Vision

To regenerate the heart of Kinnegad Town, restoring its vitality and vibrancy by delivering social infrastructure, as outlined below, thus creating a sustainable and viable Town Centre that will encourage and support the local economy.

Key Benefits

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund requires that the final project delivers a cohesive and integrated development that is designed to: -

1. Deliver a modern Open Library facility and Education and Training facility, including multi-functional spaces to serve the needs of community groups, will address the unsustainable deficient socio-economic facilities, required to serve the community and groups, displaced due to the closure of the original premises in 2017.
2. Deliver a bespoke Town Park with community facilities to meet the needs for the wider community, young and old.
3. Enhance the town environment through positive placemaking and public realm interventions to assist in the socio-economic development of the area.
4. Restore a sense of identity and civic pride to Kinnegad and regain the attractiveness of Kinnegad as place to visit, work, study and live.

Figure 1: Kinnegad Regeneration Programme

Together with the Community Library and Education and Training Facility, the overall programme comprises 3 distinct projects:

1. the refurbishment and extension of the old National School and Principals House on Main Street and the provision of a Community Library, Education and Training Centre at that site.
2. the provision of Community Facilities and a Town Park at the former Community Centre and surrounding lands on the Athlone Road.
3. the provision of enhanced Public Realm.

Current Status: Community Library & Education and Training Centre

A short promotional video clip of the proposals can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

Cooney Architects in a joint venture with Keys Monaghan Architects (CAKMJV) were appointed on the 31st of July 2020. This architect led design team will deliver the Community Library, Education Training Centre and Public Realm from Part 8 to construction.

Part 8 Planning Approval was approved at the December 2020 Council Meeting.

In April 2021 Westmeath County Council secured €7.6M in Rural Regeneration and Development Funding, with matched funds from Westmeath County Council a total budget of €8.5m is available to deliver the Kinnegad Regeneration Project. This project is funded under Project Ireland 2040.

The Regeneration Team in collaboration with the Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) and local community groups with the aid of CAKMJV architects have now completed the detailed design of the Community Library, Education and Training Centre and Public Realm.

The Two-Phase Tender Process for the construction of the Community Library, Education and Training Centre and Public Realm is complete. Coolsivna Construction Ltd have been awarded the comtract and commenced constructionon the 27^th  March 2023.  The construction pogramme is 15 month with an anticpated completion date in June 2024.

Front Row (left To Right):Frank Cooney, CAKMJV architects,   Liz Lavery, Chief Executive, Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board, Councillor Aengus O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach, Westmeath County Council,  Pat Gallagher Chief Executive Westmeath County Council, David Ruane, Coolsivna Construction Ltd, Deirdre Reilly, Westmeath County Council

Back Row (left To Right): David Jones, Westmeath County Council, Blathnaid Cox, Westmeath County Council, Neill Hanly,  Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board, Mary Stuart, County Librarian, Westmeath County Council.

Current Status: Town Park and Community Facilities

An online Community Assessment Needs Survey to inform the deign process for the town park commenced on the 13th October 2021 and closed on the 29th October 2021.

This consultation process directly informed the concept designs for the Town Park and Westmeath County Council then invited members of the community to take part in an online public meeting regarding the proposed Town Park and Kinnegad Regeneration Project.

The online meeting was on Monday 14th November 2022. A presentation was made by the Regeneration Project Team where several proposed Town Park layouts were shown.

The two preferred layouts that emerged from the public meeting of 14 November 2022 were published on the Westmeath County Council Consultation Portal in late November 2022 and members of the public voted in favour of their preferred layout.

An application has been submitted for “Part 8” planning approval based on the layout that received the largest vote in the November 2022 public consultation.

Plans and Particulars of the proposed development are available for inspection at https://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/en and can be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Municipal District of Mullingar-Kinnegad, Westmeath County Council, Áras An Chontae, Mount Street, Mullingar, N91 FH4N from 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. each day, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, from the 27th March 2023 up to and including the 27th April 2023.

Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development, may be made in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday the 11th May 2023 either:

• Online at https://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/en

or

• In writing, clearly marked “Proposed Development of a Town Park at Athlone Road Kinnegad” to the Administrative Officer, Planning Section, Westmeath County Council, Áras An Chontae, Mount Street, Mullingar, N91 FH4N.

Written submissions or observations received, will form part of a statutory report to be presented to a meeting of Westmeath County Council and will form part of a public document. The information contained in submissions may be available for public inspection, to be published on the Council’s website and available at the Council’s public counter. Details, including the names of those making submissions may be shared with relevant Council Departments or their agents involved in this Part 8 process.

The Regeneration Team can be contacted at

Regeneration Project Team,
Westmeath County Council,
Áras an Chontae,
Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath. N91 FH4N
Tel. 044-9332000
Email: regen@westmeathcoco.ie