FUNDING IS to be sought next month for the development of the One Shannon Hub.
Contracts were signed between Clare County Council and BDP (Integrated Design Team) and Tom McNamara & Partners (Integrated QS & Project Manager) in July for the design of a multi-functional building known as the ‘One Shannon Hub’.
This building is to include a town hall, an adaptable performance and community space, library, and flexible co-working spaces in the heart of Shannon.
Under the Shannon Town Centre Masterplan which was part-funded by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Project Ireland 2040, under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with match funding by Clare County Council, the One Shannon Hub was marked as a key element of this plan.
Public realm improvements to the town square adjacent to the site will also be undertaken pending a successful funding application. The site on which the Hub will be located is in the ownership of Shannon Commercial Properties but they agreed a 999 year lease with Clare County Council from August 2022.
Previously, the site had been earmarked for The Venue which had been hoped to become a civic and cultural space within the town of Shannon. Plans to develop the Shannon Venue were scrapped in 2018 when a voluntary group established six years earlier failed to secure necessary Government funding and instead funds were granted for a masterplan.
Providing an update on the One Shannon Hub, Director of Services with Clare County Council, Alan Farrell said “targeted stakeholder engagement” took place during the month of February in addition meeting the design and project delivery team.
He stated, “it is anticipated the preferred concept will be identified in the coming months”. Farrell confirmed that the local authority will seek financial support from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in May. “We expect and look forward to get it through the planning process and get it shovel ready”.
Responding to this note of optimism, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) commented, “We know the backlash when the URDF funding didn’t come the last time, we were blamed for the Minister’s decision not to give the €11m”.
Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) said he was “delighted to see it is moving forward even though it is going at a slow pace”.
