Galway County Council launched the Ballinasloe Town Centre First Plan in the Ballinasloe Enterprise Hub, Society Street, Ballinasloe. The event marked an important milestone in the ongoing regeneration of Ballinasloe town centre and brought together local representatives, community stakeholders and project partners involved in shaping the plan.
The Ballinasloe Town Centre First Plan has been developed through the Government’s Town Centre First Policy and funded by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly through the European Regional Development Fund under the THRIVE programme. The plan provides a community-led, plan-based framework for revitalising the town centre, supporting economic and social development, addressing vacancy and dereliction, and strengthening Ballinasloe’s role as a key urban centre in east County Galway.
The launch included contributions from Galway County Council Chief Executive Mr Liam Conneally, Cathaoirleach Cllr Andrew Reddington, and Ballinasloe Town Team member Martina Flanagan, followed by tea and coffee for attendees.
A plan for regeneration and renewal
The Town Centre First Policy is a national regeneration framework designed to tackle long-term decline in town centres across Ireland and reposition towns as vibrant places in which to live, work, visit, invest and participate in community life. In Ballinasloe, the plan builds on the town’s existing strengths while identifying practical opportunities to support renewal, enhance public spaces, promote active travel, celebrate local heritage and culture, and bring renewed focus to the heart of the town.
The Ballinasloe Town Centre First Plan is a non-statutory framework that aligns with the Galway County Development Plan 2022–2028 and the Ballinasloe Local Area Plan 2022–2028. Its purpose is to help prioritise and sequence the delivery of town centre objectives in a coordinated and phased manner, creating a strong pipeline of regeneration projects that can be progressed through appropriate funding opportunities.
The plan was developed in partnership between Galway County Council’s Town Regeneration Officer and Regeneration Team, the Ballinasloe Town Team, consultants The Paul Hogarth Company, elected members of the Ballinasloe Municipal District, and the wider local community. Public engagement formed a central part of the process and helped shape the projects and priorities identified in the final plan.
Seven key projects
The plan identifies seven key projects focused on the future of Ballinasloe town centre:
These projects include the Fair Green Masterplan; River Suck Linear Park; redesign of The Square; development of a Ballinasloe Stories Centre; measures to address vacant and derelict buildings; Healthy Streets walking and cycling strategies; and a coordinated Town Centre Neighbourhood and Backlands Masterplan approach.
Mr Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said the Ballinasloe Town Centre First Plan provides a clear and practical framework for supporting the long-term regeneration of the town centre.
“It reflects the ambition of the local community and sets out a strong pipeline of projects that can help attract investment, enhance public spaces and strengthen Ballinasloe as a vibrant place to live, work and visit.”
Cllr Andrew Reddington, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, said: this plan is an important step forward for Ballinasloe and demonstrates what can be achieved through partnership between the Council, local representatives, the Town Team and the wider community.
“The projects identified in the plan will support a renewed focus on the town centre and help ensure Ballinasloe continues to develop as an attractive, welcoming and connected town.”
Martina Flanagan, Ballinasloe Town Team member, said the Ballinasloe Town Team welcomes the launch of the Town Centre First Plan and the opportunity it creates to progress projects that reflect local priorities. Community input has been central to the development of the plan, and we look forward to working with partners to bring its vision forward.”
Background
Town Centre First is a national policy approach that supports local authorities and communities to place town centres at the heart of decision-making, investment and regeneration. THRIVE, the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme, supports locally developed plans that take an integrated strategic approach to town centre regeneration and to the development of project pipelines for future investment.
The Ballinasloe Town Centre First Plan forms part of a wider programme of Town Centre First Plans being progressed across County Galway, supporting a coordinated approach to regeneration, shared learning between towns, and alignment with national policy and funding streams.
