A new vision for Clara presented in Town First Draft Plan

A new vision for Clara has been presented in the Clara Town First Draft Plan.

The reimagining of a number of historical buildings in the town and their potential uses are put forward with many ideas emerging. These include a third level education centre, an enterprise centre, a large convenience retail store and a covered market space.

Clara was one of 26 towns across the country to receive funding to develop a town centre first plan.

Urban Architects were appointed by Offaly County Council to support the Town Team in designing a plan which would take Clara into the future.

Four key themes emerged during public consultations, Community; Heritage Tourism; Natural Infrastructure and Placemaking.

The strategic aims for Clara include reinforcing the town centre as the heart of the town by avoiding undesirable and inefficient sprawl.

Harnessing the economic and employment generating potential of the town through the on-going development of the service and manufacturing sectors in the town, in particular the Lehinch Business Park, and facilitating new enterprises within the zoned and serviced areas of the town. Delivering high quality housing of a sufficient scale, mix, tenure, sequence and density.

Promoting healthy neighbourhoods that focus on place making and a sense of wellbeing to ensure Clara is an attractive place to live and work.

The Town Plan identifies a number of Opportunity Sites including Erry Mill and lands at Frederick Street: Erry Mill is the largest surviving Flour Mill in County Offaly and occupies a prominent site at the corner of the Ballycumber Road and Bridge Street. The site contains Protected Structures and its redevelopment should include the careful restoration and reuse of these buildings. Potential uses include a creative hub, incubation facilities, enterprise centre, community meeting spaces, conference facilities, office and residential development, a linear park and surface car park.

Another site are the lands to the rear of River Street/Main Street: Situated in close proximity to the commercial heart of the town centre. Potential uses here include a contemporary landmark building, mixed-use scheme, large convenience retail store, covered market space, residential development and surface car park.

Charlestown Mill and County Council Yard. These properties make up a large site in close proximity to the town centre. The Mill is a protected structure and is a prominent gateway feature sited beside Charlestown Bridge at the edge of the town centre. Potential uses include a heritage museum, distillery/brewery, craft work, galleries, café, third level education facility, primary care centre, residential care facilities.

The train station at Clara, which is located on a strategic rail corridor, is categorised as being a ‘strength’ for the town, while the international significance of Clara bog is defined as being an ‘opportunity’.

There are also recommendations in relation to a number of key areas including: • Parking and Traffic. • Heritage. • Town Centre Regeneration. • Dereliction and Vacancy. • Open Space and Green Infrastructure. • Biodiversity and Natural Heritage.

To view the plan click on the link https://www.offaly.ie/c/town- centre-first/