The recently launched regeneration plan Project Carlow 2040: A vision for Regeneration was funded as a category two ‘pipeline’ project under the first call for proposals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) in 2018. The URDF is overseen by my Department and is one of four new funds established under PI2040, with a combined allocation of €4 billion in the current National Development Plan (NDP) to 2027. The URDF has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027, primarily to activate our urban centres in support of more compact and sustainable urban development and regeneration.
Under Call 1 of the URDF, Carlow County Council was approved an allocation of more than €500,000 in respect of the development of a masterplan for Carlow Town. Further to consultation and work undertaken during 2019-20, an initial draft of Project Carlow 2040: A Vision for Regeneration was submitted to my Department in support of proposals for funding under Call 2 of the URDF, which had been launched earlier this year. The URDF Call 2 assessment process is currently underway and will be concluded in the coming weeks.
Project Carlow 2040: A Vision for Regeneration is illustrative of the type of planning strategy to both articulate and deliver on objectives that will help deliver regeneration and compact urban growth. The strategy sets out a framework for urban regeneration that has been tailored for Carlow Town. The masterplan sets out to improve health and wellbeing, create better town centre spaces, enhance competitiveness and commercial activity, encourage town centre living and encourage building enhancements in order to improve the long term viability of Carlow.
Project Carlow 2040: A Vision for Regeneration complements the Programme for Government commitment to the development of a Town Centre First (TCF) policy, modelled on the scheme developed by the Scottish Government, and informed by the Town Centre Living pilot initiative overseen by the Department of Rural and Community Development. This includes the implementation of a strategic approach to town centre regeneration by utilising existing buildings and unused lands for new development.
My Department is jointly chairing an Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) to progress the commitment and associated actions in relation to the TCF approach in the Programme for Government. The objective is that the Group will bring forward proposals for consideration by the Government supported by a wider group of stakeholders via a dedicated Advisory Group to be chaired by Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke over the coming months.
I am due to meet with Carlow Chamber of Commerce shortly to further discuss Project Carlow 2040: A Vision for Regeneration, among other matters .
