Waterford is in line for €22.65m to advance three transformational projects for the city and Dungarvan.
Waterford City and County Council submitted three applications under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund, all of which have been approved by Minister of State John Cummins’ Department.
The three successful projects are the Waterford City Cultural Quarter Creative Hub at 25/26 O’Connell Street, City Centre Office Accommodation at 22 Lady Lane, and the Dungarvan Innovation and Enterprise Hub at 18-20 O’Connell Street.
Waterford City Cultural Quarter Creative Hub has been allocated €7.5m. As part of a collaboration between the council and Waterford Cultural Quarter, this landmark site on the corner of O’Connell and Sergent’s Lane, vacant and derelict for two decades, will be transformed into the WCQ Creative Hub.
The new development will provide galleries, studios and workshops for the arts community, as well as a headquarters for the WCQ.
The majority of the site area of 1,100sqm is dedicated to the WCQ Creative to maximise exposure and provide an inviting and vibrant street frontage.
The courtyard in between the buildings will provide an important public realm connection between Jenkin’s Lane and Garter Lane but will also act as an informal space for spill-out activities, community gatherings and performances.
Deputy Cummins said: “This hub will provide artists, performers, designers and creatives with a place where talent can flourish, collaboration can grow, and new ideas can emerge. It is not only an investment in arts and culture, but a vote of confidence in the future of our city.”
City centre office accommodation at 22 Lady Lane is in line for €7.6m. The existing Georgian townhouse there has historic character, scale and occupies a strategic location within the city centre.
Following extensive feasibility studies, high quality office accommodation was determined to be the most appropriate re-use for the refurbished building.
The undeveloped area at the rear of the building will be extended to double the modern office space available and a significant area of green open-space that has been closed off for decades will once again be brought back into use.
“The transformation of this site into high-quality office accommodation capable of supporting over 70 employees in the heart of our city is fantastic news for Waterford,” said Deputy Cummins.
“Providing a modern workspace in a central location will further encourage businesses to establish and expand and will bring more people into the city centre each day – helping to create a thriving atmosphere for enterprise.
“Alongside these new offices, the inclusion of an attractive green space will ensure this benefit will not only benefit those who will work from here, but also the wider public.”
Dungarvan Innovation and Enterprise Hub at 18-20 O’Connell Street will benefit from €7.1m.
Three derelict properties at O’Connell Street, Dungarvan, will be repurposed as a new community innovation and business development centre.
The centre will provide a diverse range of facilities including incubation spaces, meeting rooms, offices, a ground floor café and adaptable exhibition space that will be available for use by the community.
Deputy Cummins said: “The combination of offerings will provide valuable opportunities for learning, networking and business development. The hub will not only support economic growth, but it will also strengthen community life.”