Minister Cummins allocates €22.65 million for transformational local projects under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund

- Waterford City Cultural Quarter Creative Hub at 25/26 O’Connell Street - €7.5m

- City Centre Office Accommodation at 22 Lady Lane - €7.6m

- Dungarvan Innovation and Enterprise Hub at 18-20 O’Connell Street - €7.1m

Waterford Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has today announced the allocation of €22.65 million to Waterford under the newly established Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.

The Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund (TCRIF) is a new Government fund, following on from the previous Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) - centred upon funding capital works that tackle inner city and town dereliction. The goal is deliver innovative projects that make our urban areas attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work, visit and invest.

Waterford City & County Council submitted three applications under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund, all of which have been approved by Minister Cummins’ Department. The funding will unlock the delivery of three flagship regeneration projects in Waterford City and Dungarvan respectively.

The three successful projects are the Waterford City Cultural Quarter Creative Hub at 25/26 O’Connell Street, City Centre Office Accommodation at 22 Lady Lane, and the Dungarvan Innovation and Enterprise Hub at 18-20 O’Connell Street.

Announcing the funding, Minister Cummins said: “This is major news for the regeneration of three very significant sites in the heart of both Dungarvan and Waterford City. I have been working with the Executive team at Waterford City and County Council over a significant period of time on these three derelict and vacant sites and I am absolutely delighted to be in a position to allocate €23.6million for three major Waterford capital projects under stream 1b of the new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.”

Waterford City Cultural Quarter Creative Hub at 25/26 O’Connell Street (€7.5 million)

As part of a collaboration between Waterford City & County Council and Waterford Cultural Quarter, this landmark site on the corner of O’Connell and Sergent’s Lane, vacant and derelict for two decades will be transformed into the WCQ Creative Hub. The new development will provide galleries, studios and workshops for the arts community, as well as a headquarters for the WCQ

The majority of the site area of 1,100m2 is dedicated to the WCQ Creative to maximise exposure and provide an inviting and vibrant street frontage. The courtyard in between the buildings will provide an important public realm connection between Jenkin’s Lane and Garter Lane but will also act as an informal space for spill-out activities, community gatherings and performances.

Minister Cummins said: “I warmly welcome the establishment of this new creative hub, which represents a huge boost for our local arts community. As a former board member of the Cultural quarter, the transformation of this site into a vibrant, welcoming space has long been a priority of mine. This hub will provide artists, performers, designers and creatives with a place where talent can flourish, collaboration can grow, and new ideas can emerge. It is not only an investment in arts and culture, but a vote of confidence in the future of our city.

By repurposing this space in the heart of the city centre, we are bringing life, energy and vibrancy back to the area, supporting local businesses and creating a destination that people will want to visit, work in and enjoy. I look forward to seeing this exciting project thrive in the years ahead.”

City Centre Office Accommodation at 22 Lady Lane (€7.6 million)

The existing Georgian Townhouse at 22 Lady Lane has historic character, scale and occupies a strategic location within the city centre. Following extensive feasibility studies, high quality office accommodation was determined to be the most appropriate re-use for the refurbished building. The undeveloped area at the rear of the building will be extended to double the modern office space available and a significant area of green open-space that has been closed off for decades will once again be brought back into use.

Minister Cummins said: “The transformation of this site into high-quality office accommodation capable of supporting over 70 employees in the heart of our city is fantastic news for Waterford. Providing a modern workspace in a central location will further encourage businesses to establish and expand and will bring more people into the city centre each day – helping to create a thriving atmosphere for enterprise. Alongside these new offices, the inclusion of an attractive green space will ensure this benefit will not only benefit those who will work from here, but also the wider public. Having a place to relax, connect and recharge will be wonderful for everyone who spends time here in future, and this development will benefit our city for generations to come.”

Dungarvan Innovation and Enterprise Hub at 18-20 O’Connell Street (€7.1 million)

Three derelict properties at O’Connell Street, Dungarvan, will be repurposed as a new community innovation and business development centre. The new centre will provide a diverse range of facilities including incubation spaces, meeting rooms, offices, a ground floor café and adaptable exhibition space that will be available for use by the community.

Minister Cummins said: “I warmly welcome this ambitious project which will transform three long-derelict properties in Dungarvan into a dynamic community innovation and enterprise hub right in the heart of the town. By bringing these vacant buildings back into productive use, we are creating a vibrant destination where entrepreneurs, businesses, community organisations and local residents can come together to share ideas, collaborate and innovate.

The combination of offerings will provide valuable opportunities for learning, networking and business development. The hub will not only support economic growth, but it will also strengthen community life. The inclusion of community facilities, an exhibition space and café will ensure the hub becomes a lively, welcoming destination that positively contributes to the ongoing regeneration of Dungarvan as a whole.”

Concluding Minister Cummins said “This is another really significant investment and vote of confidence by government in Waterford. I’m delighted to have been in a position as a Minister within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to work with Waterford City and County Council to secure this investment for Waterford and I look forward to seeing these three projects being delivered in the time ahead”.