in respect of the Croí Conaithe Grants Scheme: https://www.cavancoco.ie/services/housing/croi-conaithe/
Liam O’Reilly, Cavan County Council's Senior Executive Architect, provided an update in respect of Derelict sites. Also in attendance was Mel Gavin, R&D coordinator at ATU Sligo, who gave a detailed presentation in respect of the Sustainable Energies Community Programme.
In conjunction with the presentations a number of local companies who provide a range of retrofitting services were in attendance to give advice in respect of retrofitting for businesses and homeowners.
This collaborative event was run as part of a Town Centre First initiative to encourage local businesses and property owners to consider the range of supports that are available for both retrofitting and for bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use, particularly Town Centre properties.
Re-Imagine Hometown Architect 2024
In late 2024 the Irish Architectural Foundation announced their 'Reimagine Placemaking' programme, inviting community groups to develop and submit project proposals in partnership with an architect who has a connection to their town or village. The project proposals had to focus on town centre regeneration including addressing vacancy and dereliction, increasing residential occupancy as well as focusing on improving the physical, economic, social and cultural fabric of our towns and villages.
As part of the Town Centre First initiative in Bailieborough, an application for funding was submitted by Frank Cooney Architects in conjunction with the Town Regeneration Officer, Caroline Brady. The application was successful and €10,000 was awarded to prepare a design solution for a key site in the town core that was identified during the preparation of the TCF plan. The site, which includes a vacant premises on the Main Street, a considerable (derelict) back lands area opening on to the town’s main carpark that requires this intervention as part of a wider, long term transformative plan to enhance connectivity, mobility, and alternative use of space for this area in the town. The involvement of the IAF will bring a fresh, high quality, ambitious, forward looking design perspective informed by the local community.
So far, a number of community consultations have taken place including an intergenerational workshop involving the local Active Age Group and the students from the local National School. A town centre walkabout also took place involving people from the local community, providing them with an opportunity to feed into the development of project proposals. It is intended that the design proposals will be completed by mind October 2024.
More information: https://architecturefoundation.ie/news/hometown-architect-projects-2024/
THRIVE
THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme, was launched by Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell on 8 February 2024. The scheme has been co-designed by the Regional Assemblies and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address European, national and regional policy objectives. THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
THRIVE will provide local authorities with funding to renovate, refurbish and adapt vacant and derelict heritage buildings in their town centres. Heritage buildings under the scheme are classified as structures that form part of the architectural heritage and have unique architectural, historical, archaeological or artistic qualities, or are linked to the cultural and economic history of a place. This initiative has potential to transform town centres across the regions supporting delivery of the government’s Town Centre First Policy.
Projects under the Thrive Programme are required to embrace the core values of the New European Bauhaus – sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion. The scheme promotes a citizen-centred community-led approach to planning, design and project selection under the Town Centre First framework.
Under Strand 1 of this scheme, local authorities were invited to apply for funding of between €40,000 and €200,000 to support them with the planning and design phase of large scale projects that could then be submitted under Strand 2 of the THRIVE Programme. Strand 2 is also a competitive funding call with amounts of between €2m and €7m available towards the renovation and adaptive reuse of a vacant or derelict heritage buildings.
Cavan County Council applied for funding under Strand 1 of the Programme and secured almost €200,000 towards the development of a new Integrated Urban Strategy for the area West and Northwest of Farnham St. in Cavan Town as well as for the development of an investment ready project proposal for a publicly owned vacant heritage building on Farnham St. with the aim to submit a Thrive Strand 2 application.
Further details in respect of the Thrive Funding scheme are available at: https://www.nwra.ie/thrive/
Contact
Caroline Brady
Town Regeneration Officer,
Community and Enterprise Department
Cavan County Council,
Farnham Centre,
Farnham Street
Cavan
H12 C9K1
- Tel: 0872900324
- Email: cbrady@cavancoco.ie