Contracts signed for major Clare town hub design

CLARE County Council have made significant progress in delivering a transformational cultural, community and civic building in Shannon town centre.

The council signed contracts with BDP (Integrated Design Team) and Tom McNamara & Partners (Integrated QS & Project Manager) for the design of a multi-functional building known as the One Shannon Hub, on Tuesday.

The hub will combine a town hall, an adaptable performance and community space, library, and flexible co-working spaces in the heart of Clare’s second largest town.

The new development will be located on land owned by Shannon Commercial Properties and held on a 999-year lease by Clare County Council (CCC). It will also feature public realm improvements to the town square adjacent the site.

The One Shannon Hub is a key element of 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 CCC.

Cllr Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach of CCC, said the advancement of the project to concept design stage will be welcomed by the wider community in Shannon.

Cllr Cooney said: "the council's Masterplan for the town, which was launched in early 2022 following an extensive consultation process, includes the delivery of the One Shannon Hub. It is wonderful to see real progress now being made with the project advancing to preliminary design stage."

Cllr Donna McGettigan, Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District, stated: "Working in partnership with the local community, Elected Members, Shannon Chamber and local businesses, Clare County Council has committed to the delivery of the One Shannon Hub as a catalyst project for the Shannon Masterplan. It will support the transformation of Shannon Town Centre, enhance community facilities in a central location and seeks to stimulate development in the town.

"This project is a priority for me as Cathaoirleach of Shannon MD and my colleagues, including my recent predecessor Cllr Michael Begley who championed it during his time as Cathaoirleach of the MD," she continued.

The development of preliminary designs for the facility represents an important phase of the project.

Following the completion of a concept design, a funding application will be prepared under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) to advance the detailed design and construction phases of the project. The application will be submitted to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage once the programme’s fourth round of funding is announced in late 2023/early 2024.

Delivery of the hub was welcomed at the July meeting of Shannon Municipal District, however councillors raised concerns over the ownership of the site. 

Cllr Gerry Flynn objected to the council leasing a site for the development and stated he did not "support the spending of public money to prop up private entrepreneurs in the Town Centre.

He noted that the One Shannon Hub should be developed on a site already "fully owned by the Council", and suggested the site of the Shannon Town Hall, which came into CCC's ownership when Shannon Town Council was abolished. 

Councillor PJ Ryan echoed his fellow councillors sentiments, commenting that the site would be better in the Council’s ownership, rather than being leased. “Surely that should be possible,” he said. “The amount of money is serious and it would be important that Clare County Council own it.”