Redevelopment plan for historic Ferbane building revealed
A design team is currently being appointed by Offaly County Council to advance plans for the redevelopment of one of Ferbane's most historic buildings.
St Joseph's Convent is due to be refurbished in order to become a multi-purpose facility for community, enterprise and learning uses, with St Hilda's Services and the Laois Offaly Education Training Board set to become its anchor tenants.
There are plans to incorporate a Ferbane Business and Technology Park 'remote working hub' in another area of the convent, while facilities are also due to be made available for general community use.
Offaly County Council purchased the former convent from the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, and an era came to an end last summer when the last three sisters who had been living in Ferbane convent moved out.
Earlier this month, the council advertised for the recruitment of "an architect led multi-disciplinary design team" to design the refurbishment of a facility which dates from the 1880s.
According to the tender documents, the local authority is seeking a design for a redevelopment of the convent that would result in a "modern, high-quality" facility.
A community company called An Síolán CLG was established recently in order to "coordinate and liaise with all sectors of the local community in Ferbane, with the primary aim of delivering the objectives set out in the Ferbane Community Action Plan," the council said.
It added: "It is the intention of Offaly County Council to lease the refurbished convent to An Síolán on completion of all works. An Síolán will manage and operate the property with anchor tenants of St Hilda's (HSE) and Laois Offaly Education Training Board."
The tender documents also stated that the design for the redevelopment of the convent may include proposals for the demolition, partial demolition or retention of certain buildings on the convent site.
The council said it was aiming for the contract to commence before the end of March 2023, and to be completed by March 2024.
This process is due to result in an application being made to central Government for the funding of the Ferbane facility's refurbishment and redevelopment.