Thurles: Regeneration through Recreation, Education and Support for Local Producers 1 Covering Statement Project Proposal Site location: The site is located in the town of Thurles. It lies to the front of St. Patrick’s College and adjacent to the town park, the Source Theatre and Thurles Leisure Centre. There is a vacant agricultural building on the site and a public car park. Description of site: Thurles Agricultural Building is a six bay, rubble limestone building with a hipped slate roof and red brick chimney. It has multiple irregular openings including three elliptical carriage arches. The building is evident on the 25” map thus dating from the late 1800s to early 1900s but is not a protected structure. The building is located to the east of the Source Arts Centre and to the north of St. Patrick’s College. The building is fronted by a pedestrian area with bicycle parking and a car-park. The building is under the ownership of Tipperary County Council and is currently vacant. Public Engagement: This building and its surrounding area offer an opportunity to address a number of objectives that have arisen as part of community consultations for the Thurles Renewal Strategy and to build on the regeneration of Thurles in association with St. Patrick’s College. Project Objectives: This proposal seeks to bring forward the ambitions of the community by providing a multi functional space that can accommodate local producers when 2 required but can also meet the needs of St. Patrick’s College during the week; can facilitate music and comedy gigs in the evenings; can host yoga and mindfulness retreats; can provide a space for pre and post match entertainment; can offer a location for a cafe; and can readily adapt to the many needs of a diverse community. The proposal will be in collaboration with the Source Arts Centre to provide a cultural hub within the town, with St. Patrick’s College in line with their expansion plans, and with local groups and producers to ensure that a variety of needs are provided for. Design Options: A number of design options were examined as part of the preparation of this Part 8. The design as proposed is focused on delivering a development which will add substantially to the space involved, delivering a building which will be flexible in its usage and a covered space which is multi-functional while also of a high architectural standard. The end design is centred on providing a pivotal linkage point between the town centre and St. Patrick’s College, reintegrating the College campus back into the core of the town, providing a “green lung” within the town and ensuring that the Agricultural Building, covered area and the campus work together to becomes a space which build on the amenities and recreational facilities provided by the town park, source theatre and the leisure centre. St. Patrick’s College is a Protected Structure in the Thurles Town and Environs Development Plan. The design proposed has had regard to the setting of St. Patrick’s and the possible impact of this development on it. The design team are happy that the proposed fixed roof covering respects the setting of the College and its curtilage and that the covering, which is removable, has been architecturally designed to minimise any detrimental impact on the college. The agricultural building is not protected in the Town plan. It was also noted that up until recently, when the car park was constructed, this area was built on which a variety of run down and dilapidated structures. Project Description This proposal seeks to restore and redevelop the historic agricultural building whilst capitalising on the external space by transforming the car-park into a multi-use venue with an architecturally focussed roof covering. The proposal includes: - Restoration, renovation and glazed extension to the existing agricultural building for multi-functional uses; - Installation of a fixed roof covering and associated supporting structures for multi-functional uses; - Improved access between site and St. Patrick’s College; - Upgrade of vehicular and pedestrian access to site; - Installation of EV car charging points; and - All associated site works. 3 Along with providing a town centre multi-purpose venue, the proposal seeks to improve pedestrian connections to the town park and to further incorporate and showcase the architecture of St. Patrick’s College as a focal point in Thurles. Assessment of Planning Policy NPF Policy Overview The National Planning Framework (NPF) is the Government’s high-level strategic plan for shaping the future growth and development of Ireland out to the year 2040. The NPF’s sets the context for sustainable regional development through 10 National Strategic Outcomes (NSO’s) and was adopted 16th February 2018. Project Response By creating a development that compactly integrates within the surrounding local settlement, enhances local amenity space and heritage, and supports a more resilient economy, the proposed scheme aligns with, and delivers, the following policies and objectives of the NPF: National Policy Objective 4: Ensure the creation of attractive, liveable, well designed, high quality urban places that are home to diverse and integrated communities that enjoy a high quality of life and well-being. National Policy Objective 6: Regenerate and rejuvenate cities, towns and villages of all types and scale as environmental assets, that can accommodate changing roles and functions, increased residential population and employment activity and enhanced levels of amenity and design quality, in order to sustainably influence and support their surrounding area. National Policy Objective 27: Ensure the integration of safe and convenient alternatives to the car into the design of our communities, by prioritising walking and cycling accessibility to both existing and proposed developments and integrating physical activity facilities for all ages. National Policy Objective 28: Plan for a more diverse and socially inclusive society that targets equality of opportunity and a better quality of life for all citizens, through improved integration and greater accessibility in the delivery of sustainable communities and the provision of associated services. National Policy Objective 52: The planning system will be responsive to our national environmental challenges and ensure that development occurs within environmental limits, having regard to the requirements of all relevant environmental legislation and the sustainable management of our natural capital. National Policy Objective 57: Enhance water quality and resource management by integrating sustainable water management solutions, such as Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS), non-porous surfacing and green roofs, to create safe places. 4 National Policy Objective 60: Conserve and enhance the rich qualities of natural and cultural heritage of Ireland in a manner appropriate to their significance. National Policy Objective 64: Improve air quality and help prevent people being exposed to unacceptable levels of pollution in our urban and rural areas through integrated land use and spatial planning that supports public transport, walking and cycling as more favourable modes of transport to the private car, the promotion of energy efficient buildings and homes, heating systems with zero local emissions, green infrastructure planning and innovative design solutions. RSES Policy Overview The Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) provides a long-term, strategic development framework for the future physical, economic and social development of the Southern Region. The primary aim of the RSES is to implement Project Ireland 2040 - the National Planning Framework, at the regional tier of Government and to support NPF policy for achieving balanced regional development. The RSES for the Southern Region came into effect on 31st January 2020. The RSES sets out a vision for the Southern Region to: • Nurture all our places to realise their full potential • Protect, and enhance our environment • Successfully combat climate change • Achieve economic prosperity and improved quality of life for all our citizens • Accommodate expanded growth and development in suitable locations • Make the Southern Region one of Europe’s most creative, innovative, greenest and liveable regions Project Response By delivering a high-quality attractive environment that balances the needs of all users, seeks to increase the economic vitality of the town centre and enhances the environment in a sustainable and sensitive manner, the proposed scheme aligns with, and supports, the Southern Region vision as well as the following policies and objectives from the RSES: RPO 2 Planning for Diverse Areas: The RSES recognises the strategic role played by all areas, both urban and rural, in achieving the set regional and national targets and objectives. The RSES supports sustainable enterprise growth, services, physical and social infrastructure investment and the sustainable growth of all communities in the Region. The overall strategy builds on cities and their associated metropolitan areas as engines of growth and seeks, in parallel, to re-position the Region’s strong network of towns, villages and diverse rural areas in an 5 economically resilient, imaginative and smart way to foster sustainable competitive advantage RPO 11 Key Town: d. To support and promote vibrant, culturally-rich and revitalised Key Towns with enhanced social inclusion, engaged and active voluntary, non-profit and social enterprise sectors, sustainable