Outline of next steps for new community centre in Kildare sought
The proposed premises was queried by the Mayor of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District
Kildare County Council (KCC) has been urged to outline the next steps for the delivery of a brand-new community centre.
The matter was queried by the Mayor / Cathaoirleach of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD), Fianna Fáil councillor Suzanne Doyle, at the latest MD meeting on Wednesday, October 21 last.
Near the end of this meeting, Cllr Doyle raised the topic when she submitted the following question: “Can KCC, following on from its success in securing funding for a Community Centre on Dunmurray Road in Kildare [Town], provide a report on next steps for delivery of the project with indicative timelines?”
In response, KCC told Mayor Doyle via the report it presented at the meeting: “Whilst planning is in place for this proposal, and funding announced, KCC has yet to receive the Letter of Offer and funding conditions from the funding Department.
“This may also include conditions specific to this project.
“The development proposal must, like any other project of this nature, now go through the next stage prior to tendering and construction, which is detailed design.”
PLANNING CONDITIONS
KCC continued: “The planning permission for the site has more than 20 planning conditions (prior to commencement) that require detailed design on transport items, parks and recreation and environment related elements.
"Prior approval is also required from the Department before we progress through the relevant stages of development.
"Therefore, significant information remains to be received for this project from the funding Department.
"Engagement with relevant Departments within KCC is ongoing to establish their expectations regarding the planning conditions, and a tender will be prepared to progress full detailed design, ensuring compliance with the planning conditions.
"Following that, the next step will be to prepare a tender pack to then go to tender for construction."
KCC concluded: “Pending receipt of the information from the funding Department, in terms of timeline, it is anticipated that the detailed design will progress during 2027, and, unless construction inflation surges hugely and compromises viability, that tendering for a contractor and construction will commence in Quarter 1 of 2028.”
Speaking further on the matter, Mayor Doyle told KCC that she was ‘happy to see the naming of dates’ relating to the project.
In addition, she said: “I think the key to this [succeeding] will [come down to] the appointment of who will manage the project.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.