Kilkenny gets €18m funding boost to ‘transform’ city-centre
Kilkenny’s landmark city-centre regeneration project has been given a massive €11.46 million boost in Government funding.
The Abbey Quarter development has been allocated the money as part of the Government’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).
The Kilkenny City Enhanced Liveability Project received a further €6.64 million as part of the latest URDF.
Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan welcomed the funding for what he described as “transformation projects” for the city.
Deputy Phelan said: “The substantial investment of €18.1m in Kilkenny will deliver phase two of the Abbey Quarter Plan including Greensbridge Boardwalk to the Abbey Quarter and the refurbishment of the Squash Courts to serve as a cultural home, among other improvements.
“The URDF fund will also deliver major improvements through the Kilkenny City Centre Enhanced Liveability Project with funding for smarter travel options and shared spaces along High Street and Rose Inn Street, upgrades along Ormonde Street, better connections for St. Kieran’s Street with High Street and public realm improvements in Carnegie Plaza and the streetscape along Barrack Lane, linking to John Street.”
The local Fine Gael TD said the new investment “will unlock the potential of our urban areas, making the best use of land available, promoting sensible development and compact growth, and ensuring that our urban communities are attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work and visit”.
Deputy Phelan (pictured below) added: “The support from the URDF for our communities is more vital than ever with the growth in remote and blended working which means more time spent at home locally, reduced time spent commuting as well as a boost for local businesses.”
