UPDATE: First images of massive new development planned for Tullamore

LOCAL property developer Seamus Kane has said Tullamore will bustle with life once more if his ambitious residential and commercial complex gets the go-ahead.

Mr Kane this week unveiled the plans for a massive mixed-use project off Patrick Street on the former Tesco/Quinnsworth site.

His family company, Cayenne Holdings Ltd, is heading up the development which is earmarked for what Mr Kane says is a “key brownfield” site in Tullamore town centre.

He says the project is set to be an exemplar of urban regeneration. It has already received the backing of local Fianna Fail TD, Barry Cowen, who said it is an “exciting application”.

Mr Kane said: “Like many town centres in Ireland, the former market town has been subject to falling footfalls and general decline in recent years. People are not living in the town centre.

“In a move that will strengthen Tullamore’s existing offerings, this mixed-use development will combine new high quality public realm with streets and squares.

“Building on the historic yards that were a hive of activity we have envisaged event space, flexible retail spaces, exercise space, shops and restaurants to complement what is on offer already. An area equivalent to O’Connor Square as one the largest pedestrianised places in Tullamore is envisaged as part of the plan and to enable these activities.

“With over 400 residents it will be possible to enhance the retail and leisure offering. This in turn helps with dwell time and gives the local community reasons to stay later in the town centre as well as helping to encourage a new town centre community.”

The development has been named Distillery Yard and DE Williams House, a landmark stone-faced building fronting onto Patrick Street, will play a key role in it.

About 200 apartments and 45,000 sq feet of retail space will be developed on land between Patrick Street, Kilbride Street and close to William Street.

The mixed use development of residential and commercial, including retail, cafe and restaurants, will be in six blocks from two to 13 storeys.

There will be 204 apartments in four buildings, including 102, one-beds, 91 two-beds and 11 three-beds.

The blocks will be five, six, eight, and between 11 and 13 storeys high. A two to three-storey block will be partly contained within the former De Bruns public house, with a change of use to two cafes or licensed restaurants.

DE Williams House, which is a protected structure, will have five cafes/restaurants to its rear.

Access for traffic will be both from O'Connell Street (which is off Kilbride Street), as well as Offaly Street and William Street.

The developer said the complex represents “an exciting redefinition of the town centre” through a series of new buildings and reinvigorated network of public spaces defined by contemporary buildings, along with the integration of existing historic buildings and networks that bring new life and activity to this “underutilised part” of the town centre.

It is described as a well-connected, permeable, and fully accessible town centre that will link through to existing streets and shops making the town centre easier to walk through.

It will use the latest thinking in urban and sustainable development, encompassing residential, community, leisure, retail, and public amenity.

It will seek to boost footfall during both daytime and evening. The 204 “new town centre homes” will be within a “substantial public realm development of pedestrianised public squares and streets”.

There will be a community creche, and heritage will be protected.

“Needless to say it will be a low carbon sustainable development connecting the other shops and spaces within Tullamore through the streets and yards that have existed for centuries.”

The developer said the proposal was designed to meet the objectives outlined in Offaly County Councils Development Plan 2021-27 which has identified the land as a key town centre site for regeneration, local economic growth, and significant residential development.

Deputy Cowen said the council's plan recognised the need and ambition to regenerate and reinvigorate the town centre.

“It sought developments that sparks life and vitality. It encouraged the provision of civic space in addition to residential and commercial proposals,” said the Fianna Fail TD.

“This project certainly meets such criteria and the planning application is the next step in the process which I understand has involved detailed negotiations and consultations with relevant officials in Offaly County Council.

“It is always a difficult balance when aspiring to the demands of such town development plans while also meeting the commercial realities of such a multi million investment.

“I’ve no doubt townspeople and the business community alike will be excited with this proposed project. It will of course maybe most importantly provide a housing option for many whether first time buyers or downsizing options to avail of town centre living.”

Deputy Cowen also pointed out that some social housing will be provided as a result of the development in line with the Government's Housing for All policy.

He said he understood the application will be available on the applying company's website in addition to Offaly County Council files.

A planning notice for the development refers to a website, www.thedistilleryyard.ie

BDP Masterplanning & Architecture are leading the design team and the developer said they were brought on board because of their expertise in masterplanning and success in delivering key town and city centre regeneration such as Victoria Square in Belfast, plus schemes in Edinburgh, Oxford and Toronto.

More recently, they were involved in the masterplan development at Ceannt Station in Galway and projects across many towns in Ireland including Dundalk, Sligo and Roscommon. A full team of environmental, planning, visual impact, landscape and engineering consultants have contributed to the planning application.