€400k funding boost for Banagher regeneration

Offaly County Council has welcomed news that it was successful in its application for €395,250 for a Banagher Regeneration project under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

The project, which will be led by Offaly County Council, will require match funding from council funds and will regenerate the town centre and the marina.

Speaking after the announcement, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr. John Carroll said the investment in Banagher will enhance the town’s potential as an attractive and sustainable place to live, work and visit. Cllr. John Leahy, Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Birr also welcomed the co-operation between the local authority, local development groups, businesses and the wider community that led to the success of the application.

The funding provided will allow for further development of the projects to take place enabling projects to reach a stage where they are developed to a high standard and the project is in a position to commence works.

The council said the Banagher funding would give “an unprecedented opportunity to deliver the scale of investment necessary to allow a rural community to further develop and prosper. This investment is more important than ever to help address the challenges arising from the COVID-19 crisis and to drive economic recovery and sustainable development in rural areas.”

It's understood that this funding will go towards the design and planning of a digital hub, library and exhibition space to be housed in a currently vacant three-storey building on Main Street in Banagher.

The county council has been involved in negotiations to purchase the building in question.

The funding this week is also expected to help advance plans for improvements to the currently derelict hotel in the town centre, the regeneration of the marina, and public realm works.

Welcoming this week's announcement, local Social Democrats councillor Clare Claffey described it as great news for the area.

“Banagher needs help and investment. The town has so much potential, so this is really exciting for Banagher and I am looking forward to working on the project with the council and Banagher Development Group,” Cllr Claffey told the Offaly Independent.

She said she was hopeful that once the design and planning stages of the process were complete, funding could be sought next year to allow for the work itself to be carried out.

Also, earlier this week, a report was published on the progress of Banagher and the five other towns that are part of the Government's pilot 'Town Centre Living Initiative'.

In October 2018, Banagher was one of the six rural towns awarded up to €100,000 in Government funding to explore how to encourage increased residential occupancy while also addressing the issue of vacant properties.

Prepared independently by Space Engagers, the report published on Monday mentioned the plans to create a digital hub, library and exhibition space in the Main Street building.

“There is a sense that this innovative reuse could energise the town, attract remote workers to live in the town centre, and provide a strong amenity anchor function for the whole town population,” the report explained.

Turning “an existing ten-unit development into a community-run self-catering accommodation project,” was another proposal being considered locally, the report added.