Call for Offaly Town and Village Renewal project ideas

Offaly County Council is seeking expressions of interest on potential projects which may be considered for funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS.) The scheme is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The 2023 TVRS is designed to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland through a renewed focus on town centre economic and social recovery and regeneration. This will be achieved through projects focusing on town centre regeneration, enhancing streetscapes and bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use as community multi-purpose spaces through refurbishment and renovation.

This year the scheme will also include a focus on Town or Village Centre Markets e.g. Farmers Markets, Open-Air Markets, Local Trader Markets, Artisan Markets in alignment with the Programme for Government through the provision of infrastructure to support the facilitation of these outdoor markets with public realm works and service provisions.

The scheme will also place particular emphasis on investment in infrastructure to support town and village centre markets; bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use a multi-purpose community spaces, or to address remote working needs, investing in the development of parks, green spaces and recreational amenities in town centres, refurbishment of existing community centres, and a new option to allow local authorities to acquire plots of land to enable development of town regeneration such as town parks and plazas.

The minimum grant which is available is €20,000 for the scheme. The maximum level of grant funding available is €500,000 in respect of one application from each Local Authority.

For further details, please read the scheme outline at www.offaly.ie.

Proposals must be submitted by the close of business on Tuesday, September 5 on the Expression of Interest Form provided, clearly marked Town & Village Renewal Scheme to:

Regeneration Team, Planning Section, Offaly County Council, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly or by email to tvr@offalycoco.ie.