Laois County Council
Urban Regeneration and Development Fund Projects
Projects Overview
The URDF are currently funding 3 projects in Portlaoise with a total funding allocation of €18,218,722.
Under Call 1 in 2019, Laois County Council was awarded €9,055,014 of URDF funding for public realm works under two projects, ‘A Cultural Quarter’ and ‘A Low Carbon Town’. In 2021, the Department approved an additional funding of €163,708 towards the ‘Cultural Quarter’ project.
In 2021, under Call 2 of the URDF, the Department provisionally allocated €9,000,000 in funding to Laois County Council for the ‘Placemaking for a Low Carbon Town’ project which follows on from the Call 1 project.
Portlaoise – A Cultural Quarter
This project aims to create a Cultural Quarter around the original historic settlement core of Portlaoise. Total allocated funding for the project is €7,192,349 and comprises of the following sub-projects:
Fort Protector Phase 1 – Creation of a mini park and enhanced public amenity on the North Eastern side of the historic Fort Protector site. The improved amenity at Fitzmaurice Place provides an opportunity space for performance and arts based events while providing a better presentation of the Fort Protector as a cultural heritage asset.
Scoil Mhuire Refurbishment – The refurbishment includes an energy upgrade including external insulation, new windows and doors, new insulated roof covering, new heat pump heating system, installation of PV panels, EV charger, low energy lighting, new plumbing, rewiring, fire & security alarm, internal reconfigurations, redecoration of the building inside and out. This project is now complete.
Fort Protector Phase 2 – This project involves the reconfiguration and upgrade of the public realm at Tower Hill and the restoration of the adjoining Fort Protector wall. This project is complete.
Old St. Peter’s Graveyard – Creation of a mini park by the conservation and restoration of the old church tower and protection of a number of at risk monuments on site to ensure it is safe and accessible to the public for use as a tranquil green space in the heart of Portlaoise town.
New County Library – This project was for the provision of a new county library in Portlaoise and received funding of €2,787,253 from the URDF along with €3,000,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development. This project is now complete and was officially opened by Minister Heather Humphries in July 2023.
New Street to River Triogue – This project involves the creation of a linking street to the River Triogue Blueway from Church Avenue.
Convent Urban Garden – This project involves capital works for the reinstatement of the Convent Garden.
Work to the Hapenny School – This project involves refurbishment costs for the Hapenny School at Church Avenue as a Community Resource.
Railway Street Mobility Hub – Provision of a Mobility hub including 92 car parking spaces immediately adjacent to Portlaoise railway station & Portlaoise town centre. Spaces include 12 No. EV charging points with a combination of rapid, fast and slow charging points, 4 No. Disabled parking spaces. There is an accessible bus stop including bus shelter and Taxi set down area. Covered Bicycle Parking is provided for 40 bicycles. The Hub opened in October 2023 with provision of E bike sharing facilities from July 2024. Pedestrian links to the Triogue way Cycle & Pedestrian Path have been made as part of this development improving accessibility and permeability links in the town.
Access Platform to Old Turret – The installation of a viewing platform with independent access from Tower Hill in the round tower element on the north-east corner of Fort Protector including the related conservation works in stabilising and cleaning the stonework.
Outdoor Performance & Event Space – This project involves the provision of a regional standard covered outdoor performance and event space in the heart of the 16th Century Fort Protector. The event space will have a capacity of up to 2,000 people standing and 500 people sitting.
Design Team for Interpretive Audio Visual – Following the Fort Protector projects, this project will provide an interpretative, audio visual space focusing on the history of Portlaoise and County Laois and a permanent home for the Portlaoise Plane.
Portlaoise – A Low Carbon Town
This project will assist in delivering on elements of Portlaoise 2040 – A Vision for Portlaoise – A Strategy for a Better Town Centre which identified the need to remove car dominance from the Town Centre and to address the poor pedestrian experience, and facilities and encourage the modal shift to cycling throughout the wider town. Total funding for the project is €2,026,373 and there are 6 sub-projects:
Triogue Blueway – This project will provide a traffic-free pedestrian and cycling corridor from the residential areas to the north of the town, through the town centre and on through People’s Park to link to the new school’s campus at Summerhill.
Portlaoise Cycle Route Extension – This project will provide the expansion of the existing cycle network within the wider Town area.
Solar Compactor Bins – This project will deliver key energy saving measures through a global smart solar-powered compactor bin system which is linked to a software monitor for emptying. This project is now complete.
EV Charging Points (30 no.) – This project will see the provision of EV charging points in the town, and will ensure energy saving measures are achieved.
Low Energy Lighting Upgrade – This project delivers key energy saving measures through environmentally friendly lighting provided throughout the town.
Park & Stride Feasibility Study – This project examined a sustainable alternative to car bound journey through the potential delivery of a “Park and Stride” area for the town. This project is now complete.
Portlaoise – Placemaking for a Low Carbon Town
The overarching vision for this project is for Portlaoise to be an exemplar Low Carbon Town which seeks to compliment, embellish and build on the development of the Cultural Quarter with the focus to provide a more attractive environment which will accommodate more people in the town centre by re-connecting the old and new towns resulting in a walkable “Green” town centre. Total funding for this project is €9,000,000 and there are 3 sub-projects:
Cultural Quarter connection to Main St and Portlaoise Laneways with associated works at Lyster Square – This project will see the completion of the overall Cultural Quarter including upgrades to the Public Realm along the following laneways, Bull Lane, Peppers Lane and Lyster’s Lane with associated works at key points on Main Street and at Lyster Square.
Market Square – Main Street – This project will see a redevelopment of the market square focusing on pedestrian permeability and public realm improvements. The works will continue from Market Square along Main Street connecting in to the respective laneway projects and finishing at Lower Main Street.
James Fintan Lalor Avenue and associated works – This project will enhance the streetscape on James Fintan Lalor Avenue to prioritise pedestrian access, cycling and public transport. Creation of urban development sites along James Fintan Lalor avenue that are consistent with the principles of compact urban growth.
